Caroline is an experienced tutor with a master’s degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education from Manhattanville College. With over 15 years experience teaching Pre-K through 3rd grade in diverse settings, she is Orton-Gillingham trained and specializes in supporting students with language-based learning differences. Caroline excels at providing one-on-one support, focusing on building trusting and supportive relationships while tailoring instruction to each student’s learning style. She uses engaging, relevant materials in reading, writing, and math to establish a solid foundation, helping many struggling learners become confident and capable readers and writers. Outside of her educational work, Caroline enjoys tennis, skiing, paddleboarding, and reading. She also loves taking long walks on the beach and collecting sea glass.

Hannah is a passionate educator with extensive experience supporting children with diverse abilities. She holds a degree in Human Development and Elementary Education (Grades 1–6) from Connecticut College. Hannah’s approach centers on the whole child, valuing each student’s strengths, interests, and learning style. Her teaching journey includes roles at a Dual Language Public School in Connecticut, Bank Street School, Dwight School, and the New York Botanical Garden, among others. She has also served as Assistant Director for a farm-based summer camp, where she combined education with her love of nature and sustainability. Hannah currently teaches second grade at Dwight School, an International Baccalaureate school in Manhattan, and specializes in personalized, inquiry-based instruction. Trained in Orton-Gillingham, she uses multi-sensory strategies to tutor both literacy and math. Her calm and creative style helps students feel confident and engaged. Outside the classroom, Hannah enjoys reading, yoga, and traveling.

For nearly a decade, Ian has worked as a tutor across a range of academic subjects, supporting students with diverse learning needs, including dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD/ADD, anxiety, processing challenges, and language-based differences. Under the guidance of Ilse, he trained in the Orton-Gillingham Approach and became a Certified Structured Literacy Teacher through the International Dyslexia Association in 2017. Ian primarily works with K–8 students with dyslexia or similar language and math-based learning profiles. A lifelong New Yorker, Ian attended the LREI and graduated cum laude from Packer Collegiate Institute. He earned his B.A. from Yale University and also studied music performance at Berklee College of Music. Alongside tutoring, Ian is an accomplished musician, performing in venues around New York and lending his voice to projects like Saturday Night Live and Sharp Objects. Still, one of his greatest joy comes from the meaningful connections with his students at LGR.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Kayla discovered her love for teaching while working at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, where she developed and led interactive lessons to engage young learners. She began her formal teaching career during the pandemic at Uncommon Schools, where she helped create individualized learning goals and deliver data-driven instruction in both remote and hybrid settings. Witnessing the effects of pandemic-related disruptions on literacy development, Kayla became committed to closing reading gaps for students navigating virtual learning. Kayla holds a B.A. in Childhood Education from Pace University and an M.S.Ed. in Literacy. She supports students in building confidence and independence through scaffolded instruction, clear goals, and a nurturing approach. Trained in the OG Approach, she integrates direct, multisensory instruction into both classroom and tutoring sessions. Outside of teaching, Kayla is a dedicated dance teacher and creative director who also enjoys reading, sketching, curating music playlists, and gaming.

Lauren is a speech-language pathologist with a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College. She works with students facing a wide range of communication challenges, including expressive and receptive language delays, articulation disorders, and literacy difficulties. Lauren also supports individuals with autism spectrum disorder and is an expert in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She specializes in both oral and written language, with a focus on grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Passionate about literacy, Lauren integrates the Orton-Gillingham multisensory approach into all her sessions and collaborates closely with families and educators to ensure students receive consistent and effective support across environments. Lauren’s warm, student-centered approach helps children feel confident and understood as they build communication and academic skills. Outside of work, she enjoys playing tennis with her twin sister Nicole—also a valued member of our team—and loves cooking, especially experimenting with new and creative recipes.

Liza is a veteran educator with over 25 years of experience teaching students from early childhood through adolescence across a wide range of backgrounds and learning profiles. A certified Orton-Gillingham reading and literacy specialist, she primarily supports K–8 students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Liza also helps students strengthen their writing, executive functioning, and study skills. After earning her B.A. from Boston University, she taught English in Italy before completing her Master’s in Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Bank Street College. While raising her daughters on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, she launched a multisensory teaching practice that introduced her to the Orton-Gillingham Approach. She completed training at the Kildonan Teacher Training Institute and spent summers at Camp Dunnabeck, deepening her expertise. Liza blends a constructivist approach with structured literacy instruction, empowering students to become confident, independent learners. She also holds a certificate in Educational Leadership from Harvard and works as an education consultant

Melani is a bilingual (English and Spanish) speech-language pathologist trained in the Orton-Gillingham Approach. She earned her Master’s degree from Pace University and completed a Bilingual SLP Extension at Columbia University’s Teachers College. Melani has experience working with children facing a range of communication challenges, including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, speech sound disorders, and genetic syndromes. She primarily supports students in NYC’s District 75 schools, which offer specialized instruction for children with significant learning needs. Melani was recently featured in the United Federation of Teachers’ “Students of New York” series for her outstanding work with a nonverbal student using a communication device. Her warm, empathetic approach allows students of all abilities to feel seen, supported, and empowered. Melani excels at identifying barriers to communication and learning and tailoring her instruction to help students unlock their full potential—always meeting them where they are and guiding them forward with compassion and care.

Nancy is our expert online tutor, bringing over 20 years of experience in education, primarily within New York City’s private school sector. She specializes in designing differentiated, engaging, and stimulating lessons that give students ownership over their learning. A strong advocate for the power of multisensory instruction, Nancy believes that all children learn differently and benefit from varied, hands-on approaches that help them internalize new concepts. She has received training in several respected literacy programs, including Orton-Gillingham, Read Write Inc., Readers and Writers Workshop, and Words Their Way. Nancy’s passion for reading and writing support deepened when her son was diagnosed with ADD and processing challenges. Experiencing the impact of tutoring firsthand, she is now deeply committed to helping other families access the same transformative support. Nancy earned her B.A. from Pennsylvania State University and her Master’s in Education from Bank Street College of Education in 1996.

Nicole is a speech-language pathologist with a master’s degree from Hofstra University and a bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Queens College.

She began her career working with elementary and middle school students, including individuals with autism spectrum disorder using the Social Thinking curriculum. When she transitioned to working with high school students, Nicole was struck by how many continued to struggle with foundational reading skills—gaps that had gone unaddressed for years and were now affecting their academic confidence and success. This realization fuels her commitment to helping students strengthen their literacy skills through the Orton-Gillingham Approach and other evidence-based methods. Nicole is known for her supportive, thoughtful approach and her ability to connect with students of all ages. Outside of her work, she enjoys cooking, playing tennis, and exploring new places with her beloved dog, Ruby. She also shares a love of tennis with her twin sister Lauren, a fellow team member!

With over 15 years of experience in early childhood and elementary education, Nina Rich is dedicated to helping young learners thrive. She has taught Pre-K through 1st grade at prestigious NYC independent schools, including Horace Mann and Packer Collegiate Institute. Her interest in structured literacy instruction began with training in PAF, a multisensory method for building foundational literacy skills, and deepened through completing a year-long practicum to earn Associate-level credentials from the Orton-Gillingham Academy.

Since 2020, Nina has focused on teaching reading, writing, and spelling to elementary students with diverse learning profiles, both in person and online. She tailors instruction to meet each child’s needs, blending structure, warmth, and creativity to foster both skill and confidence.

A lifelong learner, Nina continues her professional growth in literacy, dyslexia, and neurodivergence. Outside the classroom, she enjoys cooking, photography, and exploring NYC’s rich cultural scene.Description goes here

Sara is a passionate and experienced educator who creates dynamic, engaging, and student-centered learning experiences. A native New Yorker, she grew up on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and attended Trevor Day School. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Elon University’s School of Education and a master’s in education with a focus on literacy from Hunter College.

Sara has taught first through third grade at top independent schools, including Horace Mann and Dwight School, where she currently teaches second grade. She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham Approach and uses it to deliver explicit, multisensory instruction that helps students master the code of the English language.

Sara also brings experience with the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, which encourages inquiry, global awareness, and critical thinking. Outside of the classroom, Sara directs the RCTA Tennis Camp in Riverside Park and enjoys reading, discovering new restaurants, and strolling through Central Park.

Shanida has been passionate about international education from a young age, founding a nonprofit for marginalized youth in Panama City as a teen. A native New Yorker and fluent bilingual, she has taught in Italy, Ireland, the UK, Panama, and Colombia. Shanida holds a B.A. in Literature (Hunter College), an M.A. in English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics (King’s College London), and an M.S.Ed. in General Childhood Education (Bank Street College). Her experiences as a classroom teacher and language specialist have shaped her student-centered approach, grounded in the International Baccalaureate philosophy, which she believes empowers all learners and inspires lifelong curiosity. Shanida teaches First Grade at Dwight School and is also an Orton-Gillingham reading instructor, math, and Spanish teacher at LGR Learning Group. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exploring the Met and Central Park, and relaxing with her mom and a good book.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Stephanie is a Yale graduate with a BA in Psychology. Her passion for education began at Yale, where she founded an SAT prep class for underprivileged high school students. Since then, she’s gained over eight years of experience tutoring students from middle school to college in test prep (with her students’ SAT scores typically improving by 300 points, and ACT scores by 6), as well as a range of academic subjects including AP calculus, chemistry, physics, biology, psychology, English, Spanish, Mandarin, and AP-level history. As an executive functioning coach, Stephanie helps students develop self-management and organizational skills tailored to their individual needs. She works with learners of diverse backgrounds, including those with emotional or processing challenges. Drawing on the Orton-Gillingham Approach, Stephanie creates personalized, multisensory lessons. Outside of tutoring, she enjoys traveling, karaoke, and immersing herself in books.

Zach supports students in grades K–5 with dyslexia and other learning challenges, using Orton-Gillingham reading and literacy methods to foster progress and confidence. Originally from Westport, Connecticut, Zach has worked as a general learning aide, tutor, and music instructor, helping children from kindergarten through eighth grade, including those with cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, and ADHD/ADD. His passion for education and supporting students with special needs has guided his journey. A high honors graduate of Brown University, Zach now furthers his dream—helping those with the greatest challenges—through his work at LGR Learning Group. He draws on his background in music performance, private tutoring, and community service to create an engaging, individualized teaching style. Zach prioritizes enjoyment as well as growth, always adapting to each student’s needs. While tutoring, he is also pursuing an MA in Education and Clinical Psychology at Columbia University.