Lucia D’Souza, M. Ed., M. Sc., Executive Director
Lucia’s childhood was very unique as she travelled the world since her father was an Indian Foreign Services officer and diplomat. Her father served in Switzerland, Indonesia, Kenya, Ethiopia. He was Indian ambassador to Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Zaire, Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea. He was also Consul General to New York, Hong Kong and Macau. Lucia lived in 11 different countries as her parents opted to keep the family together. She studied in local schools and at times had to learn the local language in the middle of a school year. This international education gave Lucia invaluable access to a wide range of cultures, faiths, languages, educational systems and perspectives. Lucia attained her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Psychology from the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago. When her father got transferred to Hong Kong, Lucia attained her Master’s in Clinical Psychology from the University of East Asia, Macau and her Post graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Hong Kong. While teaching in a private school in Hong Kong Lucia realized that she needed to learn more about working with children with special needs and this brought her to Vanderbilt University where she attained her second Masters’ degree in Special Education. Lucia started teaching at the Esther B Clark School in Palo Alto and was then appointed the Director of the school program. After 11 years there, she decided to pursue her dream of opening her own school founded on the pillars of inclusion, diversity and respect for different abilities. She attributes this to her international education where she was exposed to a wide variety of educational systems and cultures. Now in the 16thyear, Learning Springs provides children and families a safe nurturing and welcoming school environment where each child is reached at their level.
Marianne Nadell, B.S., Assistant Director
Marianne earned her Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Sacramento in Business Administration, with a concentration in Human Resource Management. Over the past 20 years Marianne has worked with children and youth, and in the front office in the private school sector in many capacities as: Children’s Ministry Coordinator and Youth Ministry Lead at her church, and as a Community Development Coordinator, Human Resource Specialist, Marketing Director, Accounts Payables Specialist, and in Admissions as a School Registrar/Office Manager. She has also been a teacher’s assistant for grades 3rd- 6thand a substitute teacher for grades 3rd – 8th. Marianne has over 20 years experience in education settings. In 2016 Marianne joined Learning Springs as our Office Manager and Registrar. In 2020 Marianne added Assistant Director at Learning Springs to her repertoire. In 2022 Marianne started teaching in the classroom. Outside of work Marianne enjoys quilting, gardening and family time.
Beth Calarco, M.A., Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
Beth Calarco is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who specializes in child development and naturalistic teaching strategies. She loves working with children and their families. She earned her MA in Developmental Psychology (with a focus on Neuropsychology and assessment) in 2003 and became a BCBA in 2005. Beth is passionate about cross-disciplinary collaboration and has expertise in naturalistically embedding behavioral interventions within a child’s school day to best promote inclusion. Over the course of her career, Beth has done everything from assessment and diagnosis to direct 1:1 work and parent coaching. She has given district-wide trainings on ABA and implementing positive behavior intervention and supports (PBIS). Her ABA approach is heavily influenced by her vast knowledge of child development and developmental trajectories. She brings a common-sense practicality to her ABA work that comes from being a parent herself. Hence, she greatly enjoys working with parents to make ABA strategies more accessible and implementable across environments.
Mimi Vo, Behavior Therapist
Andrea Smith, Behavior Therapist
