Learning Support
Helping students understand how they learn can be the key to their academic success.
Our dedicated learning support teachers ensure that all our students understand how to learn effectively. This support empowers students with the skills and confidence to thrive at Forest Ridge, in college and beyond.
Our Learning Support program supports our students and faculty in several ways:
- Student learning support: Learning support is offered in a variety of ways, both individually and in small group sessions, with teachers and with learning specialists as needed. Students will strengthen their academic skills, create organizational strategies and develop the confidence to self-manage their academic workload.
- Student self-management skills: Strong self-management skills are vital in life. Students learn skills such as time management, self-advocacy and organizational strategies.
- Professional development: Through classroom observation and professional coaching, our learning support teachers collaborate with faculty to incorporate diverse learning styles into the class curriculum.
Meet our Learning Support Specialists
Chris Golden, BA Special Education
Middle School Learning Specialist
In his 20 years as a K-8 teacher and learning specialist, Chris has worked with students with a wide range of learning strengths, challenges and differences.
He is Orton-Gillingham and EmPOWER certified, trained in Phonographics and has extensive experience teaching students with a variety of learning differences. Chris has a passion for helping students reach their full academic and personal potential through mentoring, direct instruction and support of their classroom teachers.
Meg Black, BA Communication Studies, M.E.d.
Upper School Learning Specialist
After graduating from UCLA, Meg taught English as a Foreign Language in Spain and traveled around the world with 9th-12th grade students on educational and service-based trips. Her love for teaching and working directly with students led her to pursue her master’s in education at the University of Notre Dame through the Alliance for Catholic Education. She has worked in Catholic schools for 5 years, teaching middle school English Language Arts and providing extra academic support as a resource teacher.
As a part of her commitment to life-long learning, she has participated in trainings through the International Dyslexia Association and Wilson Language Training. Meg’s favorite part of providing learning support is helping students figure out how to use their strengths to make progress in their areas of growth.
