“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll learn.”
Lauren Fopp, Founder
Lauren Fopp, M.Ed. created Tampa Learning Co. (or TLC) in 2014. While working at a local private school, she realized that connecting with students on a different level than in a whole-class setting doesn’t just lead to better academic results - teaching a child HOW to learn, can have a lasting impact on their entire life.
Combined with her love of teaching, Lauren's expertise in brain-based learning, developmentally appropriate practices, KTAV learning styles and gifted education has led her down the path to create Tampa Learning Co.
Lauren has a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an Early Childhood Specialization, a Gifted Teaching Endorsement from University of South Florida, and she has completed the Harvard School of Education Teaching for Understanding Course 1. With 19 years teaching experience at a leading private school in Tampa, she has extensive training in all aspects of teaching and how to effectively reach each individual child.
Meet our Learning Coaches
We are only as good as our Learning Coaches. That’s why we work with certified teachers who have both experience in the field and a rock-solid education in teaching. We feel that it is essential for them to not just understand what they are teaching, but also know how to teach the material.
All of these experienced professionals are catering to your child’s unique learning style. Effective teaching is an art form that our Learning Coaches are constantly striving to perfect.
Abby Sammons
Abby Sammons has a Bachelor of Science in Community Leadership and Development from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida. This will be her third year teaching 5th grade in Hillsborough County. Abby holds a K-12 reading endorsement as well as a ESOL Endorsement. She has experience teaching all subject areas but currently teaches reading and science.
Abby is passionate about creating connections with all her students and encouraging them to find the best version of themselves through learning. She wants us students to know how important their voice is and just how to find it.
Alexa Speicher
Alexa Speicher has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from University of South Florida. She is going on her 10th year of teaching with Hillsborough County Public schools. She has taught grades third through fifth. She holds her gifted, ESOL and K-12 Reading Endorsement.
Alexa is passionate about literacy instruction and has extensive experience working with emergent readers. In addition to literacy, she enjoys integrating technology into lessons and has experience using many education platforms to engage students. When Alexa is not teaching, she is also a district trainer for Hillsborough County Schools.
Becky Fuller
Becky Fuller has a Bachelors of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a concentration of American Sign Language Interpreting from the University of South Florida.
She is currently teaching 4th and 5th grade Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. Becky is passionate about giving all of her students equal access to communication and advocating for her students needs.
In her free time, Becky enjoys spending time with her husband and three dogs.
Liz Hickerson
Liz has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and education from the University of Rochester in New York. With over 15 years of dedicated teaching experience, Liz is a certified educator specializing in Language Arts, Math, and Social Science across the Elementary, Middle School, and High School levels. Her extensive background in education is complemented by her certification in Exceptional Student Education (ESE), allowing her to effectively support diverse learners and create inclusive, engaging classroom environments.
Passionate about student success and academic growth, Liz is known for her ability to connect with students of all ages, foster critical thinking, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning. Her commitment to educational excellence and individualized instruction has made her a trusted and respected figure among students, parents, and colleagues alike.
Dana Pawlan
Dana has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary and Special Education from Indiana University in Bloomington. She then received her Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an ESOL endorsement from National Louis University. Dana is going into her 8th year of teaching but is currently a 3rd grade teacher in Hillsborough County Public Schools.
Dana is a passionate, flexible, and enthusiastic educator that creates positive, engaging learning experiences by building relationships with her students. She aims to provide engaging, hands-on learning experiences for all of her learners and adapt to their learning style.
Faye Leach
Faye received a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences with a minor in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Maine and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Wayne State College. She obtained certification in Teaching Students with Disabilities.
Faye has 9 years experience working with the Orton Guillingham program. She currently holds a certification in Elementary Education K-6 and Educational Leadership K-12 and is reading endorsed and ESOL endorsed for Grades K-12. With 20 years experience in grades K-12, she is also Reading Recovery Licensed and taught Reading Recovery in the district for 4 years. Currently, Faye is the Reading Resource Teacher/Reading Coach at Muller Elementary School. She is passionate about early literacy and giving students a solid foundation in phonemic awareness and phonics and enjoys working with students to create a positive learning environment with engaging lessons.
Heather Anderson
Heather has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. She is a certified K-6 and VPK teacher in the state of Florida and currently teaches VPK at a local private school.
Her 10 years of experience as an educator in grades Pre-K through 5th grade have allowed her to to utilize different strategies, skills and support tools for a variety of learners. After deciding to leave the classroom in 2020 to raise her son, she was able to maintain her skill set through private tutoring at the request of former Kindergarten families and students.
Jacinda Michel
Jacinda Michel has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida. She has taught in Hillsborough County for 10 years. She has been evaluated as a Highly Effective Educator for 7 years.
Jacinda holds a K-12 Reading Endorsement, ESOL Endorsement and an Exceptional Student Education certification. During her time in the district, she has had the privilege to teach at 6 different schools including transformational schools. She has taught all subject areas in elementary, teaching experience in all grade levels and teaching experience working with students with varying exceptionalities.
Jasmine Shanteloo
Jasmine Shanteloo has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in African and African American
Studies from the University of South Florida. She has been in the educational field since 2006. She taught all subject areas in 3rd grade for 10 years, was previously a Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) Professional Development Specialist, a HCPS instructional mentor to new teachers in the district’s highest needs schools and is currently a Mathematics Instructional Coach for HCPS.
She believes that all students can learn and deserve a teacher that makes learning fun and relevant. In her free time, Jasmine enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.
Jillian Evans
Jillian Evans has a Bachelor in Science degree in Elementary Education with an ESOL endorsement from The University of Tampa. She has since taught for 7 years in Hillsborough County Public Schools.
Jillian has taught both Kindergarten and 2nd Grade and has experience with students from all backgrounds and with various learning styles and abilities. Her area of expertise is in phonics and early reading skills.
When Jillian is not working with students she is spending time with her husband and two young boys.
Kat Edler
Kat Edler has a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from the University of South Florida. Her teaching career began in teaching PreK at The USF Preschool for Creative Learning. Upon graduating, she earned her teaching certificate through the ACP program. She has been teaching in Hillsborough County for 13 years in various diverse academic settings. She is currently an ESOL Resource Teacher at a local elementary school.
She has received extensive training in teaching reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Her area of speciality is reading. Reading is a foundational skill that is essential for life long education.
Kathleen Dupuis
Kathy Dupuis has her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education from Bridgewater State in MA and her Masters in Exceptional Student Education from Southeastern University in Lakeland FL. She is certified in birth through 6 grades in general education, and birth through 12 in ESE. She has her Reading endorsement, ESOL endorsement and the FL Civics endorsement.
She has over 20 years of classroom experience, is currently teaching Varying Exceptionalities for K through 5, and enjoys making strong connections with students, believing that understanding what motivates them is key to unlocking their success!
Kimberly Lindner
Kimberly Lindner has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida. She currently teaches all 3rd grade subjects and has been teaching in Hillsborough County for the past 10 years.
Kimberly holds a K-12 Reading Endorsement and ESOL Endorsement. She also has teaching experience and training in animal science, environmental science, and performing arts magnet schools working with diverse populations of students.
Kayla Andux
Kayla Andux has a bachelor's degree of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix and a master's degree in educational leadership from Saint Leo University. This will be her 10th year teaching grades 3-5. She is certified K-12 in Exceptional Student Education and holds her ESOL and K-12 Reading Endorsements.
Kayla is passionate about creating a positive and engaging learning environment for all students. She enjoys making learning interactive and meaningful. When she is not teaching, she enjoys traveling and art.
Kevin Schmitt
Kevin Schmitt has a Bachelor of Science in History from Liberty University. This will be his sixth year teaching overall and his third year teaching 5th Grade in Hillsborough County. Kevin has experience in teaching multiple subjects from 2nd through 6th Grade as well as 9th and 10th grade, he specializes in Math and Science.
Kevin is enthusiastic about establishing good bonds with all his students and helping them to become the best possible student they can be. He wants his students to find the joy in learning and how remarkable it is to learn new things!
Maddie Wise
Maddie Wise graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Florida. She holds a K-12 Reading Endorsement and ESOL Endorsement. Maddie has taught first grade for the past 3 years in Hillsborough County and is currently teaching second grade this year.
Maddie has experience teaching all subject areas within the primary grade levels and is passionate about teaching early literacy. Maddie believes that every student has individual needs when it comes to learning, and she is committed to meeting the specific needs of each one of her students.
Bridget Dixon
Bridget Dixon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida and a Master of Science degree in Reading from Nova Southeastern University. Additionally, she has a certification for Exceptional Student Education.
Bridget has over 29 years of teaching experience in kindergarten through 3rd grade, with 14 of those years supporting students as an Academic Intervention Specialist. She received extensive training in phonics and early reading instruction through the Reading Intervention Master Training program. She is currently teaching 2nd Grade Math and Science in Hillsborough County Public School.
Meredith Hungerford
Meredith Hungerford has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education K-6 with a minor in ESOL from Saint Anselm College. Meredith is in her 9th year of teaching in Hillsborough County Public Schools. She has teaching and tutoring experience in all grades K-5, all subjects. She is currently teaching 3rd grade ELA.
Meredith finds passion in fostering students’ love for reading and learning new things. She strives to pass on a growth mindset and the “Power of Yet” to her students.
Sarah Davis
Sarah Davis is a seasoned educator with over 11 years of enriching teaching experience. She’s had the privilege of igniting a passion for learning in students and helping them succeed. Her approach revolves around cultivating a love for learning, building confidence, and adapting to the unique needs of each student. Whether it's navigating challenging subjects or enhancing skills for personal growth, Sarah is committed to guiding students on their educational path.
With a deep understanding of various learning styles and a proven track record of success, she’s here to create a positive and empowering learning experience.
Savannah Brotherton
Savannah earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida and is K-12 Reading endorsed. This is Savannah’s fourth year teaching First Grade at Hillsborough County Public Schools in which she has gained experience in creating a differentiated & multi sensory educational experience for her students.
Savannah specializes in phonics instruction and has a passion for teaching students how to become strong readers. She always strives to provide a positive learning environment with engaging and diverse lessons that reach each unique type of learner.
Shalynda Carithers
Shalynda Carithers has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida. She is currently teaching 3rd grade math and science as well as 4th and 5th grade ELP (Extra Learning Period) throughout the school year and has been evaluated as an Highly Effective Educator.
Shalynda has taught all subjects areas in elementary but specializes in math and science. She also has years of "Leader in me" training based on Sean Covey's "7 Habits of Happy Kids," which provides practices for students to take control of there learning, set goals, and build their social emotional skills.
Stacy Velasquez
Stacy Velasquez has a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of South Florida and received her teaching certification K-6 from the Educator’s Preparation Institute.
She holds her Gifted Endorsement and ESOL Endorsement. Stacy is currently teaching 2nd grade and has been teaching for Hillsborough County for 17 years. Her teaching experience has been with animal science, environmental science, and performing arts magnets schools working with diverse populations.
Stacy’s specialty is science. She was a science resource teacher for two years where she supported students (K-5), teachers, and administrators in the area of science.
Jodi Mitchell
Jodi Mitchell has her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida. She has been in the education field since 1995 and taught in public, private, and charter schools. She has her ESOL, Varying Exceptionalities and Reading Endorsement on her teaching certificate. She has also been trained in Brainspring which is a hands-on phonics system that helps all children learn phonics as they read, and she has attended many Math trainings so she stays updated on the many ways to teach math to diverse learners. She is currently teaching in Hillsborough County and has been evaluated as a Highly Effective Educator for the past 9 years. She has been tutoring for the past four years and enjoys teaching Reading and Math to all grade levels.
Hailey Armstrong
Hailey Armstrong holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. This will be her fifth year teaching, and she is excited to return to teaching all subject areas this school year. Hailey has a strong love for math and enjoys finding ways to make it engaging and accessible for all learners.
Hailey is dedicated to creating a supportive and welcoming classroom where every student feels seen, heard, and valued. She believes in helping students build confidence in themselves as learners and individuals. Her goal is to inspire a love for learning and to empower each student to reach their full potential both in and out of the classroom.
Daralyn Harpster
Daralyn has been an educator for over 10 years, specializing in working with students who have emotional, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities. Her passion for teaching stems from a deep belief that every child has the ability to grow and succeed when given the right support, encouragement, and tools.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She believes that learning is not one-size-fits-all, which is why Daralyn focuses on creating individualized, engaging, and meaningful learning experiences that meet students where they are.
Her goal is to always help students gain confidence and independence. She uses a calm, supportive, and strengths-based approach in all of her sessions, and she loves seeing students grow not just academically, but personally too.
Helping students feel seen and heard is what drives her every day.
Eric Harpster
Eric is a dedicated educator with over 10 years of experience working with students in both middle and elementary school settings. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and began his teaching career in middle school before transitioning into elementary education, where he has continued to support students across a range of academic levels and needs.
As a tutor, he focuses on building trust and connection first. He believes that students thrive when they feel understood and encouraged. His approach is consistent, and practical - breaking down skills into manageable steps and helping students stay engaged and confident as they work through challenges.
Whether he’s working on reading fluency, math concepts, or simply building better study habits, Eric tailors each session to meet the student’s unique learning style and pace. More than anything, he wants students to leave their sessions feeling capable and proud of what they’ve accomplished.
Julie Sekulits
Julie Sekulits earned a Master in Education from the University of Florida with a Major in Elementary Education. She is currently a reading coach at an elementary school in Tampa. She has been an educator in Hillsborough County for over 30 years and has taught 1st grade, 2nd grade, and a combination class of 1st through 3rd graders.
Julie has her K-12 Reading Endorsement and ESOL endorsement. Her passion and years of training are in the science of reading. She spends her free time with family and friends - and watching the Florida Gators.
Are you a motivated and experienced teacher? If you are interested in joining our team, click below.