Today we’d like to introduce you to Maribel Alvarez.
Maribel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I was a child I thought, “I will know all the answers when I grow up”. Especially, what my life’s work would be, but it didn’t happen that way, at least not immediately. After high school, I had decided to go to a four-year college. College was definitely not what I thought it would be. At one point I was extremely frustrated with myself, I was two years into college without the slightest idea in what direction I was going. I called it ” The Black Hole” period, because there was no one to truly guide me, just more required classes that I had to take and still no direction. So I began to search for answers in books like “What Color is Your Parachute?” and seeking adult friend advice.
Then one day, I began volunteering in elementary schools with atypical children. And it reminded me how much I loved teaching children. A year later, I began working at speech therapy center that offered a one to one Applied Behavior Analysis program for children with Autism. The owner, Wendy Nottoli was a friend of my father’s and heard that I wanted to teach so she requested an interview with me. Never would I have imagine that her hiring me would change the course of my life. At the therapy center I learned how important it was to be well rounded in this field. Wendy Nottoli would gather us each day to teach us about behavior, communication/language, sensory diets, fine motor and gross motor implementation. She taught us about auditory processing, positive reinforcement and how to teach the children daily functional skills. Working here was definitely better than college! I will always remember the one moment that changed everything for me, what we all call the ah-ha! moment. I recall a beautiful blond boy with autism who would have this horrific meltdowns and would self-injure by punching himself black and blue. He was one of my first student’s. I remember just crying and praying the first few months every time I was at work. I almost felt hopeless, “Why were these children in so much pain?” I thought to myself. On one particular day, I was helping one of my student’s change their clothes. He started hitting himself again and I was caught in the crossfire and I got hit in the face. I immediately looked up to the heavens and said “God this is what I want to do, I’m going to help these children.” From that moment on it was no longer a job for me. It was going to be my passion and my vocation! And I was going to dedicate my life to the progress of children with Autism.
During the last few years at the therapy center, I finished my bachelors degree in education and continue working with the students. The children were making great gains and many now were talking and interacting with others at the center but now they were turning school age and had to transition out.
I had parents requesting I find a way to open up a school for the students that were getting too old for the program and were in need to transition to a small student to teacher ratio while still accommodating their learning needs. Opening up a school? I thought. I would love to but where would I get the resources?
Then one day I decided to take a leap of faith and told my boss I was moving on and what my plans were. In my heart, I was sad to leave after working at the center for ten years.
Wendy was not only my boss but also my mentor. Throughout the years she had taught me to be professional, diligent flexible and to quench for knowledge. Until this day I still I look up to her and I’m extremely proud to have worked for her.
Has it been a smooth road?
“How was I going to open up a school? ” was an all-consuming thought. “Where would I find the funding? ” I asked myself. It was my husband that held my hand, gave me support and found me the resources to realize my dream. He so humbly and courageously asked a dear friend for help. And without a second thought, they extended their hand. It hasn’t always been easy for me to ask others for help but that is one of the many gifts my husband has taught me through out the years and trust me some days it’s still hard.
In 2005, my business partner at that time and I began the process of opening the business. Finding a location for the school was one of the biggest challenges we faced because most places do not have the requirements for a school. We finally opened up the school at a church that so graciously gave us space. From there the school moved two other times and I now have private space of my own. I say of my own because my business partner moved on and continued the school.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the AKTIV Learning Academy story. Tell us more about the business.
The vision of the school was to innovate the way the students would learn by creating a learning system and curriculum that would be tailored to the student and instead of the student being tailored to the curriculum. Children with autism need flexibility, repetion and the right accommodations to learn.
Each classroom consist of a certified teacher and an assistant. The class range from six to eight students per class. Each student receives an initial evaluation and observation to create a curriculum that is accommodated to their specific needs. Reading, writing and arithmetic are extemely important life skills so we push academics along with language skills, functional life skills, physical activities and learning appropriate behaviors.
We also adjust to any sensory or food diets the students need.
What we are most proud of is when we see the students learning and becoming more independent each day. Their gains are our joys!
We are also proud of the team we have with our parents. We are consistently active with our parents and incorporate their specific concerns into helping the student carry over the right behaviors at home.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As we continue moving forward into ever rapid world technology, I see the school expanding in more ways that will enrich student learning and ability.
The changes we make in the future will be according to the needs of the students and how they can best integrate into society.
We are also working on expanding the physical location of the school to allow for more in-house learning activities, such as a computer lab and garden/science lab.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6405 NW 36 Street #104
Virginia Gardens, Florida 33166 - Website: www.aktivlearning.com
- Phone: 786-293-7000
- Email: maribel@aktivlearning.com
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/home.php?sk=live
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.
