TEAM
Danielle Morgan, Director & Education Specialist
Danielle holds a master's degree in psychology from San Jose State University, where she was actively involved in various research projects and served as teaching assistant. During her time there, she collaborated with her mentor to create a new undergraduate psychology course. With 20 years experience, Danielle has dedicated her career to helping students overcome academic challenges. At Thriving Minds, she offers academic consultations, meeting with families and students to assess and address their needs. Danielle is passionate about researching and implementing innovative curricula and programs at the center, as well as teaching these new programs to instructors.
Jessica Bold, Administrative Assistant
Jessica holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and is currently based in Los Angeles where she homeschools her two sons. As a mother, Jessica understands the importance of advocating for your children and following non-traditional paths to meet their unique learning needs.
At Thriving Minds, Jessica works closely with instructors and parents to ensure sessions are scheduled timely and communication is clear and consistent. Previously, she worked as a school registrar, providing her a foundation in keeping student records and schedules accurate and organized.
Nique Eagen, Program Coordinator & Lead Math Specialist
Nique has a bachelor's of Fine Arts degree in theater from Point Park University. She has been working as a para-educator for children with special needs for the past 4 years. She has also worked one-on-one with kids on the autism spectrum. For over the past 6 years she has been tutoring children in math, English literature, reading, and spelling. Her interest in working with special needs kids began just after college, when she worked for a few summers for a day camp for special needs children.
Aalia Syed, Reading & Math Specialist
Aalia graduated with her bachelor's degree in psychology from San Jose State University. During her undergraduate studies, she completed courses in areas of child psychology as well as child psychopathology. In addition, she has years of experience working with school age children in a private setting assisting with reading, writing, math, and science. In the future, she hopes to attend graduate school to become a marriage. and family therapist.
Leilani Corral, Reading & Math Specialist
Leilani graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology from San Jose State University. During her high school years, she was an honor roll student and has always enjoyed learning her favorite subject, math. She also has volunteering experience with reading to elementary school students. She initially developed a love for working with children as an intern for a martial arts school by helping students improve their verbal skills and techniques. In addition, she gained ABA experience working as a behavior technician for children and teens with autism.
Fiona Janke, Reading & Math Specialist
Fiona holds a master's degree in education from Stanford University and has had the privilege of working with students in academic settings for several years. Her journey in education began with summer programs, whee she discovered her passion for engaging and supporting kids from diverse backgrounds. Throughout her college years, sh worked as a math tutor, actively supporting students in achieving their academic goals and creating a welcoming and nurturing atmosphere for learning. Drawing on her expertise in cognitive science, she brings a deep understanding of the learning process t her interactions with students, always striving to foster an inclusive and supportive environment.
Daniel Aims, Reading & Math Specialist
Daniel holds a degree in psychology from California State University Long Beach. He has extensive experience in private tutoring, coordinating after school programs, and volunteering in multiple capacities with individuals of various ages and backgrounds. Raised by educators, he has played active roles in schools since a young age. While attend a STEM and liberal arts oriented high school, his career interest transitioned from engineering to psychology upon discovering humanistic psychology and recognizing its relevance to the field of education. Through an eclectic set of skills and interests, he utilizes a holistic approach in his work with students.
Jessicah (Jess) Cabuag, Reading & Math Specialist
Jess graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from CSU Monterey Bay. She has had experience working with children for nearly 11 years from babysitting, working in daycares, teaching at schools, and helping families one on one as a behavioral technician. She is passionate about creating a supportive environment for the youth and building a better future for the younger generations. Over the next few years, Jess plans to continue her education and hopes to receive her master's degree to become an art therapist.
Hilary Blackstone, Reading & Math Specialist
Hilary holds a teaching credential and master's degree in education from Loyola Marymount University and has had the privilege of working with students as a classroom educator for the last 10 years. She has spent the majority of her time teaching 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade but loves whatever age she has the joy of teaching! Her journey in education began with spending many summers babysitting and working at summer camps. She discovered her passion for engaging and supporting kids from diverse backgrounds after helping her older sister in her 6th grade classroom in East San Jose. As a mother herself, Hilary is passionate about advocating for students and ensuring that all students, no matter what are equipped for success in our world.
Adrian Apostol, Reading and Math Specialist
Adrian holds a Bachelor's of Science in Marine Biology from UC Santa Cruz and Masters of Education. He started his journey with education tutoring students in college for an Introduction to Marine Biology Course. After college he began working at a non-profit that educates the community about animals in the San Francisco Bay. He has been working at his elementary/middle school for 5 years as an Academic Interventionist and 7th/8th Math Teacher. He is very excited to help students appreciate a love for math and inspire a career in STEM!
Grace Wong, Reading and Math Specialist
Grace is a senior at Santa Clara University, majoring in psychology with a minor in studio art. They began working with children as young as three in 2017 and spent each summer before college volunteering as a teacher's aide at Old Fire House Preschool. More recently, she worked as a statistics tutor at SCU’s Math Learning Center, gaining valuable experience supporting students from diverse backgrounds. In their free time, Grace enjoys hiking, painting, and volunteering at the local food bank. At Thriving Minds, Grace is eager to combine her experience and passion for inspiring young learners, working to foster growth and make a meaningful difference in the lives of your students.
Amber Todd, Reading and Math Specialist
Hi, I’m Amber Todd, and 2025 marks my 7th year in the classroom, specializing in supporting students in grades K-8 with special needs. I’m deeply passionate about helping my students learn how to learn, rather than just memorizing facts and following procedures. With my Master of Arts in Education from Loyola Marymount University, I’ve developed a teaching style that gives my students the tools they need to excel not only in their studies but also in everyday life. What matters most to me is that each of my students discovers their own unique learning style and feels empowered to use it as they move forward in their academic journey and beyond. I’m truly passionate about seeing my students grow, not just in knowledge but in confidence, as they develop the skills to become lifelong learners. When I’m not teaching, you’ll find me cheering on my beloved Dallas Cowboys—yes, I’m a lifelong fan, and my love for the team runs deep! My grandpa, an engineer with four patents to his name, was a huge influence on my love for both learning and sports. He taught me the value of curiosity, problem-solving, and the thrill of competition. Thanks to him, I’ve always believed that learning can be as exciting as a big game.
Jonathan Rojas, Reading and Math Specialist
Hello! My name is Jonathan, and I’m currently a college student at Deanza studying Environmental Science with the goal of one day becoming a teacher. I’ve always enjoyed working with children and continue to seek out opportunities to support their learning andgrowth. I’m passionate about education, the environment, and helping young minds connect with the world around them. My aim is to create engaging, supportive spaces where kids feel
inspired to learn.
Melissa Portillo, Reading and Math Specialist
Melissa is passionate about teaching and inspiring young learners. With over 10 years of experience working with children, she brings dedication and heart to the classroom. She holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and earned her Master’s in Teaching from Santa Clara University. In addition to core subjects, Melissa has taught dance, technology, and art electives. Currently a 2nd grade teacher, she is excited to join the Thriving Minds team and continue making a meaningful impact in students' lives.
Haley Tran, Reading and Math Specialist
Haley is a recent Graduate from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and holds a Bachelor's of Science in Applied Mathematics and a minor in Data Science. She has tutoring experience working with students of all abilities and ages including preschoolers, grade schoolers, college students, and even adult learners returning to their education. Haley is uplifting, positive, and passionate about inspiring students inside and outside the classroom, and is excited to help your young scholar reach their fullest potential.
Sora Cho, Reading and Math Specialist
Sora earned their Bachelor's in Public Health Sciences at the University of California - Irvine. She has multiple years of experience tutoring children from pre-k to early high school, having worked previously as a peer tutor and as a Kumon instructor. Though they aim to pursue veterinary medicine, Sora loves working with children. In fact, it was once her dream to be a pediatrician! She's very excited to be a part of the Thriving Minds team and cannot wait to work with you!
Alexandra Fil, Reading and Math Specialist
Alexandra comes from a multidisciplinary background, holding dual bachelors in Biology and Anthropology from UC San Diego, a masters in Accounting from San Jose State University, and most recently, a masters in Communications from Washington State University. Alexandra has been volunteering in classrooms since she was a young girl, as her mother was a teacher at her elementary school and her fifth-grade math teacher. Since then, Alexandra has had extensive experience tutoring students in math and science, as well as more recently in public speaking, multimedia content creation, writing, and debate. In her spare time, Alexandra can usually be found reading and watching classic science fiction movies.
