Consultant Experience

School Solutions for Greater Houston

Educational Consultant for Houston Private Schools

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Independent Educational Consultants Association, Professional Member
State of Texas Teaching Certification -         Secondary Level, Lifetime
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

International Dyslexia Association and
Houston Branch IDA

Texas Association for Gifted and Talented

Attention Deficit Disorder Association-           Southern Region

Learning Disabilities Association of America
Upper Kirby Foundation Board of Directors
     I also make presentations to schools, groups or parent associations about what to look for when choosing a Houston private school or other school-related topics.
Recent Presentations
Bethany Christian Preschool
Westminster Methodist Preschool
Holy Trinity Episcopal School
Yorkshire Academy
Cypress Christian Academy
ADDA Southwest Chapter

Carolyn Means, M. Ed.
Independent Educational Consultant
After twenty-five years in education, I founded SCHOOL SOLUTIONS as a natural next step in my career that focuses on helping students become confident, competent learners with a bright future. A native Houstonian and alumna of The Kinkaid School and Lamar High School, I earned a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of St. Thomas in 1966 and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction in 1992 from the University of Texas at Tyler. The focus of my graduate degree in language acquisition prepared me to work more effectively with students diagnosed with dyslexia, ADD/ADHD and other learning disabilties.

My career includes fifteen years teaching in public and private schools and ten years in administration. I have the unique experience of having taught in both traditional and Montessori schools and being part of the administrative team to grow two new high schools. During that time, I served as College Counselor, Director of Studies, Director of Admissions, Director of Development, and High School Principal.
As a life-long learner, I seek out opportunities for professional growth so that I am prepared to meet the needs of all children whose parents seek my services. Only about 20% of the children I work with have a diagnosed learning disability or some need for accommodations in the classroom. My practice is not focused on special needs education services, but I am competent to place children who need these services in day schools where they will be supported socially, emotionally and academically.

RECENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Wisdom, Intelligence and Creativity - Robert J. Sternberg, Ph.D.
The Perspiring and Inquiring Minds with Miswiring: Implications for all kinds of minds in all kinds of schools - Mel Levine, M.D.

How Boys Learn Best - Gurian Institute/Regis School
The Power of Mindsets for Nurturing Motivation and Resilience - Robert Brooks, M.D.

Comparison of Dyslexia to Developmental Disorders -Drake Duane, M.D.
Listening and Speaking: Essential Ingredients for Writing - Charles W. Haynes, Ed.D., CCC-SLP
The Brain and Reading Instruction - Jack M. Fletcher, Ph.D., UT-Houston Health Science Center

Texas Dyslexia Law - Geraldine Miller, Chair, TX State Board of Education
Evaluating Gifted Education Programs - Keith Yost, Ph.D.
Identifying and Living with ADD in the Family- Edward M. Hallowell, M.D.

Temperament, Teaching & Learning: How to Discover the Way Students Learn - Diane Newton, Pres., Dallas Branch IDA

Manic Defenses Against Loneliness in Adolescence - Tom Barrett, M.D.
Stress, Learning Styles, Evaluation and Maturation in Boarding Schools - David Gleason, PsyD. & Harriet Jacobson, Ph.D., Ross Peterson, M.D.
Inclusive Academic Applications of Brain-Based Learning - Nancy Henessy, M.Ed.

Making the Grade & Finding the Joy in Parenting Teens - Chris Dendy, M.S.

Asperger's Syndrome and Related Disorders - Fred Volkmar, M.D.
Roller Coaster Children: Severe Mood Changes in Children: Assessment, Treatment and Education- Ira Glovinsky, Ph.D.
Inside the New WISC-IV-Caryl Frankenberger, Ph.D.
Brain Development: Implications for Parents, Teens, Teachers and Society - Jay Giedd, M.D., NIMH
Brain Development and Learning Styles - JoAnn Deak, Ph.D.

Dyslexia: Riddles, Research and Resolutions -Malatesha Joshi, Ph.D.

An effective Educational Consultant stays current with professional literature. I read several daily own-line services and monthly publications, in addition to books such as these in my library:

Preschool Assessment ~ Brassard & Boehm
Movtivating and Inspiring Teachers~ Todd & Beth Whitaker and Dale Lumpa

Essentials of Assessment: WISC-IV / WPPSI-III / Non-Verbal / Processing ~  Kaufman & Kaufman
WISC-IV Advanced Clinical Interpretation~ Weiss, Saklofske, Prifftera, Holdnack
Instruction for All Students ~ Why Didn't I Learn This in College? ~Paula Rutherford

The ABCs of Parenting Pre-schoolers ~ Carol Katrana
A Bird's-Eye View of Life With ADD/ADHD ~ Chris Zeigler Dendy & Alex Zeigler

Upside Down Brilliance, The Visual Spatial Learner ~ Linda Kreger Silverman,Ph.D.
Overcoming Dyslexia ~ Sally Shaywitz, M.D.

What Works in Schools ~ Robert J. Marzano

Boys and Girls Learn Differently ~ Michael Gurian

Straight Talk About Reading~Susan L. Hall & Louisa C. Moats, Ed. D.

The Absorbent Mind ~ Maria Montessori
Quirky Kids ~Perri Klass, M.D. and Eileen Costello, M.D.

The Multiple Intelligences of Reading and Writing ~ Thomas Armstrong

Contemporary Intellectual Assessment ~ Flannagan & Harrison

The Out-of-Sync-Child ~ Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A.

Living With a Learning Disability~ Barbara Cordoni

Nonverbal Learning Disabilities at School ~ Pamela B. Tanguay

Beyond the Wall, Personal Experiences With Autism ~ Stephen Shore

Smart Kids with School Problems ~ Priscilla Vail

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