Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Castillo.
Jessica, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2005, one of my daughters was diagnosed with multiple learning disabilities, and she quickly became overwhelmed with the difficulties facing her. Every aspect of our family’s life was impacted – home, social, academic and spiritual. I watched as the light of hope in my baby’s eyes was slowly being extinguished by each obstacle she couldn’t surmount and every intervention that didn’t help. I was an educator, but unfamiliar with the field of special education or tools to help with learning challenges. So, I was compelled to find a solution that would authentically heal the areas of need – be effective and permanent. I found N.I.L.D.® (National Institute for Learning Development) later that year, enrolled my daughter in an educational therapy program, and signed up to become a therapist myself. Due in large part to the educational therapy, and alongside some of my own unique approaches, Emme, my daughter, was all lit-up again, finished high school with a 3.5 GPA, and is now away in NYC in college!
Since 2008, I’ve worked with numerous students with varying needs from those with ASDs and AD/HD to Dyslexia, Intellectual Disability, Fragile X and more. Through Light Up Learning, my team and I have helped many to ignite the light within and discover that they are made for a future filled with hope and purpose. In 2013 we extended our educational therapy offerings to include a small alternative homeschool cooperative to provide more comprehensive instruction as well as integrated intervention, and this year began our S.E.E.™️ Sensory Engagement Experiences as well. My mission is to embolden children with learning difficulties to appreciate their God-given uniqueness, and embrace their ability to discover, know and grow. I believe (and have witnessed!) that every child can learn given the appropriate care, consideration and intervention.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Nope! Any entrepreneur that tells you beginning a work of heart is “easy” or “smooth sailing,” is, at best, greatly exaggerating! I have to say, though, that doors did open obviously in the right directions. I didn’t ever feel like this was a job or hard work, it was natural and my next steps were clear. But, of course, building awareness in the community about our really unique goals and methods has always been a bit of a struggle. Helping parents and educators direct their goals towards underlying needs rather than content-driven grades and tests is tough in our current educational culture. So, connecting with community partners was, and is, essential. It takes time, lots of effort, and resources to intentionally and directedly reach out and inform those who need to know our message. Psychologists, doctors, teachers, special educators, and others have become an extension to our voice and work with us to build bridges to those that don’t yet know what hope we offer.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Light Up Learning – what should we know?
Through Light Up Learning®and Wonder Academy®, our DBA, we offer NILD-based Educational Therapy, both in one-to-one and small group formats. It’s prescriptive for each learner which allows us to target their specific cognitive strengths and weaknesses, incorporates academic tasks, and builds social/emotional awareness and self-confidence. We adapted the therapy and wrapped it into a small class model that would integrate it into the day and extend strategic learning to subject area content, and Wonder Academy was born. We’re now in our 5th year and have graduated 7 students that didn’t believe they would ever be able to – and they all entered college!
This certainly sets us apart because our goals are not directed solely towards academic standards and performance. We aim much higher and broader to include the development of cognitive, or thinking processes, foundational social/emotional skills, and “how to learn” constructs that empower independent learning for life.
I’m so proud that we’ve never wavered from our mission to heal the underlying causes of learning difficulties, instead of settling for academic remedies. It would be so much easier to provide patches for learners that keep them dependent on tutors, aids, and accommodations. Rather than work intensely for 2-3 years and successfully graduate independent thinkers, we could help students over the course of school life to complete homework, pass tests, and organize their tools. Imagine the number of kids we could serve or income we could generate, right? No! I didn’t want that for my daughter, didn’t settle for superficial helps then, and will not now. We provide permanent healing of learning needs & build independent, confident, life-long learners.
I have to mention, too, that my team donates approximately $30k in scholarships to students annually. We each gift one student with pro bono services each year. This is also part of our mission – to allow the therapy we provide to be accessible, even to those that can’t afford it.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
If anyone needs to get all the credit, it’s God, and I mean it in the most practical sense. He kicked my butt out of one educational setting into the one that would heal my daughter and direct my mission. Likewise, my family has provided such amazing support through the late nights, weekends away, emotional nights, and years of no income. My office manager, Margie, has been instrumental, and I don’t know where we’d be without her – she was there when my backyard housed our first summer camp! I’m especially grateful for my mom, who always encouraged me, but has also financially contributed to our efforts and visions faithfully. Our LUL team, including our Board, is so very special. We are more of a family than an organization, working, planning, struggling, and celebrating together. These each and all make this dream of mine possible a step, day and student at a time.
Contact Info:
- Address: Light Up Learning, Inc.
10121 SW 40th Street
Miami, FL 33165 - Website: www.lightuplearning.com
- Phone: 786.334.6967
- Email: info@lightuplearning.com
- Instagram: Light_up_learning
- Facebook: Light Up Learning
- Twitter: Lightuplearnin
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
