Professional Learning

Tania Ferrandino received her BS/Diploma in Occupational therapy from St. Loye’s school of Occupational Therapy in Exeter, England. Tania has worked extensively with children of all ages and abilities for more than 20 years. Her passion is sharing with educators and others who work with young children how they can most effectively prepare children for written production skills, including handwriting. She currently serves as a Senior National Learning Producer for Learning Without Tears, where she is considered a subject matter expert and has worked on creating content for teacher guides, student workbooks and hands-on products. Tania has also created content for multiple professional learning formats.

*Receives a salary from Learning Without Tears where she is an employee*

Emily is a pediatric occupational therapist with over 15 years of experience specializing in OT based in sensory integrative processing, developmental disorders, sensory-based feeding challenges and school-based interventions. She is certified through CLASI, as well as the STAR Institute, in sensory integration. She is also a certified handwriting specialist, as well as a certified feeding therapist. Recently, she was the clinical director of an OT clinic in Quito, Ecuador, where she resided for 10 years, providing multidisciplinary trainings and workshops within the international school circuit in areas such as fine motor and handwriting development, inclusive learning environments, and sensory supports for the classroom, among other topics. Currently, she is a pediatric OT for a non-profit organization based in Denver, Colorado.  She was introduced to Handwriting Without Tears in 2014 and has used it both in the school setting and private practice ever since.  When she isn't sharing her love of collaborative learning and teaching, you can find her outdoors, playing soccer, or on the dance floor.  Emily is very excited to be a part of the Learning Without Tears team! 

*Receives a speaking fee from Learning Without Tears*

Meghan L. Fisher, MS, OTR/L received her Master of Science degree from Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA in 2002. She has experience in providing services to children in a variety of settings, including school based practice, early intervention and private tutoring. Meghan has attended all three HWT workshops, including one taught by Jan Olsen herself, as well as the Advanced Advocacy Training (AAT) weekend. She is Level 1 certified. In June of 2009, she became a National Workshop Presenter for LWT. Meghan has proudly represented LWT at various trade shows since 2005. In her spare time, Meghan enjoys running marathons, yoga and riding horses. She is thrilled to be a National Presenter and Trade Show Specialist for LWT, sharing the program with parents, teachers, and therapists in the United States.

*Receives a speaking fee from Learning Without Tears and receives salaries from St. Catherine University and Valley Health Home Health where she is an employee*

Terri Foster received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Tufts University in Medford, MA.  She has over 20 years of experience providing pediatric occupational therapy services in hospitals, schools, and private practice. She lives in Northborough, MA where she provides contracted occupational therapy services to local schools and private handwriting tutoring. Terri is Level 1 Certified and has used the LWT curriculum throughout her years as an OT in a variety of school and private settings. The incredible success she has seen her students achieve using LWT motivated her to become a Certified National Workshop Presenter with Learning Without Tears. She has been enjoying teaching others the LWT curriculum through presenting both school based and national workshops for Learning Without Tears since 2008.

*Receives a speaking fee from Learning Without Tears*

Dr. Peter Giroux is a full time tenured Professor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Northeast Louisiana University in 1987. He has a Master of Science degree in Health Sciences (MHS) from Mississippi College and a Doctoral degree (PhD) in Clinical Health Sciences from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He is also a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association (FAOTA). He holds certifications in Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) and LWT. He has numerous presentations, publications and research projects in the areas of: occupational therapy; handwriting evaluation, intervention and instruction; keyboarding evaluation, intervention and instruction; play based instruction, assessment and intervention; universal design and environmental adaptations; vision, visual perception and visual motor skills in the classroom and clinic; executive functioning and universal design for learning; and assistive technology.  In addition to academic responsibilities, he remains an active practitioner by providing occupational therapy services and assistive technology services in a school-based setting in his hometown of Madison, MS. He has all-encompassing experience serving students with special and exceptional needs in addition to typically developing students. He has utilized LWT programs since 1995 with children of all ages in both public and private schools as well as with children in both regular and special education settings. Peter has been a National Workshop Presenter and consultant for LWT since March of 2000 providing training throughout the United States as well as international presentations and educational workshops.

*Receives a speaking fee from Learning Without Tears and receives a salary from the University of Mississippi Medical Center where he is an employee*

Emily Hayes is a kindergarten teacher at a small private school in Durham, North Carolina, with a deep love for early childhood learning and the whole child behind it. She earned her Master’s degree in Education and Inclusion from the University of Rochester and has spent her career working alongside children with a wide range of physical abilities and neurodiverse learning styles. For more than ten years, Emily has led Kinder Crew™ classrooms, where play, connection, and confidence-building are just as important as academic growth. Along the way, she discovered a passion for teaching handwriting and supporting foundational skills in a way that feels joyful, accessible, and meaningful for young learners. When she’s not teaching or working with families, Emily enjoys reorganizing furniture, painting and gemming sneakers, and making parodies of songs. She also loves traveling and finding playful ways to bring creativity into everyday life. Emily lives in Cary, North Carolina, with her husband and two children, and believes deeply that every child deserves to feel seen, capable, and excited to learn.

*Receives a speaking fee from Learning Without Tears*