Sandra D. Davis, M.A.
Certified Exceptional Education Teacher/Founder/Lead Tutor
We specialize in Specific Learning Disabilities with a concentration in Reading, Math, Writing, and Oral Language.
About New Tampa Tutors
Background
I have taught in public school environments, but I also have worked in private schools. Additionally, my experience includes working as an intensive reading teacher/tutor. After leaving public and private school environments, I decided to fulfill my dream of owning my own business, thereby my reason for opening New Tampa Tutors, LLC. While working for this nationally known franchise, I observed firsthand the benefits students gained from tutoring one-on-one. Moreover, I believe that supplemental education helps students meet the enormous demands of school.
I bring an impressive background in the education field, academically and through life experiences. I am a world traveler and knowledgeable about educating students with varying exceptionalities. I am a certified, degreed professional in special education and speech science. I have additional graduate hours in speech and language, added endorsement in reading, and several in-service hours in reading and writing. Learning exceptionalities that I have experience in remediating include many. For example, I have taught children with Down’s Syndrome, students with articulation disorders, and working with students with language disabilities. Additional expertise includes teaching students with sensory disorders, Asperger’s diagnosis (part of the Autism Spectrum), and emotional and behavioral disorders. Also, I have worked as a professional speech/language therapist in the school setting.
Experience
My experience includes teaching in public schools in different educational environments; resource, self-contained, and co-teaching. I have taught in Colorado Springs, Colorado District-20, and Hillsborough County School District. Additionally, I substituted in Hillsborough County School District in various K-12 environments before training as a tutor and a private school teacher at a Learning Center in New Tampa. Also, I have tutored voluntarily in public schools due to my belief in students benefitting from tutoring. I am organized, creative, and innovative. My talents were displayed when I developed curricula and activities for the students I worked with within the school setting. I am passionate about helping all students learn and access the school curriculum.
Furthermore, my experiences extend to administering norm-referenced achievement tests, interpreting, and sharing results. My instructional skills in teaching follow a structured literacy approach (explicit, systematic, structured, and multi-sensory) to reading. For example, I assess reading, oral language, and writing for students with learning disabilities and students who benefit from learning strategies to access the curriculum. Furthermore, I utilize effective remedial techniques and methods from the founders of Direct Instruction and Dr. Dozier, Anna Gillingham, and Dr. Samuel T. Orton (O-G) to teach children to read.
I received my undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida (Go Bulls!) and my graduate degree from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (Go Mountain Lions!). I am a member of the Council for Exceptional Children.