Meet Our Team
The Heart and Soul of TLC
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Owner and Program DirectorTania has been an educator for over twenty years in traditional, Montessori, and homeschool settings. She is passionate about creating learning environments where children and adolescents can thrive through joyful, engaged, purposeful learning. Tania is the founder of The Learning Café and works as an Education Consultant, helping schools and families realize their visions. She serves on the Board of Trustees for Leadership Geauga, is a certified teacher in Ohio, a certified Wellness Coach, and holds certificates in Positive Education, Positive Psychology, Restorative Practices, and is a certified DiSC Practitioner. She also holds an AMI Montessori Adolescent Diploma. Her hobbies include playing with her pup, traveling, singing, cooking, visiting local restaurants, gardening, learning, and spending time with her family.
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Explorers Program and Entrepreneurship & Career Exploration Teacher
Susan Calzada is excited to be joining the TLC community as a teacher in the Explorers Program and the teen Entrepreneurship and Career Exploration class. She and her husband, JC, have three teenage sons, whom Susan has homeschooled for over ten years. While homeschooling, she has taught a variety of co-op classes and especially loves to teach hands-on, engaging science classes. In her interactive classes, she has created explosions, dropped items from the top of buildings, flung things across the room, and built models from almost every candy imaginable, all to demonstrate scientific principles! She is looking forward to sharing her love for learning with her students at TLC. Susan is also active in her church, and enjoys helping out with the youth group. Her hobbies include running, reading, playing volleyball and being a fan of all her kids’ endeavors!
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Mini Café
Katie has spent her entire life in Chardon, growing up on her family farm, where she was homeschooled by her mother until middle school. Currently, she is in her senior year, studying education at Lake Erie College through CCP classes. Katie joined The Learning Café to pursue her passion for education and homeschooling, and she is thrilled to be part of the team.
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Little Learners & Open Café
Ella is excited to join the Learning Café! She is currently studying criminal justice and law at Lake Erie College. Previously homeschooled, Ella attended Hershey Montessori School during middle and part of high school. She is also a former music student at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where she studied violin performance. In addition to her work at TLC, Ella works in the office at Fairmount Center for the Arts. In her free time, she enjoys running, Brazilian jujitsu, backpacking with friends and helping her parents to care for their family farm.
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Teen Program
Mady is thrilled to be included on this journey of reimagining education with The Learning Café. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History, from Ohio Wesleyan University. While at OWU, Mady was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She was also the Team Lead for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware, Ohio. After graduating, Mady went on to work at a Montessori school, where she realized how beneficial individualized education can be. She is looking forward to creating a positive environment where students can be excited about what they are learning. She is passionate about history and thrilled to have the opportunity to share that passion with her students. Mady has two daughters and seven fur babies! Her hobbies include, crafting, paddle boarding, crossword puzzles and spending time with her family.
Join Our Team
Position Summary
We are always seeking elementary, middle, and high school teachers who align with our vision and mission.
As a teacher at TLC, you will lead a small classroom of students in the academic content and age group you specialize in. You must be comfortable teaching in a mixed-aged classroom and be able to differentiate and create exciting and engaging project-based lessons and activities for our students. You must have a deep respect for the child and/or adolescent and have a passion for teaching and learning. You must understand that connection comes before all else and put student wellbeing first above all else.
Qualifications
You have a love for teaching and learning
You have a deep respect for the child/adolescent
Having a teaching license/certificate is a plus, but not mandatory
A background in the following areas is a plus, but not mandatory
Montessori, Waldorf, or any other alternative teaching methodology focused on a whole-child approach
Positive Psychology/Positive Education
Restorative Practices
Non-Violent or Needs-Based Communication
Other Details
Position Reports to: Program Director
Start Date: TBD
Hours: Mostly 9 to 3 but is flexible
Compensation: Competitive and generous
Benefits
Flexible schedule
Paid plan time
An environment focused on wellbeing
A power-with rather than power-over environment
Room to grow with company