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. 

Allison Ball

Allison has been teaching first-grade in the Chicago suburbs for the past two years and plans to teach second grade in the upcoming school year. She graduated from The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Psychology. 

Allison is passionate about teaching and fostering a love of learning in her students. She finds joy in helping and supporting students and watching them grow and thrive as they work together. She finds importance in building relationships with students and strives to meet the individual needs of her students. Allison works closely with students to build their confidence and skills to achieve their goals. 

In her free time, Allison loves to spend time with family and friends. She enjoys yoga, reading books, and walking.

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.

Brooke Harrison

Brooke has been in the education world for fourteen years, primarily working in private schools throughout Chicago. She earned her Undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University and her Master's degree in Reading with a Reading Specialist endorsement from Loyola University. 

Brooke has worked with a myriad of age groups during her years as an educator and tutors students in all core subject areas. She structures her sessions thoughtfully and enjoys learning about her students' outside interests and applying those interests to their academic content.

In her free time, Brooke enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling and trying new restaurants.

Emily Elfering

Emily is a first-grade teacher in the Northern Suburbs. She earned her Undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in Elementary Education, with an endorsement in English as a Second Language, and a minor in Spanish.

Emily's passion for teaching early learners transfers into her tutoring sessions, as she is always finding creative ways to meet the interests and needs of her individual students.

Claire Robinson

Claire is a lifelong learner who thrives on helping students grow. She received both her Undergraduate and Master's degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with an ESL endorsement. Claire is constantly enrolling in new courses to stay current with her research and practices as an educator.

Claire currently teaches second grade in the Chicago suburbs and couldn't love it more! She is passionate about creating personalized tutoring sessions with her students to instill a love of learning in them.

In her free time she enjoys reading lots of books, exploring new places in Chicago, and spending time with her friends and family.

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. 

Stacy Baughman

Stacy currently teaches second and fourth grade science at a public school in Chicago. She attended Buffalo State College where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Biology and her Master's degree in Science Education.

Stacy is motivated by meeting students at their level and giving them the appropriate tools to grow academically and socially. She builds strong relationships with students that help them foster a lifelong love for learning. When Stacy is not in the classroom, she enjoys hiking and reading. 

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.