Meet the Learning Coaches
We call our tutors “learning coaches.” A coach teaches and trains someone. The best coaches get to know their students and tailor their lessons specifically to each student.
Our multi-faceted, passionate learning coaches work to build relationships with Grace Place students and families. They also happen to be Brain Trainers for our sister company, LearningRx.
Get To Know Our Learning Coaches
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Molly Hastings-Parke
Owner & Learning Coach
Board Certified Cognitive Specialist (BCCS)
After working with LearningRx for over a decade, Molly opened Grace Place in 2021 to help support parents and students on their academic journeys. Molly is passionate about changing lives and offering people hope through learning.
Growing up she always wanted to be a teacher or a psychologist. She believes that kids (and adults) should be met where they are in their learning journeys. Molly holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and studied elementary education. Additionally, she went to graduate school for social work. Molly grew up in Michigan and enjoys reading (her favorite books are the Harry Potter series) and hanging out with her kids. Her favorite subjects in school were math and literature and coincidentally to this day, they are her favorite to teach. Her favorite thing about Grace Place is getting kids excited about learning. “I love learning and it brings me joy to see that lightbulb go on when a student grasps a new concept for the first time.”
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Katie Durbin
Center Director & Learning Coach
Board Certified Cognitive Coach (BCCC)
Katie has worked at LearningRx since early 2017. When she was growing up she shocked everyone by saying she wanted to be a grandmother. She eventually settled on a teacher and will forever be a preschool teacher in her heart.
Her favorite subject to tutor and teach is reading, but in school she loved english. When she discovered her love for humanities in college, she ended up with her minor. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and though it changes (quite often!), her favorite book is Pride and Prejudice.
Her favorite thing about working at Grace Place is knowing that she can help give parents a little bit of their lives back. “As a mom I completely understand the AGONY that is doing homework with your own child every night. The tears, fits, and overall pushback. I also know that they only do this with ME! I love being able to take homework off the parent’s plate and work with their kids (I send mine here too!) I also love to be able to form that bond with students. To let them know that I am in their corner- here to support them. When an unconfident kid starts to gain confidence and pride in their school, it’s spot-a-rainbow.”
Katie loves to spend time with her husband and their three girls. She enjoys finding new things around Louisville to do and read.
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Matthew Beardslee
Director of Training & Learning Coach
Board Certified Cognitive Coach (BCCC)
Matt has his master’s degree in social work and spent years serving in mobile crisis in Brooklyn, New York. Compared to that, he says this is a cake walk. He enjoys spending time with his family, reading, staying active, and watching shows with his wife and three dogs.
His favorite subjects to tutor and teach are reading and math. He wanted to be a marine biologist or an oceanographer growing up so it makes sense that his favorite subject in school was science. He believes that learning is mostly about wonder and curiosity and that specific subject areas may be tedious, but our capacity to wonder is limitless. Matt has many favorite books but his most recent favorite was All the Light We Cannot See. His favorite part about working at Grace Place is that it offers extra engagement with the kids and that he is able to reframe their struggles and support them differently than he does as a brain trainer.
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David R. Scott
Learning Coach & Administrative Assistant
Growing up, David always wanted to be a missionary to Rwanda. It comes as no surprise that his preferred subject in college was Theology and Application. His favorite part about working at Grace Place is helping students move through the process of learning. He loves teaching them science and math.
In his free time, David enjoys reading, knitting, and crocheting.
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Aidan Beardslee
Learning Coach
Aidan attended Ohio University and volunteers at Norton Children’s Hospital. When he was growing up, he wanted to be an actor. He has fond memories of performing in school plays and his favorite subject in school was history. It’s also his favorite to teach. He enjoys the book Silver as well as practicing and studying photography, and watching movies. His favorite part about working at Grace Place is helping kids.
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Mariah Worley
Learning Coach
In addition to being a learning coach, Mariah is a preschool teaching assistant and holds her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. She is an avid knitter and dreamed of being a doctor when she was growing up. Her favorite subject in school was math and it is her favorite subject to tutor and teach to this day.
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Evan Cox
Learning Coach
Evan holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and enjoys teaching students math. Growing up, he dreamed of becoming a wizard, and his favorite subject in school was computer science. He enjoys helping Grace Place students understand new and interesting concepts.
In his spare time, you’ll find him practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite book is The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov.