Meet The Team
Elisabeth Laatsch, M.Ed.
Founder;
Professional Learning Specialist;
Parent Coach
Elisabeth earned a B.A. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. In Curriculum & Instruction with an endorsement in Special Education. She is a certified educator in the state of Montana and has 17 years of public school teaching experience in Colorado, Texas, and Montana. Teaching roles have included general education classroom teacher, academic interventionist, and special education teacher with a particular investment in learning disabilities. She has experience in the public and private sector teaching struggling readers foundational literacy skills and has seen firsthand what systematic, evidenced-based intervention can do for all learners, regardless of diagnosis. Elisabeth is a continuous learner and a passionate advocate who seeks to understand and support various neurodivergent profiles by staying up-to-date with the latest brain-based research related teaching and learning. Using a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach, she believes all children have evident gifts and are capable of academic and emotional success when provided with a safe learning environment that utilizes evidenced-based, systematic, and explicit instruction.
Elisabeth has extensive training in Structured Literacy and Orton-Gillingham instruction, based on the Science of Reading to support individuals with learning differences, dyslexia, and specific learning disabilities. She is a member of various organizations including The Reading League's national and Montana chapters, and the International Dyslexia Association. To support her passion in advocating for the rights of neurodivergent learners, she completed the "Dyslexia Advocate" program through Dyslexia Training Institute/University of San Diego, as well as the "Special Education Law & Advocacy" certification program through Wrightslaw. She has established collaborative relationships at the state and federal level with individuals, businesses, schools, districtis, and organizations to maximize understanding and support for neurodivergent individuals.
Elisabeth loves living in Missoula, Montana with her husband and three children. She enjoys exploring all that the special community and beautiful state have to offer. Skiing, hiking with her dogs, being outdoors amongst the ponderosa pines, and concert-going are some of her favorite ways to spend her free time.
Kari Tarter, M.Ed.
Professional Learning Specialist
Parent Coach
Kari earned her B.S. in Special Education: Mild-Moderate Disabilities from The University of Arizona and became a certified special educator with an endorsement in Structured English Immersion. She later earned a Master’s in Special Education: Severe and Multiple Disabilities through the same institution. Kari has worked in the special education field since 2018, with her primary focus on supporting and instructing students with emotional and behavioral disabilities in the K-12 population. During her internship for her Master’s degree, Kari enjoyed supporting older learners as a peer mentor for Project Focus: a unique post-high school transition program for young adult students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. After moving back home to Montana in 2021, she boosted her skills in multisensory decoding and spelling instruction through the Wilson Language Institute’s training program and is committed to ongoing professional development and training to best support her students.
When she is not working for Intentional Learning Services, Kari is out hitting the trails with her beloved pups: Dozer and Topher, or taking in a hot yoga class just down the street from the office. Her favorite part about working for Intentional Learning Services is the space that is held for families and learning specialists to collaborate on students’ goals and celebrate their achievements.
Megan Powledge, M.Ed.
Professional Learning Specialist
Megan earned a Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in Montessori Education through Ottawa University in 2006, while simultaneously earning her Montessori teaching certification through the American Montessori Society. She helped develop and has been leading the Elementary program at Summit Montessori in Missoula (formally Garden City Montessori) for the last 15 years. Megan loves working with children and firmly believes that each individual learns in their own unique way. Her interest in becoming involved with Intentional Learning Services sparked after meeting Elisabeth and seeing the impact that her work had in encouraging childrens' confidence and learning. Megan has recently completed trainings based on the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy including Top10 Tools, Wilson Fundamentals, and attendance at the Big Sky Literacy Summit. She is committed to ongoing professional development and training to best support her students.
In addition to being an inspirational educator, Megan spends as much time outside as she can. The outdoors feeds her soul! She enjoys playing in the mountains and adventuring with her friends and family.
Join Our Team
We are seeking certified educators to our team of learning specialists. If you are a passionate educator with skills and training in explicit, evidenced-based intervention and instruction, contact us today! We have students looking for explicit instruction in: Structured Literacy and Foundational Reading Intervention; Mathematics Intervention including Foundational Skills and Number Sense, Calculation and Computation; Executive Function Skills Development including Study Strategies, Social/Emotional Coaching, and Homework Support ; Reading Comprehension Intervention, Written Expression Intervention including Organization, Paragraph and Essay writing, Spelling, Handwriting, and Assistive Technology.