Christina Clark is a seasoned Special Education professional with extensive experience in literacy intervention. Her career began as a Teacher of the Deaf in public schools and at the California School for the Deaf, where she taught elementary grades for over a decade. Christina’s expertise extends to Resource (Special Education) teaching in Fremont, Livermore, and Pleasanton schools, specializing in reading, writing, and math intervention.
Christina holds a degree in Communicative Disorders and has specialized training with deaf students, equipping her to address the needs of students with learning differences, particularly those with language-based auditory challenges. Her commitment to professional development is evident through her attendance at workshops and conferences on reading disorders and brain science. In 2001, Christina founded the Barton Reading Program at Pleasanton Unified School District, providing one-on-one tutoring to at-risk students with the support of trained volunteers. After the program ended in 2012/13, Christina co-founded Foundations Tutoring, continuing her mission to improve reading, spelling, and writing skills for over 450 students through effective, personalized tutoring.
Laurie Kristof graduated from California Polytechnic State University in 1989 with a BS in Industrial Technology and Marketing. Initially working as a Manufacturing Planner/Technical Writer in the Aerospace Industry, Laurie shifted her focus after advocating for her daughter with learning differences. She discovered her passion for helping students with reading challenges and began volunteering with the Barton Reading Program at Pleasanton Unified School District.
In 2006, Laurie became an Early Intervention Barton Tutor at Valley View Elementary, providing multi-sensory, one-on-one tutoring to at-risk students. She achieved Certification as a Barton Tutor in 2008 and transitioned to a Barton Facilitator role in 2011, where she supported tutors, monitored student progress, and coordinated scheduling. From 2006 to 2013, Laurie successfully managed her own tutoring business, using the Barton Reading & Spelling Program to tutor students from K-12. As a founding member of Foundations Tutoring, Laurie continues to leverage her extensive experience to support students and enhance their literacy skills.