Professional Learning

Katie Sauter worked in a domestic violence shelter until 2013. In 2013, Katie pursued her passion of working in education. She received her Master’s of Science in Early Childhood Education and Educational Studies from John Hopkins University in 2015. She also holds a BA from the University of Michigan. Katie taught pre-kindergarten at a Head Start in Tulsa, Oklahoma from 2013-2015. In 2015 Katie relocated to Seattle, WA where she currently resides.  From 2015-16 Katie worked for Zeno, a nonprofit organization, as their Early Learning Program Manager. While at Zeno, Katie developed an early learning math curriculum that focused on racial equity and family engagement. In 2016, Katie moved to Dublin, Ireland and worked as an Early Childhood Consultant supporting preschool programs in Ireland and the United States. As a consultant, Katie focused on designing and facilitating family engagement professional learning sessions for educators. In 2018, Katie returned to Seattle and re-joined Zeno, where she worked as their Programs Director until 2021. Since 2021, Katie has been working with the Department of Education and Early Learning at the City of Seattle supporting the Seattle Preschool Program as the Supervisor of Preschool Enrollment. Katie has been a National Presenter with Learning Without Tears since 2021. When she is not working, Katie enjoys spending time with her two children and husband. She loves to cook, read, and travel.

*Receives a speaking fee from Learning Without Tears and receives a salary from the City of Seattle where she is an employee*

Roxanne Thompson received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University in 1998. She has practiced OT in the public schools, early intervention, and currently a private pediatric out-patient clinic. She also provides handwriting tutoring services to children in pre-school through middle school. She completed her Level 1 certification in March 2007 and has been presenting for Learning Without Tears since 2009.  Roxanne lives in Frisco with her husband and 2 children.

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

Heather received her undergraduate education from The University of Texas at Austin and completed her Occupational Therapy education from Mount St Mary's College in Los Angeles, becoming a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant in 2000. Since then, she has had the privilege of working with a multitude of populations, including pediatrics through geriatrics with orthopedic and neurological deficits, in hospital, outpatient, and school settings. She is a guest lecturer for Lonestar College in Houston, Texas for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, as well as for Dysgraphia Life. In 2010, Heather became a Certified Handwriting Specialist with Handwriting Without Tears, and focused her practice on tutoring, teaching, and remediating handwriting dysfunctions with her young clients. She continues to tutor children on their handwriting with her private practice, Scribble-Write Handwriting, and happily lives in Spring, Texas with her husband and 2 college-aged children. In her spare time, Heather loves traveling, cooking, and being an empty nester.

Valerie is a National Workshop Presenter and Content Specialist for Learning Without Tears, a profession that came out of her passion as an occupational therapist to empower educators and other therapists to help their students succeed at school.  Valerie has provided occupational therapy services to children in a variety of settings including schools, clinics, homes, and through teletherapy.  She has used the LWT methods and materials with children since 2004, and she became a LWT National Presenter in 2011 alongside her work as an occupational therapist.  Valerie lives in Greenville, SC with her husband and two children where they enjoy traveling and all kinds of outdoor adventures, especially those including hiking boots, snow skis, kayaks, and SUPs.

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