ABOUT US: HISTORY & VALUES | Connections leadership
Our Leadership Team
As our team has grown, so has the range of services we provide. We seek out partnerships with teachers and leaders with a wide range of specialties and knowledge, providing parent consultation and teacher training on topics such as integrated literacy in the classroom and behavior management in the classroom and at home.
Amanda Vaughn
Founder, Tutoring Director, and Educational Consultant
Amanda continues to be the first point of contact for our Cincinnati families by providing a thorough consultation with parents to learn the diverse needs of each student. Additionally, she works with administrators and teachers to provide engaged and targeted professional development directly in the school.
Anna Tewell
Chicago Academic Support Director and Educational Consultant
Anna serves as the Academic Support Director for the Chicago team while working with families and students to provide convenient and customized academic support. Anna also works with Chicago-area schools and educators to build local relationships to further support students. Anna spent 6 years in the classroom as an Intervention Specialist for both elementary and high school grade levels.
Ellie Lavigne
St. Louis Academic Support Director and Educational Consultant
Ellie, a St. Louis native, started our third location in 2023 in her beloved home city. Ellie spent many years in the classroom as an Intervention Specialist in both elementary and middle school classrooms, eventually settling in as a tutor and Little Book Club teacher for the Chicago team. In St. Louis, she works closely with families and schools to provide individualized academic support for students ages PreK through 8th grade. Ellie loves collaborating with administrators, teachers, and parents to create customized support plans for students.
Joy Becker
Mentoring Coordinator
Our Mentoring Coordinators’ primary role is to support our Academic Mentors and Tutors by providing continuous training and support throughout their tenure and conduct individual observations on each mentor multiple times a year to ensure our families are receiving the best support possible. Joy works as a Literacy Coach independently as well as provides additional parent and teacher consultation for Connections families and beyond.
Lindsay Persons
Business Operations Manager
Lindsay works to provide operations support to the Connections Academics leadership team. As an independent consultant, she helps to maintain organization of various Connections’ communication projects, events, and procedures while taking the lead on database and client management as well as data and reporting to the leadership team.