Hi! My name is Ms. Maia, and I’m currently a K-6 reading specialist at Ogden Elementary in LaGrange, IL. I grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, and earned my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University (Go Hoosiers!). Before becoming a reading specialist, I was a classroom teacher for seven years, teaching 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. As a classroom teacher, my favorite thing to teach was reading, which motivated me to pursue a master’s in literacy instruction from Northeastern Illinois University. As a reading specialist, I enjoy working with individuals and small groups of students to provide explicit instruction to support their literacy needs. I also appreciate the opportunity to support and collaborate with teachers and families.
Tutoring is an excellent way to provide individualized instruction to students. I also love how it offers a unique opportunity to connect with and collaborate with families. I’ve also been a private tutor for many families throughout my educational career.
On a personal note, I live in Chicago with my husband (we got married in May 2022) and our rescue dog, Gopher. Gopher is a border collie, a golden retriever mix with a lot of energy. We enjoy taking long walks around the city and trying out new restaurants (especially sushi and pizza).