WELCOME - AN INTRODUCTION TO LEARNING SUPPORT!

Our Mission:

To provide the most effective tools and services possible for the St. Ignatius' community and promote enhanced success in school performance and attitudes. We will work together with students, teachers, and parents to help children advance independently and maximize their capabilities in the educational, behavioural, and social realms.

Our Clients:

Any student, teacher, or parent that needs support and guidance in the development of academic, behavioural, speech, auditory, and motor skills needed to succeed. Our specialties allow us to work with individuals dealing with difficulties in mental processing, hearing, speech, language, literacy, behaviour, and motor skills, as well as enriching gifted children’s academic experience. 

Our Goals:

Provide support and guidance in working with innovative educational tools that meet the needs of our clients. Improve self-esteem of students by developing the tools they need to succeed. Create a system of clear communication and feedback from students, teachers, and parents ensuring our efficacy.

Our Methods:

This will be a Joint Team Support which will require the aid of the students, teachers, and parents. We plan on conducting one-on-one, small group, and in-class support sessions for students. We will be observing, assessing, and executing intervention strategies, such as the Wilson Reading Systems.

Our Programs:

At the Learning Support Center, we provide the following programs for our students:

a)  Literacy Support (Wilson Reading System)

b)  Numeracy Support

c)  Learning Support (in different subject areas)

d)  Learning Strategies Instruction

e)  Speech and Language Support

f)  Occupational Therapy

g)  Homework Club

Learning Centre Staff  

LINDA BROWN, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SPECIALIST:

“I have a B.A. in Education and Masters in Special Education. I’m happy to be in Cayman for the 2nd time around, having worked on the island from 1998-2001. My experience includes teaching at schools for the deaf at Exeter, Devon, as well as being a peripatetic support teacher (hearing, speech, language, physical, and communicative disorders) at Rhondda Cynon Taff. I am glad to have been chosen to be a member of the St. Ignatius community and am eager to help and gain more experience.”

MARY DIXON, SPECIAL NEEDS TEACHER:

“I am from the U.K. and have an Honours degree in Special Education and have been a learning support teacher for 12 years in primary and secondary schools. I specialize in working with children with reading, writing, and spelling difficulties. I believe these skills are crucial and affect all aspects of a child’s school life. I am looking forward to working with teachers, students, and parents in developing a system that promotes effective and confident learning of students with learning and behavioural difficulties across the school.”                                     

MARILYN KANNER, SPECIAL NEEDS TEACHER:

"With a Master Degree in Special Education, a Bachelor's  Degree in Elementary Education and 20 years of experience in the American Public School sector, I find teaching in the Cayman Islands and specifically at St. Ignatius a welcome change. Having taught at the Elementary, Middle and High School levels, working in the Learning Support Center offers me an opportunity to call on all of my previous experience. My husband and I are enjoying this move and look forward to assimilating into the Caymanian culture." 

MERREDITH WALTON, SPECIAL NEEDS TEACHER:

"I have a Bachelor of Science and a Masters in Ed. & HR. I have been teaching in the classrooms of Cayman for the the past 8 years. I am excited to join the Learning Support Team of St. Ignatius and am eager to work with students one on one and work with small groups."

 SAMANTHA TIBBETTS, PROGRAM COORDINATOR:

“I have a B.S. in Education and Masters in Ed. & HR, as well as 15 years of experience working with children with various learning styles. I am trained and certified in various learning languages integrating multi-sensory approach. I have held professional positions in the education tertiary field, as a teacher, instructor, and principal. I hope this centre is able to supplement the great work they have been doing in the past.”

CHANEL GOVIER, PROGRAM COORDINATOR:

"I have a B.S. and Masters in Education and have been a teacher, a special needs liaison, and involved in school administration. I am trained in various multi-sensory teachniques and research-based programs proven to being success to children with differentiated learning needs. I hope to get to know all of you and help in the crucial task of enabling student success."

DR. YIANOULA ALEXAKIS-LANIGAN, PEDIATRIC NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST:

Dr. Alexakis-Lanigan has over 20 years of experience in the assessment of children and adolescents. She completed her Post-doctoral training in neuro-psychology at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago, Illanois. She specializes in the assessment and diagnosis of learning disabilities, ADHD, neurodevelopmental and emotional disorders. She currently practices in Palm Beach County, Florida and consults with both private and public schools regarding their special learning needs programs.