Sarah Fish
Founder, Clinic Director
District and Private Consultant
Intervention Specialist
"Not only am I a tutor, and owner of Pinnacle Education Services (PES), but a parent of an amazing child who also happens to have dyslexia. She amazes me, confounds me, and never leaves my mind as I’m not entirely sure, even as a 'pro' in the business, how she will navigate this world finding joy and success. Isn’t that what we all want for our children, for them to become adults who can find joy and success?"
Sarah is an academic intervention specialist and educational consultant providing Orton-Gillingham based tutoring for over two decades. When Sarah completed her undergraduate education in K-12 special education and elementary education with a minor in early childhood education, she found herself driven to know more about the neurology of the learning brain. She immediately began graduate courses in structured literacy (Orton-Gillingham based Slingerland) in which multi-sensory, cognitively stimulating lessons and the neurology of the brain became the backbone of her instruction. Since graduation Sarah taught at a private school for children with learning disabilities (dyslexia/ dysgraphia/ dyscalculia) and has been in private practice. She also spent time educating other service providers through work with the Washington Branch of the International Dyslexia Association, the Slingerland Institute for Literacy and Hamlin Robinson School.
Sarah has extensive experience treating students of all ages who have learning disabilities, ADHD, and gifted/twice exceptional profiles. While firm behavior expectations are established, Sarah finds that using humor and compassion helps her win over her student’s trust which then guides them into full participation. With her personal family history with learning disabilities, extensive training, and experience Sarah guides each student to their full academic potential and helps them to achieve the knowledge necessary to advocate for their academic needs in any setting.
SPECIALTIES
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Learning disabilities
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Language based learning differences (LBLD) — dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, oral and written language disability
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Twice exceptional (gifted) students with an learning difference
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ADD/ADHD
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Autism spectrum
Lauren Morgan
Intervention Specialist
District IEP Consultant
Assistant Editor
Lauren is an academic intervention specialist whose exceptional training in Orton Gillingham and Structured Word Inquiry began at the Dyslexia Training Institute. While her passion for supporting students with language based learning differences started in the classroom, since then she has taken her expertise to another setting, remote tutoring.
Her ample experience serving elementary and middle school students with learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, and twice exceptional profiles makes her a well-rounded instructor ready to adapt to the needs of her students. She does so by skillfully creating a safe and trusting environment for student learning. Lauren finds this to be crucial to student engagement and success.
Lauren’s experience, training, and drive to continually develop her skill set make her remarkable equipped to facilitate student learning, guiding each student toward success.
"Nothing brings me more joy than seeing the pride on a student’s face when they feel successful in their academic journey. "
SPECIALTIES
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Language based learning differences (LBLD) —dyslexia, dysgraphia, oral and written language disability
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Twice exceptional (gifted) students with an learning difference
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ADD/ADHD
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Autism spectrum
Melissa is an academic intervention specialist providing Orton-Gillingham based tutoring for nearly two decades. As a child, Melissa was diagnosed with dyslexia and was fortunate to find success by attending a school specifically designed to help kids with dyslexia.
Melissa finds that using positive reinforcement and compassion forges strong relationships and builds her student’s trust while fostering participation. With her personal family history with learning disabilities, extensive training, experience, and thirst for knowledge, Melissa guides each student to their full academic potential. She helps each student achieve the knowledge needed to advocate for their academic needs in any setting.
SPECIALTIES
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Language based learning differences (LBLD) —dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, oral and written language disability
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Twice exceptional (gifted) students with an learning difference
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ADD/ADHD
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Autism spectrum
Melissa Mako
Intervention Specialist
Specialist Mentor
Meredith MacKenzie
Intervention Specialist
District IEP Consultant
Lead Training Instructor
Assistant Editor
Meredith is an academic intervention specialist with 15 years experience teaching and tutoring students who learn differently. Starting her career as a math tutor, Meredith quickly found that most of her students were not thriving in traditional school settings despite their bright, capable minds.
Meredith offers remote lessons in reading, writing, math, study skills, and executive function strategies that are personalized, multisensory, systematic, cognitive, and emotionally sound. She is particularly skilled at building rapport with students by affirming their strengths and honestly assessing their most pressing academic needs. With compassion, humor, and a deep understanding of each child’s unique learning profile, Meredith challenges each student at their cognitive level to close their learning gaps and realize their potential as students, communicators, and lifelong learners.
SPECIALTIES
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Language based learning differences (LBLD) —dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, oral and written language disability
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Twice exceptional (gifted) students with an learning difference
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ADD/ADHD
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Study skills
Rachel Laffon
Intervention Specialist
District IEP Consultant
Rachel is a remote academic intervention specialist whose skills have accumulated for over two decades ago, initially as a classroom teacher. She discovered the life-changing methods of Orton Gillingham while on the homeschooling journey with her daughter.
Her unique approach encompasses both the foundation laying Orton-Gillingham instructional methods and putting vulnerable students at ease. She employs student choice to increase interest and the student’s enjoyment while doing hard things. At every turn, positive reinforcement supports the learner's increasing knowledge about their brain's neurology, thus progressively reducing self-doubt.
While academic skills are the overt goal, her students come away with the ability to persevere and often learn to love reading and writing… "perhaps even escaping into a book or 'painting' a picture with their words. "
SPECIALTIES
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Language based learning differences (LBLD) —dyslexia, dysgraphia, oral and written language disability
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Twice exceptional (gifted) students with an learning difference
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ADD/ADHD