Kathy (she/her) has had a passion for classical music from early childhood. First formally performing as a bassoonist, she then studied classical voice and opera with Gregory Lorenz, Gaelyne Gabora, Norma Newton, and Violette and Joseph Meyers and has performed on television, radio, and on stage in venues across North America. In anticipation of performing Blanche in Dialogues des Carmélites (Poulenc), she took a summer job at Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes to earn a little spending money and focus on preparing for the role. Within three months, she was promoted to Clinical Director and trainer and soon realized the profound impact diagnostic and prescriptive sensory-cognitive instruction could make in the lives of children and adults. She has now dedicated her life to being of service to others in the field of learning differences for over 26 years.

Ms. Ford is a trained educational therapist who believes that learning is a complex, multi-faceted endeavor that is best achieved via a team approach that promotes each learner’s sense of self, safety, belonging, agency, and autonomy. She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology with a specialization in evaluation, research, and measurement from the University of the Rockies as well as a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University. She has managed a thriving private practice during which she was contracted to work with students through the court system and in private and public schools, founded a learning center for students with dyslexia, and conducted workshops for schools and allied professionals. She has also been privileged to work in a number of esteemed independent schools, including as a learning specialist at Keys School (K-8) in Palo Alto, California; the Assessment, Instruction, and Learning Specialist at Polytechnic School (K-12) in Pasadena, California, and most recently as the Director of Teaching and Learning at the Wolf School (K-8), a special education school in East Providence, Rhode Island.

Returning to the Bay Area, Ms. Ford is thrilled to be bringing her joyful spirit, passion for learning, and firm belief that it is impossible to know the bounds of any one person’s potential to her work as a Learning Specialist at Hamlin, where she will endeavor to meet learners where they are and move them from that point forward with purpose, flexibility, and full consideration of their strengths, needs, and humanity.