Our Team
Barbara Wolf
Educational Consultant & Founder
Barbara started Wolf Educational Consulting in 2016. She has over 20 years of experience in a diverse set of educational roles. She consults teachers and parents on positive reinforcement to reach academic success in the classroom and at home. She has experience in leading IEP and 504 meetings ensuring parents, students and teachers are in agreement about obtainable educational goals. Barbara specializes in the areas of accommodations and modifications for those who have unique learning needs.
She has taught children with mild to severe learning disabilities, emotional disorders, autism, mild to moderate mental impairments, traumatic brain injury and profoundly mentally and physically impairments.
Barbara graduated from Florida State University in 1997 with a M.S. in Emotional Disturbances/Learning Disabilities. Her belief is helping children discover effective learning strategies and communicating them to all of the key support people in the child’s education process will help the child meet their highest potential.
Leigh Grammich
Educational Consultant & Office Manager
Leigh joined Wolf Educational Consulting in 2017. She is a certified Orton-Gillingham reading intervention specialist. Prior to joining she was a teacher at St. Paul’s Preschool in Cary, NC. Leigh has lived in the Apex area since 2006 after moving here from Long Island, N.Y.Leigh is compassionate, kind and patient with her students. She implements positive reinforcement in her sessions.Leigh loves spending time making memories with her family, friends and cheering on her husband and boys as they accomplish triathlons.
Amy Beth Knowlton
Educational Consultant
Amy Beth Knowlton graduated from East Carolina University in 1996 with a B.S. in Special Education. She is committed to creating a comfortable, supportive environment for students to feel successful and thrive. She uses Orton-Gillingham and Wilson to precisely tailor her lessons to each students unique learning style and needs. Amy Beth is married and raising her two kids and two dogs. She loves spending time outdoors, and when the weather is nice you can often find her boating at Lake Jordan.
Rachel Acton
Educational Consultant
Rachel has proudly served young students and their families for over two decades as an elementary teacher in both private and public school. She is trained in Orton-Gillingham reading intervention. Rachel holds a Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood Education, a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Supervision, and her Elementary 1 Montessori Certification through the American Montessori Society. As a mother to a neurodivergent child and a teacher of elementary age students, she has a unique understanding of the roles and complexities of the many members of a child’s support team (tutor, teacher, parent, child). She is thrilled to be working with new learners and their families.
Michcale McGarrigan
Educational Consultant & Speech Pathologist
Michcale has been a Speech Language Pathologist for over 20 years. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication disorders from The Pennsylvania State University. Michcale has worked with young children to geriatrics with a variety of communication disorders. She became interested in the Orton Gillingham program when her son struggled with reading. After watching him succeed, she decided to become a trained Orton Gillingham specialist to help other children be successful and increase their love of reading. Michcale enjoys watching college football and is an avid Penn State fan. She loves being active, watching her boys play sports and spending time with her family.
Valerie Bromenschenkel
Educational Consultant
Valerie has over 20 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher and one-on-one tutor. As an educational consultant, it is her goal to create a trusted relationship with students so she can introduce tools and resources which will foster hope and self-esteem. Through their sessions, she helps students recognize their learning potential and make changes that will have a positive impact on their daily functioning and performance. Valerie is a certified educational therapist with a Master’s degree in education. Her warmth and ability to connect with students enable her to create a safe environment for growth. A Raleigh native, Valerie and her husband have moved back to North Carolina after living in the Chicago suburbs for 30 years. She enjoys reading, cooking, and sailing. Her greatest joy is spending time with family and friends.
Leilani Long
Educational Consultant
Leilani has over 20 years experience working with students who are unique learners. She has worked with students from preschool to college age. She has a background in speech and vision therapy and has taught children diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, executive functioning disorders and reading fluency issues. Leilani is a trained Orton-Gillingham specialist. Leilani enjoys working with students on an individual level and creating confident, lifelong learners. As an executive functioning coach, she focuses on study habits, organizational skills and time management strategies while exploring a student’s own personal learning style.
Leilani has a bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from North Carolina State University. In her free time she enjoys gardening, reading and spending time with her husband and two sons.
Cissy McKissick
Educational Consultant
Ms. McKissick has taught over 30 years. She began by teaching middle and high school students with autism in day school and residential programs. She has taught in WCPSS since 1990, mostly in elementary schools. She loves seeing students eyes light up when they learn new skills, academically or behaviorally. She currently works part time in an alternative elementary program for students with significant behavior challenges. She has a M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University, and a M.Ed in Special Education from North Carolina Central University. She is a National Board Certified teacher and an Orton Gillingham specialist. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, gardening, hiking, biking and reading.
Samantha Statham
Educational Consultant
Sam Statham is a graduate of Charles Freer School of Nursing with a bachelor’s degree from DeMontfort University, England. Sam has over 10 years of experience working in the UK National Health Service as a Senior Staff Nurse and served as a community educational health specialist working within the local school system supporting children aged 4 through 18. In 2009, Sam relocated with her family to Apex, North Carolina. As a parent, she has had experience helping her own children overcome learning disabilities and become successful in school. Sam has continued to work with children including a role as coaching support and managerial assistant within a local gymnastics facility. She has coached and guided children to overcome various challenges in reaching their goals. Sam is passionate about supporting children to gain the skills required which allow them to feel empowered in their learning needs and to be successful in life.
Claudia Dalessio
Educational Consultant
Claudia Dalessio brings 26 years of rich teaching experience, with a focus on academic and social-emotional growth for students in grades 3-8. An experienced educator in California and North Carolina, she’s spent the past six years at Martin GT Magnet Middle School as an Academically Gifted (AIG) Specialist and Magnet Coordinator. Claudia previously taught for a decade at Olds Elementary School, honing her expertise in both fifth and third grades.
With a deep understanding of twice-exceptional (2e) students, Claudia is committed to nurturing their strengths while addressing unique learning needs. Her expertise includes executive functioning skill-building, using a variety of practical tools—binders, planners, spreadsheets, and more—to help students stay organized and empowered in their learning journey.
Claudia also served as Director of Admissions at a Montessori school in California, where she supported young learners and their families from infancy through sixth grade. Outside of her educational career, Claudia enjoys hiking with her dog and exploring new places with her daughters.
Rachel Beech
Educational Consultant
Rachel is a passionate educator who loves guiding children on their journey of growth and achievement. She has over 10 years of experience working with children as an elementary school teacher, a Sunday school teacher, and a gymnastics coach. Rachel received a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education with a K-6 Teaching License from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Additionally, she earned a State Certification in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (Lexia LETRS). Rachel has received and completed comprehensive Orton-Gillingham training.
As an educational consultant, Rachel will foster open and positive relationships between students and families. She will ensure that the students feel cared for and supported as they receive tailored instruction to meet their needs. Rachel’s favorite part of teaching is forming lasting, impactful relationships with both the children and their families and seeing the students believe in themselves. Outside of her profession, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cheering on the Carolina Hurricanes, watching sunsets, and going to the beach.