Chandler
Our Teachers
Ms. Laura Ehlers
My name is Laura Ehlers. I grew up in Tucson and received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Arizona. After teaching grades 4-6 in an open classroom in Tucson for two year, I moved to South Carolina. There I taught primarily middle school math for 28 years before retiring. After retiring from teaching, I ventured into other areas, but my heart remained with teaching. During the last ten plus years, I have been involved in many different volunteer activities involving teaching/tutoring. While I have worked with all age groups, my most recent have involved working with adults English Language Learners and elementary school children.
I am a passionate and caring teacher with high expectations. I enjoy reading, music, gentle yoga, playing board games, and spending time with people I care about. I have one grown son, who lives near me.
Ms. Abby Greenwald
Devoted to the performing arts for many years, after earning my BA in theater arts/music minor at San Francisco State University, I taught countless students of all ages and levels, directed choirs, jazz ensembles, orchestras, and theater Productions in San Francisco, Seattle, and Whidbey Island Washington, then added English and ESL in the Netherlands from 1999- 2015. Though I continued to teach the arts, I soon found English teaching to international students to be equally as satisfying, first in Refugee centers, then in Dutch Jr and High Schools. After earning my ESL certification (2014), I returned to my homeland in 2015, where in Washington, Minnesota, and now Arizona, I was blessed with some fine opportunities to teach Japanese and Chinese college students, as well as public speaking, math, English, and now creative writing to East Indian and Somalian students at Best Brains Learning Center since April 2018.
Always willing to take on new challenges, I finished an MS (Master of Science) degree online in mental health and Ministry this year at GCU, while in minimal free time, I enjoy singing, acting, playing flute, acting, directing and Bible studies at various churches. Weekends I love to take walks, swim, bike and watch movies with my wonderfully supportive husband, Charles.
I have found no greater joy than contributing to the development of another's gifts which is and always has been my favorite thing about teaching.
Ms. Allison Williams
Hello! My name is Allison Williams. I am a recent graduate from Arizona State University. I have a Bachelor's in Elementary Education and I am currently working to complete my Master's in Psychology. I have been working with children in the classroom, as well as daycare, for the better part of the last 3 or so years. I absolutely love teaching reading and math, and technology is one of my strong suits. I am so excited to be teaching with Best Brains!
In my free time I like to draw and paint. I have a 3-legged cat named Skippy to keep me busy as well.
Ms. Katherine
I have been an abacus teacher at Best Brains for over three years. I am attending National-Louis University to achieve a Bachelor's degree in Elementary education and endorsements in Early Childhood and Special Education. I am the president of Educator Rising club and a part of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. I have a love for learning and connecting with my students. Outside of school you could find me spending time with my family and friends, reading books and penning my own, being outdoors, and star gazing.
