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Our Team

Andie Rich, Co-director & Education Specialist

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Andie holds a teaching credential in mild to moderate disabilities in addition to a master's degree in special education from Santa Clara University. She has taught in a variety of school settings; public, non-public, charter school, and worked in homes. Working closely with children who have learning disabilities and other challenges is at the heart of all of the teaching work Andie does.

 

At Thriving Minds, Andie meets with new families which includes performing student assessments and listening and discussing students' academic needs. She provides new and continuous instructor training as well as overseeing student program development. Andie also works closely with instructors on providing feedback to parents regarding student progress.

Danielle Morgan, Co-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.

Kristen Corona, Reading & Math Specialist

Kristen has a bachelor's in theater from Point Park University. As the elder of 6 children growing up, she has always had the willingness to lead and work with children. Kristen initially developed a love for working with children with special needs as she took on a volunteer position at a middle school. Kristen has worked with children of all ages with various needs and in multiple settings. Kristen's passion for building and teaching students continues to grow with each student she woks with.

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.

Janki Patel, Reading & Math Specialist

Janki is a dedicated and passionate educator with a heart for helping students succeed. She strives to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment to promote growth, curiosity, and fun learning. She has worked with all age groups in a variety of Bay Area school districts. Janki is currently earning a bachelor's in speech and language pathology. After, she plans to complete her masters and go on to become a school-based speech and language pathologist.

Claire Lakkaraju, Reading & Math Specialist

Claire is currently a student at Boston University, studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a concentration in Audiology. After graduating from BU in the spring, she will go on to attend a Doctorate of Audiology program, focusing on Pediatric Audiology. During her summers home from school, she has worked as a teacher for elementary summer school, as well as an instructional aide at special education schools around San Jose. From her education and work experience, she creates a healthy and supportive learning environment for all students

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.

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Natalie Cusick, Reading Specialist

Natalie is a senior at Santa Clara University, pursuing a dual degree in business and journalism. With over a decade of experience working with children—ranging from classroom teaching and summer camp instruction to babysitting—she brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to her tutoring sessions. Her passion for education was ignited early on while volunteering in her mother’s first and third grade classrooms. Natalie’s energetic and encouraging approach fosters a nurturing learning environment, helping each student thrive and reach their full potential.

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