Vanessa Fontana-Berul

Clinician

Vanessa holds a B.A. in English, a Masters in Education, as well as an Elementary Montessori credential, from Xavier University. For nine years she has worked for two San Francisco State University Marian Wright Edelman Institute research-sponsored programs helping families and providers access services and resources to improve their ability to provide high-quality education for their children. Vanessa has over 12 years of experience with dual language learning, as both a teacher and an administrator, for Spanish and Chinese bilingual ECE and Kindergarten programs in the SF Bay Area. She understands the importance of language acquisition for dual language learners, having been raised in a bilingual household, and has experience creating environments that facilitate dual language learning and promote Kindergarten readiness.

Vanessa is trained in the Orton-Gillingham methodology and has over 20 years of experience working with intervention specialists, creating learning plans that meet the needs of individual children, and which meet their IEP benchmarks at home and in the classroom daily. Some of her interests include practicing Aikido and singing with Baroque choral groups in the Bay Area, as well as playing the flute for her students!

Areas of Focus: K-8 Education, Differentiated Instruction for Neurodiverse Learners, Structured Literacy, Orton-Gillingham, Reading Comprehension, Written Expression, Executive Functioning, Elementary Math, ELA, Socio-Emotional Learning, Early Childhood Development, Dual Language Learners, Montessori and Reggio-inspired instruction, Parent Education