LISA MURPHY, M.S. ED.
Founder/Director/CEO
Lisa is the director, trainer, and oversees professional development at our center. She firmly believes that teaching children how to learn is the best. job. ever.
With a degree in philosophy and a hard-wired inclination to help others, Lisa began teaching reading in Boston in 2003. She then jumped halfway across the Pacific to Hawaii's Big Island, where she designed an RTI program for a Title One school.
Here in Maine, Lisa created and lead the Intensive Reading Program at the Aucocisco School, in Cape Elizabeth, for eight years. During this time, she completed her teaching certificate in Special Education and earned her M.S. Ed. in Curriculum Design.
Creating Pine State Learning and designing excellent learning services for all students is what she has dreamed of for years.
We always joke that our best tutors are
just really smart clowns.
Our tutors are highly trained, speak "kid" fluently, know how to make the hard stuff fun, and implement research verified, structured interventions in literacy and math in a way that works for all students. Especially those who have learning differences, or who have struggled in other settings.
Our Mission and Crew
LAILA CAROTHERS
Tutor
Lalla Carothers loves helping people learn. She has taught English classes to adults, high school and middle school students, coached middle school sports teams, and co-led sexuality education classes for pre-teens and teenagers. A lifelong learner herself, she has always loved reading and is currently active in three book groups. Joining the PSL team two years ago has allowed Lalla to combine her passions for teaching and reading. Working one-on-one with young people, she witnesses their excitement as they learn strategies that unlock the joy of reading and build their confidence: “I can do it! I can read!” Lalla lives in Cumberland with her husband Jonathan, son Ben (17), and their dog. Their daughter Olivia (20) is a sophomore in college. Lalla loves spending time with family and enjoys people of all ages, as well as hiking, gardening, cooking, running, and yoga.
DANIELLE CLARK, M.ED.
READING, WRITING, AND MATH TUTOR, BLOG CONTRIBUTOR
Danielle Clark has tutored reading with Lisa for eight years.
She is currently a 7th grade language arts and social studies teacher in Windham, Maine.
She received her Master’s in Education in 2018 after spending five years playing basketball in Europe and teaching English as a second language.
Danielle worked alongside Lisa at the Aucocisco School from 2013-2020.
It was there that she found a love of teaching and learned the nuances of teaching reading to students of all different backgrounds and abilities.
She enjoys writing, reading, and spending time with her rescue dog, Jack.
KATHRYN CALLAHAN
Tutor
Kathryn loves finding fun and connection with her students. She has been with Pine State for almost 2 years and has taken on the role of administrator as well as tutor. Kathryn enjoys spending time with her husband and two rambunctious little girls, reading, exploring the mid-coast region from forest to shore, and visiting family in Vermont.
KIER FOLEY
Tutor
I love working directly with kids! At Pine State Learning, I am a dedicated private tutor specializing in helping children with dyslexia and dyscalculia overcome their learning challenges. I also enjoy supporting teachers and as such I am the Educator Liaison for Educational Passages. Finally, I am a passionate high school science teacher with a deep-seated love for oceanography and I teach physics at Cheverus High School. You can often find me by the waterfront or on a boat, indulging in my enthusiasm for all things nautical and exploring the ocean's mysteries with my partner and dog. I am the proud mother of two amazing teens.
AIDEN GRAHAM
Tutor
With five years of experience working in children’s education, I know how important it is for instruction to be student-focused. I aim to teach how my students learn best. This not only creates the best results for my students but keeps my job dynamic and engaging with the myriad of learning styles that I see every day. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in Economics from the University of Southern Maine. I currently reside in Denver, Colorado.
SOPHIE HUBBERT-SEVERANCE
Instructional Supervisor and Tutor
Sophie Hubbert-Severance is our Instructional Supervisor and has worked with Pine State Learning for three years.
She is trained in many multisensory methods for teaching reading and writing, including Seeing Stars, Visualizing and Verbalizing, and The Writing Revolution. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Women’s Studies in 2020.
She has harbored a love for reading for many years and enjoys working with our students and helping them unlock the magic of learning. In her free time, she enjoys reading, rock climbing, gardening, and spending time with her cat, Rue.
HAYLS MANESS
Tutor
Hayls is a dedicated tutor at Pine State Learning who loves to create art, go outside, and work on cars! She has worked with PSL for almost a year, and has had a great time helping students find confidence and understanding in their education. She looks forward to assisting your little scholar!
ERIKA MAZUZAN
Tutor
Erika lives in Cumberland with her husband Kirk and their son Lukas, as well as her dog, Tinsel and cat, Gemma. She is passionate about animals and working with kids. In her free time she enjoys reading, bird watching, the beach in the summer, and spending time with family and friends.
LEO O'CONNOR
Tutor
Working with children and seeing them finally figure something out and break through is the most satisfying thing in the world, which is why I've worked with Pine State Learning for three years. I always strive to keep lessons fun and turn as much of it into a game as I can.
In my free time I enjoy cooking, reading, and hiking (when it's not too cold, that is). I'm currently finishing a degree in Political Science from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, with minors in Public Policy and English, but I go back to Maine as often as I can.
ELIZABETH RICHARDS
Tutor
Elizabeth has been working with young children in a variety of settings, from infant to school age, for almost 30 years. She has a graduate certificate in Early Language and LIteracy from the University of Southern Maine, and an MS in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College. In her free time, Elizabeth loves reading, dancing, anything outdoors, and spending time with her family.
DEB SPARROW
Tutor
Deb is a life-long learner who enjoys helping others find the keys to unlock their learning
potential. After more than 30 years in financial services leadership, Deb joined the Pine State
Learning team. Her goal is to build confidence in young learners and help them find the magic
in their curiosity.
She is a graduate of Bowdoin College with a B.A. in English and Government and is a volunteer
advisor with the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute.
She loves sports, books, and writing.
LEANNE WRIGHT
Tutor
Leann holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and is currently attending a Master’s program to become a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Leann has always enjoyed working with children, and also has experience working with children with various learning and behavioral challenges. She genuinely enjoys being able to help children learn and finds joy in seeing them make progress! In her free time, she enjoys unwinding by watching TV, doing art projects, and likes to spend time with her 3 cats; Miso, Peaches, and Solitaire.
