Our Team

Rachel Weaver M.Ed

Bridges Teacher

Rachel Weaver brings a wealth of teaching experience to LRS microSchool! As a PA certified teacher, she has worked with children from pre-K through fourth grade. Rachel collaborates with Lauren at the Willow Street Preschool where they have developed a phenomenal early literacy program for young children using Heggerty Phonemic Awareness. Rachel’s expertise will make a wonderful beginning for our youngest learners as she guides the Kindergarten grouping. Rachel is in the process of earning her Masters degree in Special Education.

Lauren Maffett M.Ed

Logic and Math Teacher

Lauren knows dyslexia from the inside - she herself struggled with reading and spelling throughout her school years. This makes her an ideal guide for her students. Lauren has dedicated her entire career to education. She is a Pennsylvania certified public school teacher with a master’s degree as a Reading Specialist. Additionally, she is currently employed as a preschool director, giving her an inside view to the importance of early learning and early remediation for readers who learn differently. Lauren loves two amazing kids with amazing dyslexic brains! She is a Certified Dyslexia Practitioner (Children’s Dyslexia Centers/IMSLEC).

Rachel Moore MD

Logic, Math, and Piano Teacher

In her work as a tutor for struggling readers, Rachel blends her strong scientific background from her time as a family physician with her decades of experience working creatively with children of all ages as an artist musician and teacher. She is well known amongst her students and peers as a highly creative and innovative instructor who seeks out unique solutions. In addition to her broad range of professional experiences, she is privileged to live with and advocate for a daughter and husband with dyslexia. She is a Certified Dyslexia Practitioner (Children’s Dyslexia Centers/IMSLEC).

Megan Lynn Schmidt

Theater Teacher

Megan Lynn Schmidt (Meg around PPAS) is beyond excited to be part of the Popovsky Performing Arts team. She is a 2020 graduate of Ithaca College where she earned her BFA in Musical Theatre. As a PA native, Megan was born and raised in Allentown and is excited to be getting back to her Pennsylvania roots. Graduating amidst a global pandemic, Megan quickly took on the challenge of teaching online private vocal lessons as well as acting coaching. This quickly sparked her joy in teaching within the performing arts. From 2021-2022 Megan worked as a Tour Actor/Director with the Missoula Children’s Theatre out of Missoula, Montana. During this time, she performed and directed Johnny Appleseed and Alice in Wonderland, traveling through 20 new states as well as overseas in Cuba and Japan. Meg also had the opportunity to travel to South Korea in December with MCT, and is thrilled to get the chance to work with your students!

Johanna Grossman, MOT

Math and LRS teacher, OT group teacher

Johanna brings her 15 years of professional experience in the world of occupational therapy along with her experience assisting struggling first-grade learners at Sacred Heart School to her work with us at LRS microSchool. Additionally, Johanna completed many hours of formal, curriculum-specific training in both our LRS Foundations curriculum and Singapore Math this summer so she would be ready to join the team! Johanna’s first rate academic background and dedication to young learners makes her a wonderful guide for our younger learners this year.

Tom

Music Teacher

Kristen Graver B.Ed.

Math and LRS Teacher

Kristen is coming to us with a variety of teaching experiences, having taught students in kindergarten through 6th grade. She is a PA Certified teacher and has worked intensively with children who learn differently, particularly at Lancaster County’s Janus School and La Academia Charter School. She is two years into her M. Ed in Language and Literacy. This fall, she completed 8 weeks of specialty training at LRS to become familiar with our particular Orton Gillingham and Structured Word Inquiry curriculum. We are more than excited to welcome Kristen and her many gifts to our tutoring staff.

Jay Barnica

Middle School LEAD Teacher

Jay is an adjunct professor of English at Millersville University and an experienced tutor working with struggling students at H.A.C.C., Central Penn College and Millersville University. Jay is also a published poet and a kind, approachable person. In addition to his work as a tutor, Jay teaches our Elementary Poetry class and Middle School Learning Enrichment Across Disciplines (LEAD) class at the microSchool to the delight of little kids and teens alike. He is expert in assisting students with executive functioning skills and is additionally trained and very competent in our LRS Orton-Gillingham/Structured Word Inquiry approach to dyslexic learners.