Administration
Jennifer Stuckey, Executive Director
Contact: jennifer@embracelearning.org
Executive Director, Jennifer Stuckey, saw a need in the Seattle/Tacoma areas for more individualized educational opportunities in a specialty school setting.
Jennifer entered the special needs world 29 years ago as a mother to her first son who had ADHD, ODD, high anxiety and a high IQ. Several children later with differing special needs (high anxiety, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, processing disorders, cognitive disabilities, communication disorders, neurological disorders, ASD and emotional regulation deficiencies), she found herself on a life journey to find solutions for families of children whom the traditional school setting was not working for. She has experienced, first hand, the isolating and confusing world of the special education system, as a parent. She has homeschooled, private schooled, alternative schooled, and had her children in every creative situation imaginable as she constantly pursued the best education for her children with complex and special needs.
In 2014 she went to work inside the special education public education system and learned the unique challenges presented at the ground level within the buildings and the complexities present in trying to provide quality, individualized FAPE in a setting that has been standardized. In 2019, she entered the private specialty school setting and learned how to bring together the needs of the districts and families, to fill the gap that seems to exist, despite all best efforts. 30 years later after utilizing and researching every program/school/tutoring center possible for students with behavior disabilities, mental health challenges, and learning disabilities, E.L.I. was born. Jennifer personally oversees the care and treatment of all of the students, families and staff at E.L.I. by partnering with only the best experts in the field and bringing them together for one common goal.
With more than 25 years working with students of different abilities at area private schools, parent partnerships, public schools and NPAs, she has collaborated with more than 30 school districts, attorneys, specialists, related service providers, and families, to provide NPA services in Washington state. With her education in Psychology, Sociology and Criminal Justice, she has worked tirelessly throughout her career to advocate, educate, implement behavior programs utilizing PBS and ABA principles. She is passionate about assisting students with behavioral and special needs to improve the lives of individuals and their families facing mental health challenges. She is a certified Right Response Instructor to provide training in de-escalation and techniques to keep children safe.
Jennifer was born and raised in the California Bay Area and has spent most of her adult life in the Seattle/Tacoma area. She is married to her husband Kevin and together they have 10 children, 4 still at home, & 3 dogs. When she's not working, she loves reading, long walks and being outside, especially at the beach.
Kevin Stuckey, Operations Director/Risk Manager
Contact: kevin@embracelearning.org
Operations Director, Kevin Stuckey, will oversee the safety and security of our facility and community. He will provide crisis intervention training, de-escalation training & be responsible for the constant assessment and improvement of our policies and procedures. in response to ever changing best practices when dealing with crisis & escalation response in a school setting, Kevin will be working to bring the most current information to families and staff to keep our site and students safe. Kevin has been a Seattle Police Officer for almost 30 years and has led the department as the Union President, co-founder of the Community Policing Commission, school resource officer and current President of the Black Law Enforcement Association of Washington. He is a certified CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) trainer, a certified de-escalation technique trainer and is a leader in communication and alternatives to use of force. Kevin’s unique experience as a person of color and police officer, coupled with his passion for school safety and student success helps him lead ELI as an innovator in crisis response and de-escalation that will directly impact the reduction of incidence of restraint and/or seclusion.
Kevin and his wife, Jennifer, have 10 children together and 2 dogs. When he’s not working, Kevin is a championship BBQ pitmaster who enjoys finding new recipes and cooking. He's also known as Seattle's Comic Book Cop https://mynorthwest.com/935019/seattle-cop-gives-away-black-panther/
Naomi Fenton, Special Education Director
Contact: naomi@embracelearning.org
Special Education Director for E.L.I., Naomi was born in California and raised in Southern Oregon. She attended Southern Oregon University and graduated with a degree in Language Arts with an emphasis in Reading. She went on to earn her M.Ed. with an emphasis in Special Education and worked in both Washington State and Oregon School Districts for 20 years as a Special Education Teacher. Naomi's years in both Federal Way Public Schools and Tacoma Public Schools enables her to understand the unique needs and nature of programming and how to best serve students in the area. Naomi’s extensive experience in the school districts, as both a Special Education Teacher and leader provides her with the important insight and guidance every program at ELI deserves.
Naomi is married to her husband, Daniel, and together they have two children. Throughout her life, she has always wanted to be a teacher and has most enjoyed working with students with special needs.
Tyler D, Administrative & All Site Director/CTE Program Lead
Contact: tyler.delgado@embracelearning.org
Administrative & All Site Director, Tyler, was born in Southern California and raised in Tacoma, Washington. Growing up, Tyler had family members with special needs. He lived, first hand with the strengths and struggles of kids and families that are not typical and developed his own awareness of loving to be outside the box in all of his thinking and performance. He attended
Whitworth university where he played football and studied mathematics. After college he began his time in the workforce in the trades and started coaching football. As a football and wrestling coach he grew a love and a passion for growing, developing, and teaching young people. Ultimately, Tyler felt called to combine his passion for kids with special needs, education and his specialized skills in the trades. At that point he began working in special education in high school in the public school environment. Simultaneously, he also started working on gaining his CTE credentials to become a CTE instructor as he realized the tremendous need for project based work and CTE tracks for some students, particularly some with special needs. He’s excited to develop our CTE programs and project based learning, while mentoring and leading our middle/high school kids to success as they consider the transition to adult life.
In his free time, Tyler spends his time with his 3 young children, coaching their sports and activities and giving back to the community. He loves watching professional football and wrestling and is a devoted Seahawk fan. Tyler devotes countless hours volunteering with the youth in our community, especially sensitive to those who are special needs and at risk youth.
Justin P "Patty", Safety & Security Manager
Jillian P, Executive Administrative Assistant
Julie C, Speech Language Pathologist
OPEN POSITION! OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Please send resume to info@embracelearning.org
Savannah V, Administrative Assistant
Contact: savannah@embracelearning.org
Social Media Director, Administrative Assistant & K-3 Tutor for E.L.I., Savannah has a tremendous amount of experience in social media platforms, as well as being a successful administrative assistant and tutor. After growing up with many learning disabled and special needs friends and family members, she has found that she has a certain way with them and enjoys working with them. Savannah has had experience tutoring and working with kids with special needs at the elementary level and found considerable satisfaction and joy from it. As a student who at one time was struggling and a grade level or two behind in her subjects, to now being a 4.0 student, she particularly understands the pain and suffering that students feel when they are struggling and falling further and further behind. She also is acutely aware of the importance of having a strong, creative and patient tutor and mentor to help fill in the gaps that can occur in learning in the early years.
In her free time, Savannah likes to crochet, diamond paint, and hang out with her 5 year old dog, Mowgli. She loves shopping and planning out new projects for the future.
Eli, Emotional Support Director
Emotional Support Director, Eli has recently joined the team providing endless love, reassurance and kisses to all in need. Born in California and transplanted to the Seattle/Tacoma area, he is still freezing and in search of any sun he can find.
After receiving his Bachelor's Degree in Relaxation, he gained his Master's degree in Comfort and Persistence with a professional certification in Zoomies and Stink Bombing.
When he's not providing emotional support to the staff and students at ELI, he can be found sleeping, eating and engaging in an occasional zoomies session. His favorite places to hang out are sunbathing in any sun to be found, in his "throne" (AKA baby bouncer) and he always requires soft and extremely padded areas to lay down on if he cannot be held.
Eli can occasionally be found harassing his two dog siblings.