Staff

Anna Cencioso, Founder and Director

Early in her career, Anna earned a tenured position in the Palo Alto School District. She was drawn to teach at a magnet school that mainstreamed students with learning challenges from all over Santa Clara County. It was a rewarding experience that fueled her passion to reach students who might otherwise be left behind by traditional methods.

The path that led Anna to this field of teaching was very personal. About a decade ago, her son wasn’t catching on to reading. Five years had passed while she waited for traditional reading instruction to make sense to him. She was prepared for him be a “late reader” because his father faced reading challenges as a boy. Anna assumed that when he was ready, reading would click. At the age of ten, he still struggled with simple text, and she was worried. Anna took him to a reading specialist. The reading specialist told Anna that her son fit the profile of a classic dyslexic student; that he needed frequent, structured, Orton-Gilligham tutoring. Anna accompanied him to the tutoring sessions, and watched him finally experience tangible progress. Observing those sessions inspired Anna to change the focus of her teaching. She wanted to help students who struggled to unlock the mystery of reading. Twelve years have passed since she began private teaching for students who contend with dyslexia. What started with one student has blossomed into a small learning community of fifteen students. Anna love the work she does and considers it a privilege to teach, guide and support an amazing group of independent thinkers.

• CLAD* Certification: Stanford
• California Teaching Credential, two-year graduate program: University of CA, Santa Cruz
• Bachelor of Arts in Independent Studies (Language, Literature, History): University of CA, Santa Cruz

*Cross-cultural Language Acquisition and Academic Development Program

Emily Lowe, Lead Teacher

Emily has been teaching at Touchstone Learning since 2017. Prior to that, she had 15 years of experience as a public middle school teacher and as a teacher with a K-8 online learning/homeschool program. She enjoys being part of the Touchstone community and finds it to be the perfect balance of individualized instruction and classroom environment. Emily especially enjoys working with upper elementary and middle school students, and appreciates the independence, skepticism, and humor tweens bring to the classroom. When she’s not in the classroom, Emily can be found hanging out near the water, hiking, baking, camping with her husband, two kids, and goldendoodle. 

• Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology, UCLA
• California Clear Teaching Credential, Middle School Emphasis, SFSU
• Master of Education, Secondary Education, SFSU
• Certified Dyslexia Advocate and Certified Orton Gillingham Practitioner from Dyslexia Training Institute
• Trained in Making Math Real
• Trained in Marilyn Zecher’s Multisensory Math

Eva Weppner, Teacher

After completing a Master’s Degree in Business and Multicultural Studies at the University of Passau, Germany, Eva moved to the US and worked in marketing for seven years before becoming a stay-at-home mom to three children, born in 2004, 2006, and 2009. All three children attended Orion Elementary School, which is a parent participation school. While assisting in the classroom in different capacities, Eva discovered my passion for teaching, and decided to go back to college (Western Governors University) to become an elementary school teacher.

During this time, Eva also worked as a substitute teacher and quickly realized how many students struggled with reading. In order to find ways to help them she started reading about dyslexia, talking to parents with dyslexic children, and then began volunteering at Touchstone Learning. Eva is now a credentialed K-8 teacher and feels very fortunate to be teaching at Touchstone and helping to create a supportive environment for students with reading challenges. The student-to-teacher ratio allows the teachers to individualize instruction to meet the needs of all of its students.

• Trained in Marilyn Zecher’s Multisensory Math
• Orton Gillingham Certification – expected Spring 2024 from Dyslexia Training Institute

Nehal Gomaa, Teacher and Administrator

Nehal has a passion for both math and teaching. She majored in engineering and worked as a teacher’s assistant at American University of Cairo. She enjoyed her time teaching so much that she continued after graduation, and then pivoted to the private sector and worked for 10 years as a construction engineer before dedicating her time to raising kids. She is excited to return to work as a teacher and administrator!

• Orton Gillingham Certification expected Spring 2024 from Dyslexia Training Institute

Paige Minichiello, Teacher 

Paige has wanted to be a teacher her whole life, and it shows. She graduated from UC Davis with a BA in Religious Studies, Minors in Biology and Education, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and a MA in General Education. She taught K-5 in diverse classrooms in Vallejo, and 2nd grade at Bullis Charter School in Los Altos. Besides teaching, she has been a bus driver, grocery store clerk, dog walker, and caregiver. Her fiancé is dyslexic, so she is extremely excited to work at a school that will allow her to learn more about a learning difference that affects her family. Touchstone Learning is a very special school, she is honored to be joining such an amazing team of educators and students.