When I was 16 I had a free period during my high school day. As a result, I had the unique opportunity to volunteer in a special education classroom for high school students with severe and profound disabilities which included many students with Autism. As a result of this amazing experience, I started volunteering for Special Olympics in the evenings at my high school as a gymnastics and swimming coach. I was assigned as a swim coach for a woman named Terry who was 22 years old and had pretty significant cerebral palsy. I was her third coach and she had not given up so I wouldn't either. The day she was able to maneuver herself through the water independently with one straight arm, one severely bent arm, one strong leg and one weak one was a pivotal moment that gave me an incredible sense of personal pride. Those experiences were the foundation for my subsequent career working with children with disabilities.

Fast forward to 1996, I was now a college graduate with an advanced bachelor’s degree in psychology and minors in exercise science and sociology. What to do with all of this?? I called my mom, a constant source of support in times of crisis, and cried about what path I should chose- speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, child psychology. Her response to me was so rational, “you always loved working with people with disabilities, how about that?” I immediately got a job at an elementary school as an assistant in a mild-moderate special education classroom and registered at NCSU in a dual bachelor’s and master’s degree program in teaching special education and the rest is history!!

I went on to teach for about 5 years as a self-contained special education teacher in Wake County working predominantly with children with Autism, moving into a Montessori setting for 2 years. I really craved the autonomy to work with kids the way I saw fit so I called my dad, my other voice of reason and guidance. He advised me to follow my dream start tutoring and working with kids on my terms. As a family we came up with the name “Learn with the Best”.

My goals and desires over time turned towards creating programs that catered to students with ALL types of disabilities including many students with Autism. Learn with the Best includes an ABA Clinic, tutoring, social skills groups and summer camps and Learn with the Best School offers preK-12 educational programs for students with disabilities at any level. We are proud to serve the students and families in our community giving them the highest level educational services possible. I couldn’t be more proud of what I have created over the years and invite you to join in our fantastic journey!