Meet our Learning Specialits

Learning Services for Children, Teens, Adults and Seniors

Research-based learning methods that help everyone who struggles with

reading, writing, math, test taking, attention and memory issues.

Dr. Joan Smith

Founder

Dr. Joan Smith is the visionary educator who founded what is now Monterey Learning Specialists.

She continues to build a warm, results-focused practice that puts each student’s unique brain at the center of learning.

Drawing on years of classroom expertise and specialized training, she championed individualized assessments, evidence-based interventions, and compassionate coaching for families.

Qualifications

> CA Licensed Educational Psychologist, LEP 1483

> CA Licensed Speech and Language Pathologist SP2103

> Diploma, Board of Disability Analysts 278796

Under Dr. Smith's leadership, her team of Learning Specialists has grown into a trusted resource on the Monterey Peninsula, helping bright yet struggling learners build confidence, master core skills, and rediscover the joy of progress.

Dr. Smith’s legacy shines through in every personalized plan, every breakthrough moment, and every student who whispers, “I can do this.”

Coleen Gsell

Executive Director and Educational Clinician

We all learn differently. Sometimes very bright people have challenges with conventional learning methods.

Coleen has been successful in resolving these challenges with simple therapeutic techniques to greatly improve:

Memory

Attention and Focus

Organization and Time Management Skills

Reading Fluency and Comprehension

Communication Skills

Coleen can also assist with:

Homework

Study and Testing Skills (including the DMV Test)

Reducing Anxiety

Building Confidence

Improving Self-Esteem and Social Skills

Coleen has over twenty years of experience and is a warm and enthusiastic teacher for adults and children.

Coleen Gsell

Executive Director

Kristin Wolf

Learning Specialist

Kristin Wolf

Learning Specialist

Kristin believes every student can grow with the right plan, steady support, and plenty of practice. She partners with families to uncover what is getting in the way of progress, then designs targeted interventions that turn confusion into clarity and effort into mastery.

Kristin Engages students with materials that make core skills stick. She builds comprehension and memory through purposeful practice for automaticity. She Teaches organization and simple tech tools that make school feel manageable. She strengthens clear verbal and written communication to boost confidence. She uses ongoing check-ins and end-of-unit reviews to track real learning gains

Kristin creates efficient, effective lessons in any format. In-person activities that invite participation, short video demonstrations students can replay, and interactive online modules that reinforce key steps.

Kristin meets students where they are, involves them in the process, and celebrates every win. The goal is simple. Less struggle. More progress. A student who knows, “I can do this.”

Want to explore whether Kristin is the right fit for your learner? Schedule a free consultation and ask about a formal learning assessment to get started.

Heather Crane

Learning Specialist

Heather is deeply committed to supporting all kinds of learners as they develop the tools they need to thrive. Heather's aspiration to understand the neuroscience of learning and brain plasticity emerged when her own son was diagnosed with a learning disability.

His frustration launched a desire to uncover and implement brain-based learning practices for all students. Heather is a certified AET Educational Therapist, she holds an undergraduate degree in Child Development with an emphasis in Special Education teaching, and a M.Ed. in Learning Cognition and Development from Rutgers University.

Through her education and working with students in schools and as a Cognitive Skills Specialist she's become adept at identifying barriers to learning. Her expertise is in recognizing and individualizing activities known for building more efficient and engaged learners. In each session, students participate in fun activities that promote autonomy, strengthen thinking, and boost their overall confidence in the learning environment.

Heather Crane

Learning Specialist

Denise Klein

Functional Medicine

Denise Klein

Nutrition and Functional Medicine

After 15 years supporting learners with ADHD through assessment and tutoring, Denise now helps clients boost focus, attention, memory, and impulse control with targeted nutrition and lifestyle strategies.

Credentials: B.S. in Food Science; M.S. in Nutrition and Functional Medicine.

Whole-body approach: Optimizes nutrition, sleep, movement, stress, and environment, including potential exposures to chemicals, mold, and heavy metals.

Brain nutrition: Evaluates key vitamins, minerals, fats, and amino acids to support dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, and GABA.

Root-cause focus: Screens for food sensitivities, environmental triggers, concussion history, and dental metals. Addresses deficiencies and removes obstacles to healing.

Practical outcomes: Clear plans for meal planning, digestion, sleep quality, exercise, and healthy elimination to lift cognitive function.

Denise meets you where you are, decodes your body’s signals, and builds a personalized plan that helps your brain work better every day.

Shea Lefever

Assessment Assistant

BIO

Shea Lefever

Assessment Assistant

Kathleen Rozman

Learning Specialist

Kathleen Rozman

Learning Specialist

BIO

Jim Hill

Learning Specialist

BIO

Jim Hill

Learning Specialist

You don't have to figure this out alone.

In your free consultation, we listen, assess needs, and map out your first wins.

Custom plan, simple timeline, clear pricing.

One-to-one support for all ages.

Proven tools for Reading, Writing, Math, Focus, Memory, Test Taking and Life Skills.

Book a Free Consultation

Our Mission

Personalized Academic Excellence

At Monterey Learning Specialists, our mission is simple yet profound: to unlock the natural potential of every learner by strengthening memory, attention, and the core skills that make fluent reading possible. We believe that when a person gains the ability to read with ease, it transforms not only their academic success but also their confidence, relationships, and future opportunities.

Through a thoughtful blend of proven methods, caring instruction, and innovative tools, we create lasting change for children, teens, and adults who struggle with reading, writing, math, and executive function. Our goal is to equip every learner with the skills they need to thrive in school—and in life.

Our Story

Tools and Technology for Genuine Growth

What began more than 50 years ago as a small school for children with unique learning needs has grown into a trusted resource for families, educators, and professionals across California. Founded in 1970 as Learning Time, Inc., our work expanded through multiple clinics in the Central Valley and, since 1995, has continued under the name Monterey Learning Specialists here on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula.

From the very beginning, our vision has been clear: help learners move beyond coping strategies and into genuine growth by strengthening the brain pathways that make learning easier. While the tools and technology have evolved, our heart for students and families remains the same.

Innovation in Action

The Learning Ability Platform

We are passionate about advancing the science of learning. That passion led to the development of the Learning Ability Platform (LAP)—a breakthrough program designed to rapidly build reading fluency while also enhancing memory, attention, processing speed, and comprehension. First introduced at the California Association of School Psychologists convention in 2019, the LAP has since been used in homes, schools, and clinics to help learners of all ages make faster, deeper progress.

Sharing What We’ve Learned

Because knowledge should be shared, not hidden, we’ve published resources for parents, teachers, and therapists who want practical strategies to support learners. Our guides include 7 Brain Rules for Learning, The Calming Kitchen, Mega Ways to Teach Executive Function Skills, and Cognition Fognition—each offering real tools to make learning more effective and less stressful.