Advisory Council

Elizabeth Bloom is a COPAA-certified Parent Advocate who guides families through the complexities of special education, with a focus on supporting children with dyslexia and diverse learning needs. She serves as Regional Leader of Decoding Dyslexia California, Los Angeles, and co-founded the South Bay Dyslexia and Learning Differences Support Group, providing resources and advocacy for families seeking effective interventions. With 28 years of experience as an educator and the perspective of a parent of a dyslexic child, she champions evidence-based instruction and inclusive practices to help every student thrive.

Dr. Kaycie Deane is a clinical psychologist with more than 20 years of experience working with children and adolescents, specializing in ADHD, executive functioning deficits, learning disabilities, anxiety, mood disorders, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from UCLA, conducting research through the Center for Autism Research and Treatment and becoming certified in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2). In her private practice, she focuses on psychodiagnostic testing and psychotherapy, while her team also offers parent education and academic support. Dr. Deane has published research, presented at conferences, contributed to books, and worked in diverse settings including schools, treatment centers, and early intervention clinics.

Dr. Roger Bridges is an educator, storyteller, equity practitioner, and mental health professional with extensive experience as a school administrator and consultant. He is the founder of Building Bridges, an equity-centered consulting practice that supports schools and organizations through training, coaching, and strategic planning to foster belonging and equitable environments. His leadership roles have included Assistant Head of School for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Windward School in Los Angeles, and Associate Head of School for Advancement, Equity, Inclusion, and Counseling at Echo Horizon School in Culver City. A frequent speaker and facilitator, Dr. Bridges has worked with institutions such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Leadership Institute, Curtis School, and PACT Adopt, and presented nationally at the NAIS Annual Conference and People of Color Conference. He currently serves on the board of the California Teacher Development Collaborative.

Maureen Jennings began her career in the entertainment industry, working with Hollywood figures such as Gene Kelly, Danny DeVito, Albert Brooks, Judd Apatow, and Paul Feig, before writing and directing her award-winning short film Unexpected. Following the events of 9/11, she shifted her focus to communication disorders, earning her graduate degree and joining the faculty at California State University, Los Angeles, where she taught and supervised for 12 years. Today, she is the founder of Shoreline Speech & Language Center, a private practice of six therapists serving children from infancy through adolescence. Maureen has developed several innovative language programs, including the state-funded Act Up!™, which uses theater-based activities to help students strengthen speech, language, and social skills.

Dr. Aishah Muhammad-Flissinger is the founder of Social Sprouts and has practiced as a pediatric occupational therapist since 2003. She earned her master’s and clinical doctorate degrees from the University of Southern California and holds advanced certification in Sensory Integration, as well as training through the Social Thinking Clinical Training Program. Her work focuses on supporting children’s sensory processing and social-emotional learning skills through in-home and school-based services. She is also the creator of Social Sleuthers, an online program designed to help families, educators, and clinicians foster social-emotional development in children.

Frances Ricks, brings more than four decades of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA and her Master’s degree in Social Work from USC. Ms. Ricks is a Qualified Clinical Social Worker and a Diplomate in Social Work. Since establishing her private practice in 1984, Ms. Ricks has specialized in helping individuals and families navigate life transitions, relationship challenges, and emotional and behavioral concerns. In addition to her clinical practice, she has served as a consultant to inpatient hospitals and both private and public schools, providing guidance on student mental health, family systems, and educational support. A BrainWise therapist with a strong foundation in attachment based therapy, Ms. Ricks is committed to fostering collaboration between families, schools, and communities. She believes that meaningful connections and supportive relationships are essential for children to reach their highest potential.

Elizabeth Maynard is an Educator and Learning Specialist with more than 33 years of experience supporting students from kindergarten through college. She holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education, an Education Specialist credential, and formal training as a Reading Specialist. Her current research focuses on ADHD coaching and student wellness in middle school learners. Elizabeth provides individualized educational therapy for students with ADHD, anxiety, learning differences, processing disorders, autism, and dyslexia. She is also highly regarded for her work in parent education and advocacy. As the founder of ETS, Elizabeth is committed to helping students thrive through evidence-based interventions, data-driven practices, and a whole-child approach to learning and wellness. She also serves on local nonprofit boards and frequently speaks to schools, educational organizations, and parent groups.

Linda Peterson is the founder of Linda Peterson & Associates Speech & Language Pathology. She received both her B.A. and M.A. degrees in Communicative Disorders from California State University, Northridge. Her early career was hospital and trauma unit based and focused on the treatment of speech and language disorders related to stroke and head injury. Wanting to pursue a focus on pediatric speech and language disorders, Linda moved on to clinic based practice, opening Linda Peterson & Associates in 1988. Beginning as a solo practitioner, over the years Linda has built a group of licensed speech pathologists who specialize in working with children from two years of age through adolescence in the areas of articulation, receptive and expressive language disorders, auditory processing disorder, stuttering, apraxia, and social language deficits. In addition to providing comprehensive evaluations and individual therapy services, Linda conducts numerous teacher and parent inservice trainings throughout the South Bay communities as well as speech and language screenings at local schools.

Dr. Susie McNary Johnson has deep roots with Rolling Hills Prep, tracing back to her father’s 1921 graduation from Glendale High School with the school’s founder. She began her education at Miss Dawn’s School in 1952 and played a role in the development of Rolling Hills Country Day School and Renaissance. A graduate of Marymount, Chadwick, Stanford, and USC, she earned her teaching credential and doctoral degree in Educational Psychology and Special Education. Driven by a passion for supporting children with learning differences, Dr. McNary has served on numerous boards including Chadwick School and the Switzer Learning Center. In retirement, she continues to mentor psychologists, teach the Enneagram, and enjoy her family and pets.