Staff
ANNA LABOON
After 12 years of experience in teaching and special education, as well as being a mother of two boys with special needs, Anna saw a need in our community to bridge the gap between general education and special services. In 2014, Anna opened Activ8 Learning Center with hopes of becoming an advocate for children who didn't fit into the general education "box". Activ8 has made it's name in the Orange County community as a voice for families and children who need it the most. Her education includes:
• Masters in Reading from the University of San Diego
Credentialed Teacher
• Trained in Lindamood-Bell Methods
• Certificate of Attendance: Implementing Social Thinking® Concepts And Vocabulary into the Home and School Day
• Trained in the Slingerland Method for teaching children with dyslexia
• 15 years teaching experience at lower elementary/middle school levels including GATE programs and Resource Teacher
ELLEN ABRAMS
Ellen has a bachelors degree in graphic design and advertising and a masters degree in business administration. She has spent much of her career working in the advertising industry as a media buyer and was most recently the administrative assistant for a respected real estate team in Orange County. She was drawn to our establishment because she recently had a baby and is looking for a change of pace and new career opportunities. She also has a 14 year old with ADHD so she is well experienced living with a child with learning difficulties and is excited to help Activ8 support families with similar needs.
In her free time (does that exist for a new mom?) Ellen enjoys being outdoors hiking, biking and camping, or enjoys many of the shopping and entertainment options Orange County has to offer.
Tutors
KRISTEN EUZEBIO
Kristen graduated from Vanguard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a multiple subject teaching credential. Kristen specializes in special education intervention primarily with children needing behavioral modification: autism, sensory processing and reading disorders such as Dyslexia. For the past 11 years, she has worked in NMUSD in Special Education.
Kristen loves working with children and seeing them grow. She is excited to be a part of the Activ8 team!
KYLE VITWAR
Kyle is currently pursuing his bachelors degree in education at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, and has plans to go on to get his credentials and masters in education. Kyle works with kids ages 4 to 18 through education, recreation and at his church. He is excited to help students learn by overcoming obstacles as well as helping them gain confidence in their abilities.
In Kyle’s free time, he enjoys playing sports, hiking, going to the beach, playing guitar, and helping with youth programs at his church.
PINA TRIPODI
Pina has loved working with children for as long as she can remember. After receiving her Bachelors and Masters Degree in Elementary and Special Education from Boston University, Pina was a special education teacher for 8 years serving schools across the country. She has always been passionate about building authentic relationships, meeting children where they are at, and helping them shine. Pina uses her intuitive and creative nature to help people of all ages tap into their own power using art, reiki, yoga, and mindfulness through her business, Peaceful by Pina, and has recently published her first children's book, Sunny Finds her Shine!
Pina is so excited to be a part of the Activ8 community where she can use her unique skillset to help students grow.
DANEIL SONBOLI
Hello, my name is Daniel, I am a recent college graduate majoring in Biology BA. I attended the fantastic school of San Diego State University. During my time attending college I have taken math classes up to calculus and almost any science class you can think of. I am bilingual, so if you kid speaks farsi and needs to learn english I can help! :)
I have been teaching for almost three years to a wide range of students starting from little kids in the third grade to grown college students in their thirties. I am very easy to work with and communicate. Let me know if I can be of assistance in any way helping your child expedite their learning process.
CARRIE GOODE
Carrie has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Arizona and she earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with CLAD in Southern California. She has over 10 years of teaching experience in the primary grade levels and is currently working as a substitute teacher in the Newport Mesa School District. She has extensive training in various reading and reading fluency programs working with children in grades Kindergarten through Third Grade. She has worked as a Substitute teacher in grades Pre-K through 8th grades and has experience working in Special Education and Autism classes in the district. She finds tutoring a very rewarding experience and enjoys seeing each child grow and build their confidence. At home, she has a 6 year old son in Kindergarten who loves school. In her free time, she enjoys walking, reading and spending time with her family.
ANDREW SCOTT
Andrew Scott graduated from Princeton with Masters in Divinity and spent 20 years as a Presbyterian minister. Then, after a move back to California to be closer to family, he got his teaching credential from Cal State Fullerton and taught middle school social studies with a teaching supplemental in English and Spanish. He has since retired and is now a local Scottish bagpiper if you are in need of a piper for a wedding, funeral or event.
In his free time he likes to care for his grandchildren, study foreign languages and tend to his garden in the backyard.
MICAH RAY
Micah Ray has a bachelor degree in Physics with a minor emphasis in Mathematics from Roanoke College in Salem, VA. He has been privately tutoring in his spare time for the past year and has experience working with children with ADHD. He can tutor in all the sciences and computational math algebra and above. We are very excited to welcome him to the Activ8 team.
VALERIE-WILLIAMS
Valerie Williams has been a teacher for the past 19 years. She has a masters degree in education specializing in reading and writing readiness and a multiple subject teaching credential. She retired from the school district and now does private tutoring full time. She specializes in reading for primary aged students through high school and can tutor in math up to Algebra 2. In her spare time she likes to spend time with her family and take care of her grandchildren.