Author: Student Support

Occupational Therapy Spotlight

This month we are celebrating our wonderful OT staff. Check out their spotlights below to learn a bit more about our fantastic team!

Arlene Baker

Graduate of San Jose College, Occupational Therapy 

I have years of experience at in/out-patient clinics, hospitals and home health. I live on the Island of Kauai, but as I write this, I am in Montana at my log cabin relaxing but not without working for iLEAD as an OT. I love my job and will continue working as long as possible. I have three daughters, all who are now working for iLEAD Schools. 

Andrea Lancaster

Graduate of USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

 

In the past, I have worked in a high school therapeutic classroom for students with mental health needs before I returned for my master’s degree in occupational therapy. Prior to iLEAD, I was working in a school district in the California Bay Area with students in grades K-8. I love to bake, cook, dance (poorly), and watch scary movies! I joined the SCVi team this school year and am looking forward to meeting and connecting with everyone!

Fun Facts: I used to own pet rats, I’ve eaten ants (roasted and salted) in Colombia, and I have hiked the Grand Canyon to the bottom and back up in one day.

Brittany Torossian (Dr. Toro)

Graduate of Creighton University, Doctoral Degree in Occupational Therapy 

I have been working as a school-based occupational therapist, gaining experience with learners of all ages, from preschoolers to adults. I work with children and young adults of various abilities to enhance fine-motor and engagement skills to support them in school and life! I have recently moved back to Orange County, California, where I was born and raised, with my husband, eight-month-old daughter, and beagle. I am a new member of the iLEAD team and am looking forward to learning innovative strategies on the virtual platform. I love trying new foods (sushi and Korean food are my favorite), places, and spaces. 

Fun Facts: I have been to over 40 states in the USA and got married on the beach in Maui, Hawaii, last year.

Mindy Murray

Graduate of Loma Linda University

My mother is an occupational therapist, and I knew at a very early age that I wanted to follow in my mother’s footsteps. With 20+ years as an occupational therapist on a rural island, I gained experience in all areas of occupational therapy and have opened two private practices during that time. My husband, three children, and three dogs relocated from Kauai, Hawaii, to northern Idaho, so my husband and son and I have traded in our surfboards for snowboards. I just recently joined the iLEAD family and look forward to growing and laughing with you all!

Fun Fact: I have 13 chickens, three kids, three dogs, and two turkeys.

Chantel Hubbard

Graduate of Stanbridge University

I have played sports my whole life, including playing Division 1 soccer at California State University Long Beach. As such, I knew I wanted to go into a field that includes movement and my love for creating/crafting. I recently moved to Santa Clarita with my husband and bought our first home. I have worked in the pediatric setting for the last five years and am happy to part of the iLEAD team. 

Fun Fact: I like all things nature-related and have an obsession with furry, four-legged friends. 

Orton-Gillingham Approach for Dyslexia

The Orton-Gillingham Approach is a research-based instructional approach that supports our learners with dyslexia. This direct, multisensory, systematic, diagnostic, and prescriptive method effectively addresses needs in the areas of reading, writing and spelling.

Click here to access webinars and materials to learn about dyslexia, essential elements of a lesson, ways to integrate multisensory methods into your instruction, reading comprehension strategies, specific spelling rules and ways to support sight word recognition and fluency.

 

42 Resources for All Ages

Looking for ways to keep your learners busy this summer? Passion Planner’s website put together 42 incredible resources with options for children of all ages. Whether you need additional educational lessons for your four-year-old, are trying to gear your high schooler up for college, or have a college-aged child in your home looking for free classes, this webpage has many resources for you. To learn more, visit here.

Free Virtual Summer Camps

Summer is here, and while many summer plans may have changed, there are some virtual summer camps available for your learners!

Camp Kinda is a free virtual summer camp for kids ages five through fourteen built around children’s curiosity about history. Each week, a new topic is broken down into a three-to-four-hour program per day. Each subject is presented through a combination of online and offline activities to keep kids engaged even when stuck at home. To learn more, visit here.

Camp Wonderopolis is another free virtual summer camp focused on developing your child’s STEM skills through a fun, interactive approach. Children can choose the camp subject they would like to explore. Wonderopolis offers five different camps based around music, engineering, food, science, and wellness. For more information, visit here.

Code with Google

CS First is a free and entertaining computer science curriculum that Google is offering for children ages nine through fourteen. With their fun lessons and visual puzzles, any child can pick up the skills of basic coding. Learn more about CS First here.

Congratulations to the Student Support Staff!

Several student support staff members have continued their education in four intensive courses in special education. These remarkable staff members have added autism certification to their education specialist credentials. iLEAD offers a warm congratulations to them all!
Throughout their coursework, each ed specialist created a website for their portfolio. The websites provide a valuable resource for families and educators alike. Click their names to check out their websites for more information!
Robin Kure
Rebecca Warren
Rachel Leonard
Thea Slingland
Ginger Pillitteri
Stephanie Sanders
Kayla Evans
Erin Luchterhand

Free Webinars: Sensory Needs and Mindfulness for the Whole Child

Presented by Kelly Mehr
During these uncertain times, Kelly Mehr would love to share with you some things you can do at home to support your child and hopefully make life a little easier for yourself as well. She will be explaining sensory needs and why they’re important for all our learners. Her hope is that you will come away feeling supported and inspired.

 

Join Us for One of the Following Sessions: 

Thursday, May 28 at 10:00 AM
Thursday, May 28 at 5:00 PM

Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 146 918 784
Password: 9AMvCD

COVID-19 Resources

Student Support Communications


iLEAD California Individual Program Communications


Additional Resources for Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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Categorized as Resources