First Coast Learning Specialists
First Coast Learning Specialists, LLC is a private tutoring and consulting practice that was founded by Nicole Zauke. The goal for FCLS is to plan individualized educational paths for our clients which will assist in building a strong foundation towards academic success. By utilizing an explicit, systematic, and multi-sensory approach to learning we can facilitate learning and work to close any learning gaps.
At First Coast Learning Specialists, we provide students a truly immersive experience using multisensory and interactive lessons. The students enjoy learning, and we enjoy teaching them! As a result, students acquire the strategies needed to succeed. We want to be the place where you can find the best options to enhance your child’s learning. We’ll find the resources that meet the specific needs of your family. We hope you will consider us for your child’s learning needs.
FCLS Focuses On:
NICOLE ZAUKE
First Coast Learning Specialists Founder & Orton Gillingham Trained Community Educator
Phone: (904) 591-0906
Nicole Zauke’s Professional Certifications
- Certified Orton Gillingham Educator/Tutor
- 15+ Years Classroom Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
- Master’s Degree in School Counseling
- Reading and Literacy Specialist Graduate Certificate
- Florida Licensed Educator for K-6
- Florida Licensed School Counselor for K-12
- Clinical Educator/CET Certified (mentored new teachers and able to host college pre-interns and interns in the classroom)
- CERI (Center for Effective Reading Instruction) Certified Structured Literacy / Dyslexia Interventionist (C-SLDI)
- Rated as a “Highly Effective Teacher” according to administration observations & evaluations, professional development and student growth scores
Nicole Zauke is the founder of First Coast Learning Specialists. Nicole knows the importance that strong foundational reading and literacy skills play in students’ abilities to be successful across all content subject areas. Over her 15+ years in the classroom, Nicole saw firsthand both the academic challenges and social-emotional impact on students who were struggling learners. Nicole founded her practice with a desire to help striving students and to provide instruction that is deeply rooted in the science of how children learn best.
Nicole believes that a safe, caring environment and positive teacher-student relationships are essential to learning. She believes it is important to meet students wherever they are in their learning and build on their strengths to grow the skills they need to become confident learners. Nicole utilizes a structured literacy approach with an emphasis on explicit and systematic instruction.
Katie Townsend’s Professional Certifications
- Orton Gillingham trained
- 12+ Years of Classroom Teaching Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education
- Florida Licensed Educator for K-6
- Florida Licensed Varying Exceptionalities (ESE) Educator for K-12
- Florida Licensed Reading Educator for K-12
- Master VE Educator Certified
- ESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) Endorsed
- Clinical Educator/CET Certified (Able to host college pre-interns and interns in my classroom, as well as mentor new teachers)
- Mental Health First Aid Certified
- Rated as a “Highly Effective Teacher” according to her administration observations & evaluations, professional development and student growth scores
Katie Townsend is a highly effective educator with 12+ years of experience as an elementary inclusion classroom teacher; her work there enabled her to learn, practice, implement, and master various research-based programs and effective teaching strategies that have led to countless student success stories. Katie’s extensive experience has allowed her to gain a deeper understanding on how to close the educational gaps struggling students may possess.
Katie believes it’s crucial for students to have a strong understanding and mastery of the foundational skills (learned in K-2), in order for them to easier access grade level content and curriculum. These primary skills set the stage for the rest of their academic success, and are the first stepping stones to the more rigorous ones they will be exposed to for the rest of their schooling years. Once she has a true understanding of what your child needs, she will then create multiple learning goals and determine the appropriate program(s) to implement.