Our Team.

Our ASC team consists of talented and experienced consultants who know and understand student development and student learning. Our consultants share the philosophy that all students can learn with the right guidance and support. We address the "whole child" when working with students and consider all facets of the child when planning individualized sessions.

Owners

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Marie Dembowski

Co-Owner

Marie is a veteran educator with 20+ years experience in the field. She has a BA in Education/Psychology, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Technology, and a Master’s degree in Special Education. She is currently working on a Doctorate with a research topic in the Science of Reading. She is an Orton Gillingham Teacher, Teacher Trainer, and Dyslexia Specialist. Marie has held several positions in public and private schools, ranging from PreK to College. She is NJDOE certified as a K-8 Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Middle School Language Arts Teacher, Reading Specialist and Supervisor. She has served as an adjunct professor for the Center for Dyslexia Studies at Fairleigh Dickinson for close to a decade. Marie is currently the head of the reading department at Community High School.

Marie is co-owner of ASC and conducts evaluations, delivers professional development, and provides consulting services for schools and families.

Krysten Perez

Co-owner

Krysten is a veteran educator with 20+ years experience in the field. She has a BA in Psychology/Elementary Education, a Master’s degree in Special Education and a Masters degree in Educational Technology. She is an Orton Gillingham Teacher, Teacher Trainer, and Dyslexia Specialist. Krysten has held several K-8 positions in public schools and is NJDOE certified as Elementary Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Reading Specialist, and Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant. She has served as an adjunct professor for the Center for Dyslexia Studies at Fairleigh Dickinson for close to a decade. Krysten is currently a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant for Park Ridge Public Schools.

Krysten is co-owner of ASC and conducts evaluations, delivers professional development, and provides consulting services for schools and families.

Consultants

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Elizabeth Kenny-Foggin

Elizabeth has been working in special education for more than 25 years. She is an adjunct faculty member at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Center for Dyslexia Studies and a doctoral candidate. Elizabeth has a Masters in Special Education, and a Masters in Administration & Supervision. She is a NJDOE certified K-12 teacher, special education teacher and Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant. She earned additional certifications as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist, Orton Gillingham Teacher, Teacher Trainer, and Dyslexia Therapist.

Elizabeth conducts Dyslexia and Comprehensive evaluations and serves on our Professional Development Team.

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Julie Worgul

Julie has been in the field of education for almost 20 years. She has a bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special education with a concentration in Social Sciences and a master’s degree in Literacy. Julie is a NJDOE certified Reading Specialist, Learning Disability Teacher Consultant, and Supervisor. Additionally, she is a certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist and Orton Gillingham Teacher. Julie is currently a Supervisor of Special Education, Student Programs, and Special Services.

Julie conducts various types of evaluations.

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Yahnique Dawson

Yahnique has spent the last 25 years building a career in education. She is a NJDOE certified special education teacher and a nationally certified school psychologist. She currently supports the unique learning needs of children in the New Jersey public school system.

Yahnique conducts various types of evaluations.

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Donna Schmitz

Donna has over 30 years experience in elementary and special education within her most recent years working with children in Pre-K- First Grade. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology/Education from Seton Hall University and is currently working on obtaining her Masters in Leadership with Principal certification at William Paterson University. Donna received training in FUNdations, Wilson, Orton Gillingham, Project Read and Multisensory Math with Marilyn Zecher which she utilizes with all her students. In addition, Donna has experience working with the autistic population ranging in age from 3 to 8 and completed the DIR 101 course on the DIR model and Floortime.

Donna provides tutoring sessions for K-8 students in Math and Literacy.

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Linda Schmidt

Linda has worked in education for over 30 years. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood/Child Development from Queens College/CUNY and a Master’s Degree in Special Education from New York University. She spent years in the preschool/daycare sector developing curriculum and supervising staff. Linda has over 20 years experience as a public school special education teacher. She has led many staff development workshops on topics such as RTI, Dyslexia, and Executive Function. She has additional training and certifications in multisensory reading instruction and Executive Function.

Linda is available for all subjects, but she specializes in reading/literacy and math and working with neurodivergent learners.

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Lisa Ventura

Lisa has been an educator for 25 years. She has served as a Second, Third, and Fourth Grade teacher as well as a Literacy/Intervention Coach. Currently, Lisa is in her natural element being a Reading Intervention Teacher for grades K-5. She has a Masters in Professional Development and Supervision from Seton Hall University and is a NJDOE certified Reading Specialist. In addition Lisa is a certified Orton Gillingham Teacher and Orton Gillingham Teacher Trainer and serves as an Adjunct Professor with Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Center for Dyslexia Studies.

Lisa is one of our Orton Gillingham tutors and enjoys helping readers of all ages reach their fullest potential. She is also on our Professional Development Team

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Nicolette Aloia

Nicolette has 5 years experience in mathematics education teaching Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and PreCalculus. Nicolette completed a double major at East Carolina University in Mathematics Education (BS) and Mathematics (BA). She continued her education at East Carolina University to obtain a Master’s in Education.

Nicolette tutors all levels of mathematics in-person and virtually.

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Gillian Dillard

Gillian has been a special education teacher for 25 years. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Essex County College, a professional development provider, and an executive function coach. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Baylor University and Master’s degree in Special Education from Pennsylvania State University. Gillian has specialized multisensory training from ISME which she utilizes when working with students on written expression, vocabulary development, and critical thinking for comprehension.

Gillian provides tutoring sessions to K-12 students in all areas of literacy and is a member of our Professional Development Team. She also provides executive functioning sessions where she focuses on study skills, task initiation, organization, cognitive, flexibility, memory, and attention.

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Amanda Detrick

Amanda is NJDOE certified Special Education Teacher, K-12 and reading specialist with close to a decade of experience. She has a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and a Masters in Reading. Amanda completed her Orton Gillingham Teacher Certificate through Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Amanda tutors K-6 students in all subjects. She specializes in special education, reading, and Orton Gillingham.

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Regina Bassoul-Restivo

Regina’s professional experience spans more than four decades in public and non-public schools as well as in the private setting. She has a Master’s degree in Language/Learning Disorders from Boston University and has worked as a preschool special education teacher and an administrator. She holds NJDOE certifications as a Speech/Language Specialist, Teacher of Handicapped, and Teacher of Hearing Impaired. She is also a NJ state licensed Speech/Language Specialist. Regina has also completed the advanced Orton-Gillingham Multisensory Training.

Regina provides tutoring services for students Preschool to 12th grade and conducts Dyslexia Evaluations.

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Anne Mapes

Annie has worked in education for 10 years. She has served as a School Social Worker/School Counselor earned her Masters of Social Work from Fordham University and her B.S. in Counseling and Human Services from The University of Scranton. She has worked in a Bergen County School System for 10 years as a School Social Worker/School Counselor. She serves as a part of the Child Study Team, Intervention and Referral Services Committee, and as a Section 504 Case Manager. She specializes in working with students with ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Anger Management, and Specific Learning Disabilities in both individual and group settings. She provides coaching and instruction on Executive Functioning skills with students grades K-12 focusing on planning, organization, task initiation, time management, attention, self-control, working memory, metacognition, flexibility, and perseverance. Annie has received training by the NYU Langone Center in Organizational Skills Training (OST), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy training from the Beck Institute.

Annie provides executive functioning coaching.

Kelly Bertrand

Kelly has been in the field of education for over 30 years. She is a NJDOE certified Elementary Education Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant and Supervisor. Kelly has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s in degree in Learning Disabilities. Kelly is also a certified Orton Gillingham Teacher through Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Center for Dyslexia Studies.

Kelly conducts Dyslexia and Comprehensive evaluations.

Jennifer Rodriguez

Jennifer has over 10 years experience as a middle school math and reading teacher. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education & Curriculum and Instruction. Jennifer is NJDOE certified as a K-6 Teacher, Middle School Math, Middle School English, & Middle School Social Studies and Supervisor. She also a NJ licensed Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant.

Jennifer conducts various types of evaluations.

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Ashley Davis

Ashley is a NJDOE certified teacher and special education teacher with over 15 years experience. She has her Masters in education and completed her Orton Gillingham Teacher and Teacher Trainer certificates through the Center for Dyslexia Studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Ashley is on our Professional Development team.

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Jim O'Hara

Jim has 15+ years experience as a college counselor, guidance counselor, and director of guidance in private and public schools. He has dedicated his career to helping high school students and their families navigate the college process.

Jim specializes in all areas of the college process: essay writing, college search and the application.

Anne Marie O'Hara

Ann Marie is a NJDOE certified teacher and special education teacher with over 15+ years experience. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. Ann Marie is also a certified Orton Gillingham Teacher through Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Center for Dyslexia Studies.

Ann Marie provides tutoring services for students in all subject areas. She specializes in special education, language arts, and Orton Gillingham instruction.

Lisa Russino

Lisa is a NJDOE certified K-12 Spanish teacher with over 23+ years experience. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with a minor in Spanish.

Lisa provides tutoring services for K-12 students in Spanish. She also runs small group Spanish sessions for kids of all ages.

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Dayna Gallo

Dayna is a veteran teacher with almost 20 years experience teaching English Language Arts, specializing in reading and writing instruction for both general and special education. She has a bachelor's degree in English and Education with a concentration in Literacy. Dayna holds a NJDOE license for reading and writing instruction for grades K-12.

Dayna also serves as part of her school's Intervention and Referral Services Committee. She specializes in working with students with ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Anger Management, and Specific Learning Disabilities in the classroom.

Dayna provides tutoring sessions for K-12 students in Literacy, specializing in working with neurodivergent learners on writing and reading across all subject areas. Some areas of focus include written expression, vocabulary development, and critical thinking for comprehension. She is available to tutor in-person and virtually.

Daina Scheideler

Daina has been in the field of education for over 20 years. She has dual Bachelor’s degrees in History and Art History with a minor in Historic Preservation. She also has a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education. Daina is a NJDOE certified Secondary Mathematics educator and received her certification through Rutgers University. She is currently working on her certification for Teacher of Special Disabilities.

Daina tutors 6-12 grade students in mathematics. She specializes in special education, study skills, and organization.