About Us
Elizabeth Amabile, Owner
Academic Support
Website: niwotlearningcollective.com
Email: elizabeth@niwotlearningcollective.com
Elizabeth Amabile, MA has worked as an educator for the last eighteen years in public and private schools, as well as in private practice. Elizabeth is a licensed K-12 Special Education Generalist and has a Masters degree in education. She has had extensive training in effective, research based literacy and math interventions, with an emphasis on Structured Literacy (Orton-Gillingham approach, IMSE, Wilson reading systems) and multisensory math.
Elizabeth is also certified as a social-emotional learning facilitator and yoga instructor. Recognizing the vast need for mental health support and wellness programming for school-aged children, this became Elizabeth’s passion project. In order for children to learn and thrive academically, they must first feel safe, secure, and centered.
Elizabeth adopts a holistic approach to working with children. She helps students develop strategies to manage anxiety and stress, build self-confidence, and embrace a growth-mindset. She and her students explore how they learn best, and instruction is tailored according to each individual student’s learning style and needs. Elizabeth’s mission is to make every session she has with a student effective, meaningful, engaging, and fun!
Whitney Johansson, Owner
Academic Support
Website: niwotlearningcollective.com
Phone: 720.254.5771 (call or text)
Email: whitney@niwotlearningcollective.com
Whitney has always found joy through working with children. Understanding, appreciating, and supporting how individuals learn is a lifelong passion for her. She has worked as an educator in the Boulder area for the past 15 years, including at the Sister Carmen Community Center, Cure Organic Farm, and The Growe Foundation. Whitney earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Western Washington University. She is a Clinical Herbalist and has a Master’s degree in Science focusing on Human Nutrition. Through teaching Nutrition to kids, Whitney knew that teaching was the path for her. From there she earned her Elementary Education Teacher’s License from CU and was recognized for being in the top of her class.
Whitney went on to study the Orton-Gillingham approach extensively, finding gems in the different approaches from different organizations. Through this training, Whitney witnessed the remarkable impact that multi-sensory, direct, explicit instruction can have and how through this instruction, students’ brains can be activated in varying ways so that their learning and processing style is honored and attended to, whether the subject is literacy or math or beyond. As a Learning Specialist, she aims to connect with the whole person and hold them and their learning in the highest regard.
When she is not teaching, you will find her frolicking in her garden, playing the ukulele, sewing up a storm, reading about literacy, hugging her dogs and cats, smooching her kiddos, and dreaming of their next adventure.
Ben Wolf - Literacy Academic Support
Email: wolfben03@gmail.com
Ben is thrilled to join the Niwot Learning Collective. Armed with a Master's in Learning Development and Family Sciences and certifications in OG, ALTA, and IMSLEC, he is eager to contribute to the collective's mission of fostering a love for learning and empowering students of diverse backgrounds.
Ben has pursued education through the entirety of his career. Spending time working at various summer camps, international teen service trips, directing and leading wilderness programs, coaching climbing, and teaching English as a foreign language Ben has always loved working with students. This all led him into the classroom where he spent the past five years, three in 2nd grade and two in 4th grade.
During his time as a classroom teacher Ben developed a keen understanding of differentiated learning, instilling a holistic approach to education that encompasses the whole student. His expertise in literacy intervention, informed by the Orton-Gillingham approach, has proven successful in enhancing students' reading and writing abilities. He is well-versed in effective lesson planning and program management, ensuring a comprehensive and tailored learning experience.
Ben lives in Denver where he and his Fiance Claire were born and raised. Ben enjoys a slow morning with a good cup of coffee and when he is not teaching spends most of his time climbing, traveling internationally, backcountry skiing, backpacking, canyoneering and constantly working on creating the best espresso.