Hi, I'm Tammy!

Upon meeting me, others are most likely to describe me as passionate and energetic. I have a strong passion to help others to reach success and their full potential, especially when it comes to learning. Driving this passion is my energy and enthusiasm. With both of these, I will serve as a team member to work alongside both families and the individual to provide guidance and ideas to improve learning challenges. I have been a certified teacher since 2004 and in private education since 2015. My teaching experience has shaped my ability to help problem solve and give relative insight and advice for learning. When working with individuals and families, I create an individualized learning plan that fits each student's needs. At the same time, I believe in a collaborative approach between addressing both academic and executive functioning. Both areas need to be considered and supported in order for academic success to occur.

 

After completing my teacher’s degree in 2004 in Special Education K-12, I worked as a special education teacher in Yuma, AZ at a local high school for 9 years before moving up to the Phoenix area. After three years working in public and charter schools in Phoenix, I moved to private education full time upon seeing the need for quality educators to serve learners through tutoring. Smart Cactus officially became an LLC in 2017 and since then, I have been serving families in the West Valley and providing quality instruction in their home. 

 

My educational passion lies in working with individuals with disabilities. I have an extensive background and experience working with individuals on the Autism Spectrum Background. Even though my early background was working with high schoolers, I work with any K-12 learners and have experience with various reading programs used for home education. In addition to teaching, I am a Special Olympics Coach for the Westside Roadrunners delegation in Goodyear. 

 

Since I started in 2015, the need for quality teachers to tutor learners in the West Valley has grown.