Hear from our wonderful families
“I cannot fully express the depth of our appreciation for the tremendous difference Elise has made for our son with ADHD and our family as a whole. Before working with Broadleaf, we were at a loss regarding how to support our son and comprehend his struggles with ADHD. She connected with him instantly and helped him explore how his brain works and create supportive systems for executive functioning. Elise goes above and beyond to support our son as a whole person— she advocates for him at IEP meetings, works directly with his teachers, and answers all of our questions. Elise’s guidance helps us make supportive changes that empower him and reduce stress at home and school. Working with Elise for the past three years has changed our lives immeasurably and we are so grateful and excited to continue to watch our son blossom. We believe that working with Broadleaf is the best investment we could make in our son’s future.”
— José Manuel
7th Grade Parent
Join us in celebrating student growth
“Elise was a lifesaver during the pandemic, homeschooling our bilingual children. Knowing that our sons thrive with hands-on learning, Elise curated a treasure trove of experiments and educational adventures tailored to their individual passions. Hatching frogs, practicing math while baking, exploring tide pools, blowing things up (safely), and crafting boats, cars, bridges, and planes– Elise’s creativity knows no bounds! Moreover, Elise taught our first grader to read in both English and Spanish simultaneously— allowing him to test out of the school ESL program two years earlier than expected! Elise led our kids on an immersive learning journey, individualized to spark their curiosity and passion for learning— a far cry from the drudgery of zoom school!”
— Noelia
1st & 5th Grade Parent
"Our child connected with Elise instantly. Her guidance reshaped our parenting, helping us understand his perspective and developmental stage. We learned that the real challenge wasn't with our child, but ourselves— our frustration and unrealistic expectations were affecting his confidence and causing him to act out. With Elise’s support, we gained patience, insight, and practical tools. These changes in our mindset and to our child’s routine led to remarkable results. Our once withdrawn child now exudes confidence, enthusiasm for school, and joy for life. Thank you, Elise, for helping us shift our family dynamic and bring back our happy little boy!"
— Elizabeth
Kindergarten Parent
"I’ve always known that I learned differently than other kids and used to feel really nervous at school. My teachers didn't understand me, and my parents couldn’t figure out how to help. Elise started tutoring me and taught us all about my ADHD brain. Elise helped me see my ADHD as a part of who I am, with its own set of strengths and challenges. She showed me that I can do things my own way and ask for help, instead of feeling like I have to hide my ADHD. I feel so much less ashamed now. School is still a challenge, but I have way more tools to work through it and feel less stressed. After three years, Elise knows me really well and we make a great team!
— Martin
8th Grade Student
“Elise has a remarkable ability to meet children right where they are, and in turn, they are drawn to her warmth and approachability. Elise dives into the world of each individual student—how they think, how they react, how they communicate—enabling the fostering of an authentic learning relationship. Her holistic perspective and knowledge of neurodiversity greatly contributed to our team’s understanding of our student’s needs and motivations. Elise’s insights consistently helped our team to discover more effective strategies for guiding and supporting our students. Having worked alongside Elise for years in a middle school classroom, what stands out most is the genuine joy that she brings to each interaction with a student. Watching Elise work alongside children is a heartwarming gift; the adoration is clearly mutual!”
— Marina Henke
Former Co-Teacher
“Elise is really good at explaining difficult concepts in a way that makes sense for my brain. Through her support, I've improved my math skills and gained confidence in my ability to tackle tricky problems. Now I feel ready to take on honors math!”
— Isabel
7th Grade Student
“Elise has an intuitive understanding of what children need to help them be successful learners. Even more importantly, Elise is deeply committed to supporting children in their unique paths to becoming who they are. She is respectful of their unique needs and interests and strives to cultivate self knowledge and confidence. After our conversations, I felt ready to advocate for more creative accommodations at my child’s IEP meeting.”
— April
8th Grade Parent & PhD Student in School Psychology
“Elise made an effort to notice the strengths and interests of our children. Her weekly plans always included thoughtful, educational, and FUN activities. Elise seamlessly integrated into our family unit and helped our children grow, especially socially and emotionally, throughout the year!”
— Sheehan, M.Ed. Special Education
Kindergarten & 2nd Grade Parent
"Seventh grade was a rough year for me. I didn’t connect with my math teacher and missed out on fundamental concepts. That's when we found Elise, an incredible tutor who understands that every student is unique and needs individualized explanations and support. Elise figured out my learning style and provided visual aids and special tools to help math make more sense. Elise worked with my teachers to come up with better accommodations, which has made school much less stressful overall. Elise openly shares her own struggles with math, creating an approachable environment where I never feel embarrassed to ask questions or make mistakes. She is great at teaching students who don't "get math" intuitively, which has been such a game changer for me! Elise is not just a tutor but a mentor who genuinely cares about her students—I actually like tutoring and look forward to it every week!”
— Miah
9th Grade Student
“During our two years working together, I was continually awed by Elise’s energy, passion, and commitment to providing meaningful and supportive learning experiences to our mentees. She is a natural educator who connects well with students. She is sensitive to the needs and interests of students and takes care in both delivering lessons and developing relationships.”
— Kate Berkley, M.Ed. Educational Policy
Former Co-Teacher
“Elise continually pushed to ensure that the programming she developed was empowering, impactful, and representative of our students' experience. Above all else, Elise prioritized developing strong personal connections with her students, continuously working outside of the expectations of her role to foster and maintain those connections. Elise is dedicated to helping young people become confident, educated, and empowered individuals.”
— Sophie Sadovnikoff, M. Ed. Special Education
Former Co-Teacher
