EDUCATIONAL THERAPY - Key Persons
ARI GRAFF, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist, received his doctorate from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. He provides pediatric neuropsychological assessment and advocates for children at school meetings. He completed his postdoctoral residency at Carleton Washburne Middle School in Winnetka, Illinois, has provided assessment and treatment in settings including residential treatment, hospital, and university counseling center, and has taught graduate clinical psychology courses at Roosevelt University. Dr. Graff is attending the postdoctoral certificate program in neuropsychology at Fielding Graduate University. He is an allied professional member of the Association of Educational Therapists and joined ESA in 2009.
CHRISTIN SULLIVAN, M.Ed., Associate Educational Therapist, has a masters degree in special education with a B.A. in both elementary education and psychology. She has over 13 years teaching children with learning disabilities/difficulties, mental health struggles, and social emotional disorders in both public and private schools, as well as supervisory/administrative experience. Christin has state certification in Moderate Disabilities PreK-12. Her professional memberships include the Association of Educational Therapists, the International Dyslexia Association, and the Council for Exceptional Children. In 2009, she was honored with the Howard Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Teaching. Christin joined ESA in 2011.
EVAN FREUND, M.A., holds two Master's degrees, one in political science and one for the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago in healthcare administration. He retired from his career in healthcare and received training as a personal coach through the Newfield Coach Training Program. Evan now coaches high school students who are writing college applications and has been tutoring math since 2005. He is a member of CHADD and the Association of Educational Therapists.
MIKE TROYKE, M.Ed., Educational Therapist/Professional (ET/P), has a masters degree in learning disabilities. He has Illinois certification in learning disabilities and has taught in both regular and special education public school classrooms. In addition to his private educational therapy practice, he is currently a resource teacher at a Chicago Public School high school. He is a Professional member of the Association of Educational Therapists and also holds memberships in the International Dyslexia Association and the Division for Learning Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children. Mike has been a member of ESA since 1990.
NAN FREUND, M.Ed., BCET, FAET, Board Certified Educational Therapist (BCET), has an M.Ed. in learning disabilities and is certified by the Illinois State Board of Education in learning disabilities. Nan taught in both public and private schools and has administrative and supervisory experience. She is a past president of the Association of Educational Therapists, her national professional association and is a Fellow of the Association (FAET). Other professional memberships include the International Dyslexia Association, the Learning Disabilities Association of America, and the Division for Learning Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children. She began private practice in 1987 and is a founding member of Educational Services Associates.
TESSA FORTE, M.A., Associate Educational Therapist, received her B.S. and M.A. from Northwestern University in the field of learning disabilities. She is a current member of the Association of Educational Therapists and the Illinois Branch of the Learning Disabilities Association. She has been working in the field of special education since 2003 and joined ESA in 2007.