Educational Therapist & Clinical Director |
Daltrey Abney, ET/PPronunciation: DAWL-tree AB-nee Pronouns: she/her
Daltrey Abney, our founder, hails from Bentonville, Arkansas. She graduated from Boston College with a dual degree in Elementary Education and History, and completed her educational therapy training at the University of California Riverside. She is a certified educational therapist, elementary school teacher, and English Language Learner teacher. The Association of Educational Therapists has certified her as a professional-level ET. After teaching at an international school in Japan, she returned to the U.S. to focus on developing strategies that help students struggling to succeed in the typical classroom setting. When she first moved to Los Angeles, she worked at Pacific Point Academy, a school for students with learning differences. It was there that she developed her passion for students who learn differently and received training in programs such as the Wilson Reading Program, Visualizing and Verbalizing, CogMed, CAPDOTS, SMARTS, Read Naturally, Building Thinking Skills, Step Up to Writing, and more. She has worked with students with ASD, ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, executive functioning challenges, language disorders, processing inefficiencies, and a number of other learning differences. She specializes in assessing and working with students with complex profiles and multiple diagnoses. Her goal is to help students build confidence in themselves as learners through individually tailored instruction designed to enable them to truly thrive.
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Educational Therapist & Assistant Clinical Director |
Stephanie "BUFFY" KAHAL, ET/APronunciation: BUH-fee kuh-HAHL Pronouns: she/her
In January 2025, Stephanie “Buffy” Kahal returned to Los Angeles from the Washington, DC area and quickly became an integral part of the Discover team. Initially joining as the Homework Den Director, she now serves as an Educational Therapist and Assistant Clinical Director. Buffy earned her B.A. in Justice, Law, and Society from American University and her M.A. in Educational Therapy from California State University, Northridge. Buffy has extensive experience supporting students with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and various learning differences across elementary, middle, and high school settings. In her leadership role, she mentors staff, collaborates on individualized learning plans, and ensures families receive the highest quality of care. Nothing makes her happier than witnessing that “ah-ha” moment when a concept clicks and a student’s confidence grows.
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Educational Therapist & Assessment Specialist |
Tess Niemi, ET/APronunciation: TESS nee-EH-mee Pronouns: she/her
Tess Niemi is an educational specialist who earned her BA in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara. Since then, she has worked with students of varied learning profiles as a behavior therapist and an academic interventionist. She has worked with children with a wide range of mild to moderate learning differences, including ADHD, ASD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, processing disorders, and other school-based challenges such as anxiety and low motivation. For the last eight years, Tess has provided primarily one-on-one interventions and is accustomed to working as part of a collaborative team in support of her students. With training in Applied Behavior Analysis, Wilson Reading, CogMed, CAPDOTS, Step Up to Writing, Building Thinking Skills, Read Naturally, Step-by-Step Problem Solving, and ST Math. Tess is able to customize her approach for each student in order to target specific goals. Academic subjects that Tess tutors include reading, reading comprehension, writing, and math for K-12 students. Additionally, Tess is a trained executive functioning coach for all ages and loves to help students develop systems for organization, time and task management.
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Learning support specialist & Homework Den Director |
Alexandra "Ale" WoodPronunciation: AL-ee WOOD Pronouns: she/her, he/him
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ale Wood brings over 10 years of dedicated teaching experience to Discover Educational Therapy. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where she also completed specialized training and credentialing in both mild/moderate and moderate/severe special education. In her tutoring practice, Ale has excelled in supporting students with Autism, Dyslexia, and ADHD—always meeting each learner where they are with empathy, patience, and individualized support. As a classroom teacher, she worked tirelessly to ensure every student felt seen, safe, and valued—cultivating a learning environment grounded in dignity and inclusion. At Discover Educational Therapy, Ale continues her heartfelt mission: to bring the comfort, joy, and love of learning that are already hallmarks of our practice. She is eager to collaborate with students and families to nurture academic success, self-confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.
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Administrative Manager |
Amanda SmirzPronunciation: uh-MAN-duh SMIRZ Pronouns: she/her
Amanda is Discover’s Administrative Manager and the go-to person for scheduling, billing, and family communication. Before stepping into this role, she spent nearly 10 years in Los Angeles working as a special education teacher and educational therapist, supporting students with diverse learning needs across public and private schools. Her deep understanding of the educational landscape in Los Angeles helps her anticipate families’ needs and guide them with clarity. Now living outside of Chicago, Amanda brings both professional expertise and personal experience as the mother of three young boys. She approaches her work with empathy, insight, and an unwavering commitment to making every family’s experience with Discover smooth and supportive.
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Education Access Consultant |
ÏxkÁri EstellePronunciation: eesh-KAR-ee es-TELL Pronouns: they/them, he/him
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ïxkári Estelle is an educator, researcher, and community care worker with a strong commitment to accessibility and equity in education. They earned their B.A. in English from UCLA and an M.A. in English from UC Riverside, and bring nearly a decade of experience supporting students and families in both academic and advocacy settings. At Discover, Ïxkári serves as our Education Access Consultant, working closely with parents to navigate the complexities of special education systems. They guide families through the IEP and 504 process, attend meetings as an advocate for students, and ensure that each learner’s needs are clearly understood and supported. With their background in accessibility, cultural responsiveness, and student care, Ïxkári helps families feel empowered as partners in their child’s education. If you are starting your child's assessment journey or are looking for help navigating IEPs/504s and would be interested in consulting with Ïxkári, please contact our admin team to get in touch.
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Educational Therapy Dog & Director of Client Engagement |
MeeraPronunciation: MEER-uh Pronouns: she/her, they/them
Okay, there’s no official title of “educational therapy dog,” but Meera comes pretty close. A trained service dog, she provides deep pressure therapy, cuddles, and a steady, calming presence in the office. Most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, you can find her lounging in her favorite cozy spot under the couch in the waiting room or greeting students with kisses. She loves being read to while relaxing in her safe space under the coach. So don't be afraid to curl up alongside her under the couch with a good book! Meera is also the proud mascot of Meera’s Pack and Meera’s Homework Den—our group services that offer students extra social and homework support. Most importantly, Meera is neurodivergent, too. She experiences anxiety, struggles in overstimulating social situations, and sometimes has a hard time regulating her attention. Because of this, she helps us open up conversations about empathy, accommodations, advocacy, and the real challenges faced in the neurodivergent community.
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Educational Therapy Turtle & Chief Curiosity Officer |
CLEO Pronunciation: CLEE-oh Pronouns: she/her
Cleo is Discover’s resident red-eared slider turtle and a peaceful presence in the office. She can often be found sunbathing under her heat lamp or gliding gracefully through her tank while keeping a watchful eye on the day’s activities. Students love checking in on Cleo during breaks, and she brings a sense of wonder and calm to our space. If you're lucky, you might just catch her on one of her adventure breaks, climbing up ramps, scaling walls in her playpen, or free-roaming around the office floors. People often assume that because Cleo is a turtle, she must be slow, shy, or quiet. But Cleo doesn’t let those expectations define her—she’s actually quick, adventurous, and full of personality. As part of our office team, she reminds us all to breathe, go with the flow, and stay curious.
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EDUCATIONAL THERAPY DOG & CONFIDENCE COACH |
HERMIONEPronunciation: her-MY-oh-nee Pronouns: she/her
Hermione is Discover’s loyal office pup, known for following her favorite people wherever they go. She’s usually at the office on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays, ready to greet students and staff alike. Hermione models self-advocacy every day—never afraid to ask for what she needs to succeed (especially extra pets!). A natural at body doubling, she makes work feel easier just by being nearby, whether she’s curled up at your side or trotting alongside a busy staff member. She’s also the first to remind everyone when it’s time for a pause, nudging us toward breaks with her wagging tail and gentle persistence. Hermione keeps us centered, offering companionship, modeling advocacy, and reminding us all to pause and find balance between working hard and resting well.
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