Our Mission
Our mission is to ensure every child receives consistent, compassionate, and coordinated care so they can build confidence, independence, and lifelong learning skills.
Your Learning Toolbox was founded on a simple belief: when families, educators, and specialists work together, students thrive.
We provide academic tutoring, executive functioning coaching, and parent–school liaison services that align supports across environments-home, school, and beyond.
Our approach is built on three core pillars that ensure every child receives consistent, connected, and compassionate support- at school, at home, and beyond.
Collaboration
We connect parents, schools, and providers for clear communication and shared goals.
Coaching
We help students build academic and executive functioning skills through individualized, strengths-based instruction.
Continuity
We bridge supports across home and school to create sustainable growth and confidence over time.
Meet The Team
Emmy Mlawer Hollenberg
FOUNDER
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Emmy Mlawer Hollenberg is the founder of Your Learning Toolbox.
Emmy holds a Master’s Degree in Childhood General and Special Education with a concentration in Learning Disabilities, and has over a decade of experience as a special educator and executive functioning coach. Her work is grounded in evidence-based practices and a deep understanding of how children learn best.
Her instructional approach is inspired by training in the Reggio Emilia philosophy, Orton–Gillingham curricula, multisensory math, and expository writing instruction, as well as a range of social–emotional learning (SEL) and emotion regulation frameworks. Emmy integrates these perspectives to help students strengthen academic foundations, build executive functioning skills, and develop confidence, independence, and self-awareness.
Before founding Your Learning Toolbox, Emmy spent ten years teaching in New York City independent schools, where she collaborated closely with parents, teachers, and multidisciplinary teams. Today, she and her team continue that collaborative model—bridging home, school, and outside providers to ensure students receive consistent, coordinated support across every environment.
Emmy works with families both in person (Fairfield County, CT & NYC) and virtually. She also partners with schools and parent organizations to lead professional development workshops on executive functioning, communication, and home–school collaboration.
A lifelong educator and parent herself, Emmy believes that every child benefits when adults work together with connection, clarity, and collaboration.
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Ally Goldstein is an educator in New York City. She attended Penn State for her undergraduate degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education with a minor in Special Education. To further her education, Ally received her Master's degree from Hunter College where she was Dual Certified in Childhood Education and Childhood Special Education with a focus in Learning Disabilities and Behavioral Disorders.
Ally has experience working with students with language based learning differences and special needs. She has taught in self-contained classrooms in Manhattan at The Gillen Brewer School and The Gateway School.
Ally is extensively trained in Orton-Gillingham phonics and reading, Singapore math, Zones of Regulation, and The Writing Revolution. These various curriculums are structured around the idea that learning must be broken down, explicitly taught, and multi-sensory. Ally uses these principles to guide instruction during her tutoring sessions.
Ally believes that children do well when they can and provides them with engaging opportunities to bring out their potential. She creates unique lessons to meet the student's individual needs and interests. She creates goals that are assessment based and will break down content into small chunks to make it more approachable so that your child can reach these goals. Ally recognizes students strengths and empowers them to become independent and lifelong learners.
Ally Goldstein
TUTOR
Harold J. Turner
TUTOR
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Harold J. Turner is a proud alum of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, New York University, and Teachers College. He has 12 years of experience as a middle school teacher, academic dean, and principal in urban education. He currently works as an independent contractor across various educational institutions.
Sabrina Rizzi
TUTOR
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Sabrina Rizzi is an educator in New York City. She received her undergraduate degree from New York University in Childhood Education and Special Education, then went on to receive her M.S.Ed. from the Elementary Mathematics Specialist program at Hunter College. Sabrina is certified in childhood and special education and believes in educating the whole child by building upon their strengths and interests. She also believes that when children feel capable, they do their best work. Sabrina supports students in feeling capable by giving them the scaffolding they need, until they don't need it anymore! She loves to watch students have their "a ha!" moments as they learn. Sabrina currently teaches third grade at an elementary school on the Upper East Side and loves not only teaching the academic subjects, but also cherishes the moments she gets to work with students to build their social-emotional skills.
Kimberly Laiso Shapiro, MS, NCC
Executive Function Coach
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Kimberly has her Bachelors in Psychology, Masters in Counselor Education K-12, and is a Certified Life Coach. She was a school counselor for 11 years before pivoting into the roles of Executive Function Coach and Social Emotional Learning Coach. She is passionate about neuropsychology and children's' mental health and has presented to educators, leaders, parents, and college students on topics including mindfulness in schools, emotional intelligence, coping and resiliency, and more. Kimberly brings empathy, compassion, and unconditional positive regard into all of her relationships with students and families. A huge fan of professional development, Kimberly is a trainer with the non-profit Neural Education as well as a lifelong learner continually adding tools to her own learning toolbox.
Perry Moskowitz
TUTOR
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Perry is an educator in New York City at a Special Education private school. She received her Master’s degree from Hunter College where she studied General Education and Special Education grades 1-6 with a focus in behavioral disorders. She has 7+ years of experience as a special education teacher. Perry is continuing her education and taking classes to become a DIR Floortime therapist. She looks forward to working with YLT families!
Kathryn Ravano
MATH TUTOR AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING COACH
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Kathryn Ravano graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Biochemistry and minors in Bioengineering and Applied Mathematics and Statistics. She is an experienced math tutor, working with students on topics ranging from basic arithmetic and counting to geometry and algebra.
In addition to tutoring, Kathryn is also an executive functions consultant, helping students develop strategies for organization, time management, and task initiation. She completed the micro credentialing course taught by the Sensational Brain.
Kathryn truly enjoys teaching mathematics and supporting students in building confidence in their academic abilities. She actively seeks creative and engaging ways to connect with learners, and builds strong, supportive relationships with both students and their families. Kathryn believes that fostering trust and helping students build confidence in themselves are key to long-term academic success.
Natalie Berman
TUTOR and Executive Function Coach
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Natalie has her Masters Degree from Hunter College in the dual certification program for Childhood General and Special Education with a focus on Learning Disabilities. She is currently teaching at a school for students with language-based learning disabilities in grades 3 and 4.
Natalie is trained in the PAF reading program, which is an Orton Gillingham based phonics program. Additionally, she is trained in the Writing Revolution and has experience teaching multi-sensory math using the JUMP math curriculum. These programs are based on explicit and multi-sensory instruction, which benefits all different types of learners.
Natalie believes that all students have the potential to learn and succeed. She believes in individualized support and tailorng her teaching methods to meet the specific needs and abilities of her students.
Jane Marie Hutcheson
EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING COACH-
Jane Marie is an educator, curriculum designer, and former school leader. She has been in
education for over a decade and graduated from Teachers College at Columbia University, with
both an M.A. and M.Ed in Curriculum and Teaching. She has taught all grade levels from pre-
kindergarten through Grade 4, and she leverages this breadth of experience to work with
students across grade levels. She currently works as a consultant with Teaching Matters as a
literacy coach.
Alison Smith
TUTOR
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Alison is an experienced educator from New York dedicated to creating meaningful, student-centered learning experiences. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood and Middle Childhood Education from Buffalo State University, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University, and an Administrative Leadership Degree from Southern Connecticut State University. She also completed a Curriculum Writing Fellowship at Yale University’s Teacher Institute.
Alison has experience teaching in diverse educational settings, where she has created engaging, cross-curricular, multimodal lessons that spark curiosity and connect learning to students’ own interests—both in the classroom and outdoors. She also recognizes the importance of developing and utilizing key executive functioning skills in daily learning. Alison believes education should be a joyful and empowering journey, and she is deeply committed to differentiation, ensuring that every learner—regardless of ability, need, or learning style—receives instruction that is accessible, meaningful, and inspiring. In addition to her classroom work, she has provided individualized online instruction as an English-speaking tutor for students across the United States and China. Most recently, she served as an Administrative and Instructional Leader at Slate School, where she supported both student learning and community engagement.
Alison strongly believes that education flourishes when teachers and families work in partnership. She values parent collaboration as a vital part of the learning process and finds joy in supporting students on their unique educational journeys. Above all, Alison holds the conviction that every child is capable of growth and success when given the right tools, encouragement, and opportunities.