I started at a Montessori School. I later co-founded a school for students who dropped out or were kicked out of schools – a school that is still getting success today. I taught at an elite boarding school – loved it, and even got to take juniors and seniors to the Caribbean and scout out a new program in Tanzania and South Africa. I directed a career-change teacher-preparation program in the Bronx – didn’t really like that…learned my lesson that my strength is not in business operations, but in human development. I earned the Faculty Chair award at Northfield Mount Hermon School for Excellence in the Academic Program. I founded and directed a home-based tutoring center while teaching at a top-rate Community College, inspired by many young adults giving school a second chance, and succeeding at it. I completed my PhD studies because I was reading all the studies and books on my own anyway – figured I might as well get credit for it. And they paid me to go to school – pretty cool.
I teach teachers about instructional strategies for students with exceptional learning strengths and challenges, including diagnosed learning disabilities. Currently, I teach at the University of Colorado at Boulder. My other home is my family’s one-of-a-kind Martial Arts Academy where I coach the instructors (and many fabulous parents) in the “mental side” of Martial Arts – a side that takes into account one’s passion, self-management, and self-advocacy skills.
“I am excited to tell you that even a semester later, I have been able to apply so many of the things I learned in your class! There’s no question that the topics permeate into every educational environment and I feel grateful to have had the learning opportunities I had in your class addressing these important issues. I am a better teacher because of you.”
- Shealyn Malone, Middle School Teacher
“Karla is the person who helped me the most throughout my high school career because she pushed me to do nothing but work harder… She always would help me prepare for a test much earlier than I had the test date. I never liked doing that but I now realize that she really helped me by using that technique…She taught me all I know for writing any type of essay. Whenever we would start an essay I always said, “I can’t start it, I don’t know how;” she would then guide me and help me to do so…. Karla also was the person to push me and build up my confidence. Without her I don’t know where I would be as of now.”
- Steven Forman, Student
Excerpts from an in-class essay that he wrote during his freshman year in college. This,from a young man who thought he’d fail out of high school and never get to college.
“Karla pulled Alex through his 9th grade year and even more important, gave him the study skills he is using to his advantage today.”
- Valerie Schirmer, Parent
