Lindsay Kaplan Dale

Founder

Lindsay has been working in the education world since 2008. She began her career as an early elementary teacher at a private school in Chicago and loved it so much, she stayed for twelve years!

She earned her B.A. in Journalism from Indiana University and her M.Ed in Elementary Education from DePaul University.

In the spring of 2020, Lindsay created MotivatED Minds to provide individual and small-group learning experiences for students of all ages.

Lindsay also regularly works with families in a consulting capacity and helps them with everything from building a team of outside providers to navigating and revising their child's IEP or 504 plan .

Ashley Kaufman

Ashley’s passion for education and working with children started at a very young age. She knew she wanted to be a teacher in third grade!

As an educator, Ashley believes in developing the whole child by teaching students to be successful academically, socially, and emotionally. She strives to build strong connections with students, families, and community members. Ashley teaches with a creative and energetic lens. 

She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a James Scholar. She majored in elementary education and minored in leadership studies. Ashley is currently a first grade teacher at Kipling Elementary School in Deerfield. She enjoys watching students gain confidence in their abilities in order to become independent learners.

Nick Churchill

Nick is passionate about student improvement and growth and he helps students both increase and fulfill their potential. He utilizes a facilitative approach to develop inquiry and build strong habits in his students, which gradually builds their independence and self-confidence. He specializes in literacy and the humanities and has worked with students from upper elementary to seniors in high school, including AP subjects and test prep.

Nick has developed a long and successful career in education, mostly as an English/reading teacher and school leader.

He has served a variety of communities as an assistant principal, instructional coach, and special education director. Nick has trained and coached dozens of teachers over the years in multiple states and cities and developed widely used curricula in English and writing composition. 

Nick earned his bachelor's degree from UCLA and dual master's degrees from Harvard and NEIU. 

Cammie De Loys

Cammie has a myriad of experience, ranging from kindergarten to high school. She graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in Collaborative Special Education and she is currently completing a Masters of Education in Literacy.

Cammie co-teaches third and fourth grade and provides instructional support in kindergarten as well. She is skilled at differentiating and scaffolding curriculum to meet her students' needs and she loves using games to build confidence in math and reading skills.

Bridget Lawler

Bridget is originally from the southwest Chicago suburbs and she currently teaches high school special education in Evanston. She primarily works with her students on basic functional skills towards their secondary life, through career exploration and other learning strategies. 

Bridget also has experience teaching high school reading and writing in the general education classroom, as well as test preparation and writing organization. She loves helping students realize their ability to be successful, while helping them find the fun and excitement in learning

Bridget earned her Masters in Teaching and Learning from the University of St. Francis and she is currently pursuing her Masters in Education Leadership. She considers herself a lifelong learner and loves reading new books and listening to podcasts during walks in the neighborhood and on her commute to work.

Bridget is a very active person and can be found working out most mornings, visiting farmers markets in the fall, and trying (mostly failing) at cooking new recipes, She is also a music lover and often incorporates peaceful music breaks into her individual and group lessons.

Nicole Gaggiano

Nicole has had a passion for education for as long as she can remember. She received her Undergraduate degree in Middle Childhood Education from Miami University of Ohio. She also earned a Specialist endorsement degree which enables her to work with English Language learners. Nicole is currently working towards her Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Concordia University. 

Nicole is certified to teach all core subject areas, but she currently teaches sixth grade Science in a public school in the Chicago suburbs.

She structures her tutoring sessions to meet the interests and needs of the individual students, through the relationships she builds and the activities she creates.

Michaela Skweres

Michaela is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She earned her degree in Elementary Education and she is a fourth grade teacher in downtown Chicago.

Michaela is very passionate about motivating her students to reach their full potential. She loves to help them build skills to shape them to become lifelong learners. She also strives to build strong relationships with both her students and their families. 

Sarah Schwartz

Sarah earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Bradley University with an ESL endorsement. She also attended Purdue University and received a Master's degree in Special Education.

Sarah loves helping her students find their true potential so they can achieve their biggest hopes and dreams.She believes that building relationships with her students and their families is paramount in her profession.

In her tenure, Sarah has taught second, third and fourth grade, as well as special education.

Julie Brichta

Julie has always known she wanted to be a teacher. As a child, her favorite game was "school," and she spent her teens and early 20s working at a day camp, which further fueled her passion for teaching and working with children.

She earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After a year of teaching, Julie pursued a master's degree in Special Education. Most recently, she became a Certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner.

Julie is dedicated to fostering a lifelong love of learning in her students. She believes that strong relationships are part of the foundation for academic and personal growth, enabling students to work toward their goals.

Currently in her 20th year of teaching, Julie is a special education teacher at a Chicago Public School in the Lakeview neighborhood.

Haleigh Motta *SE Florida location

Haleigh has had a lifelong passion for teaching and working with children.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Stetson University in Elementary Education with an endorsement in ESOL education.

Haleigh previously taught in Asia at an international elementary school, where she worked with students from all over the world. She has also taught in Palm Beach County public schools, where she was the head of the science and social studies department.

Haleigh currently focuses on tutoring while she concurrently takes care of her 9-month-old daughter. She loves to utilize a multitude of educational platforms to develop her lessons with creativity. This helps her cater to her students' individual needs and interests.