"Lara connected with our daughter instantly. Within three minutes of walking through the door, I saw that my daughter, a tough critic, who generally takes considerable time to warm to new situations, was 'all in.' She has asked for Lara almost every day since, anticipating her 'Lara sessions' with overwhelming enthusiasm and personal investment. Lara has the unique ability to bring out a sense of confidence, purpose and perseverance by establishing a genuine connection with children, rooted in trust and warmth. Lara's talents extend well beyond her impressive background as a seasoned educator and literacy coach. Her enthusiasm, creativity, warmth, and personal investment in her work and relationships with children and families simply can't be taught; yet it is those attributes that make all the difference in empowering children to learn new skills and work through challenges. We are forever grateful to Lara, not only for the remarkable growth that we have seen in our daughter, both academically and personally, but for the love and trust that our daughter feels for Lara, and for the wise and well-informed sounding board Lara provides us as parents. Lara adapted masterfully to the new reality that was abruptly thrust upon us by the pandemic. She has maintained her special relationship, momentum and innovative strategies with our daughter via Zoom. My husband and I have a small handful of teachers who we look back on now, and warmly credit as being among the most influential and beloved adult figures in our lives. Lara has affected our daughter's confidence and love of learning so significantly. We know that she will always hold a special place in our daughter's life. Lara is a 'once in a lifetime teacher.' We could not recommend her more highly."