Meet Our Team
Carly Schulman
Founder and Director
Carly comes from a long line of educators. From her grandparents—an early elementary school teacher and a principal turned superintendent—to her father, aunt, uncle and cousins, education has always been deeply important and at the center of the Schulman Family. In addition to educators, Carly’s family owned and ran a children's sleepaway camp in Northern Michigan, where Carly experienced and witnessed the importance of learning through doing, creating, and exploring. Carly started as a camper and moved on to be a counselor, and later head counselor and co-director. Her transition to teaching was a natural one, inspired by her father, a Special Education teacher.
Thirteen years later, Carly has countless memories of every child and family she has enriched. After teaching in both public and private settings, Carly decided to open Little Timbers, a multi-sensory approach to learning.
Carly holds a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University in Outdoor Recreation, and a dual Masters of Professional Studies in Childhood Education and Special Education from Manhattanville College in New York. Carly has extensive experience with students preschool through 6th grade in both general education and special education, with emphasis as a learning specialist. Carly has taught classrooms of students with language-based learning disabilities, development disabilities, ADHD, social emotional needs, and general education. As a trained reading specialist using an Orton-Gillingham based phonics program, "Preventing Academic Failure," Carly has worked intensely in one-on-one and small group settings teaching beginning phonics and beyond.
Carly’s greatest passion is seeing her students become confident thinkers, learners, and doers in all settings of their life. Her primary focus is building meaningful connections with each child. Her energy is contagious and her love for children and learning is evident. In her free time Carly enjoys biking, canoeing, traveling, playing with her dog Timber, and spending time with her family and friends.
Our Tutors
Ali Bodle
Ali Bodle has been teaching in the Royal Oak School District for the past 10 years. Ali holds a Masters degree in Reading and Literacy and has a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education.
Currently, she teaches 2nd grade at Oak Ridge Elementary, and in addition, has experience educating students in grades K-4. Ali has the extraordinary ability to differentiate instruction based on the varying needs and learning styles of her students. Kids are drawn to Ali’s positive energy and creative teaching methods, and they immediately feel at ease in her presence. She has the natural ability to embed social and emotional learning into her teaching through authentic experiences.
When Ali is not in the classroom, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family and being outdoors.
Bill Bodle
Bill Bodle (Mr. B) has been teaching for 10 years in Birmingham at BCS. He holds a Masters Degree in Special Education K-12 with endorsements in learning disabilities and cognitive impairments. In addition, he is highly qualified in K-8 mathematics.
Bill is well respected by his students as well as colleagues. He was awarded “Teacher of the Year” at BCS in 2017. Bill is known for his calm presence, witty sense of humor and ability to reach to all learners. Mr. B believes in developing strong relationships where students feel valued and heard. He accomplishes this through trust, humor and a deep interest in his students’ lives.
If you see Bill outside of the classroom, you will probably see him coaching on the football field or on the basketball court.
Deepika Ahuja
Deepika Ahuja holds a Masters in English Literature from Jesus and Mary College at the University of New Delhi, India. She also holds a Masters in Education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She has taught at Cranbrook School, West Bloomfield Schools, Detroit Public Schools, Oakland Community College and Schoolcraft College. In addition, she was involved in a research program on Reading to Comprehend, with the School of Education at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Her past students love texting and reaching out to her and in turn, she loves witnessing their growth. When Deepika is done being a grandmother or celebrating her own children, she enjoys watching Bollywood movies and searching for the next best restaurant.
Molly Mangum
Molly Mangum has been teaching for the past nine years. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from Oakland University with a major in Elementary Education (endorsements in both language arts and math) and her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Wayne State University. Molly has taught kindergarten, first, second, and fifth grade, and is currently a second grade teacher at Oak Ridge Elementary in Royal Oak. Molly is a teacher focused on differentiated learning in every subject area. Ensuring a safe, nurturing, and exciting learning environment, her students grow not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. When Molly is not in the classroom, she enjoys to golf, ski, and travel!
Sarah Line (Boulder Only)
An educator for nearly 13 years, Sara Line is passionate about teaching, making learning engaging and meaningful, and being a positive influence in the lives of her students. She loves creating opportunities for students to problem solve, be expressive, and take risks. Her goals include inspiring and empowering her students to achieve personal success.
Having worked as a teacher at elementary schools in diverse communities in both California and Colorado, Sara has gained valuable experience designing and implementing rigorous, standards-based instruction that meets the needs of all her students. She is committed to facilitating student-centered instruction that focuses on the development of each student’s unique potential, while maintaining high-expectations.
Outside of the classroom, Sara has sought to strengthen her professional practice by becoming a teacher leader. She has taken an active role in professional development by planning and presenting workshops for K-12th grade teachers and by becoming a mentor to two second-year teachers. The process towards earning both a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and National Board Certification allowed Sara to combine theory and research with practical classroom application in a meaningful way.
In her free time, Sara enjoys hiking, creating art, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Sara and her husband recently moved to Colorado and look forward to all the things their beautiful new home has to offer.
Rimma Haikin
Rimma Haikin recently graduated from the Elementary Education program at Oakland University. Currently, she is working at Conant Elementary School as a paraprofessional in the kindergarten classrooms.
As a paraprofessional, she works with students on enrichment, as well as those students that are struggling with the curriculum. It is such a rewarding job that keeps her on her toes and teaches her something new every day.
Rimma was born in Russia and moved to the United States when she was five years old. Rimma still speaks fluent Russian at home and with her grandparents. This background has given her great respect and appreciation for the English language and sparked her passion for reading, a passion she hope to instill in her students.
Rimma looks forward to getting to know you and your child, as well as getting the opportunity to help them be successful.
Allison Lefkowitz
Allison Lefkowitz has been teaching in the elementary grades since 2008 after a career change from the advertising industry led her to pursue a Master's degree in Elementary Education from National-Louis University in Chicago. Allison holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor with a major in Communications and a minor in French. Allison's 12 years of teaching experience includes charter, public and private school settings in both Chicago and metro Detroit and she has taught Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade. Allison has been teaching Kindergarten at Hillel Day School the past four years and loves helping children grow into readers and writers through differentiated instruction and meeting each child's learning needs in creative and nurturing ways. Allison strives to create a positive relationship with each child in order to foster a love for learning and comfort with taking risks while promoting a growth mindset towards learning and challenges.
Outside of the classroom, Allison enjoys spending time with her husband and two young daughters, exercising, traveling and making jewelry with beads.
Samantha Kerwin
Samantha Kerwin holds a Bachelor’s of Science with certification teaching grades K-5. She has obtained her teachers certification from Eastern Michigan University. Samantha has taught grades K-5 in the Walled Lake School District. Samantha’s goal as a teacher is to create an educational environment that encourages growth and provides a nurturing atmosphere for children. She will continue to support them in reaching their maximum potential. When Samantha has free time from her two wonderful children she enjoys pilates, traveling, and trying new restaurants.
Leslie Jones
Leslie Jones received her undergraduate degree from Oakland University. She went onto Wayne State University to complete a Master’s degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Emotional Impairments (EI) and Learning Disabilities (LD). Leslie has taught in a Resource Room setting for Grades K-5. This is her 11thyear teaching special education students. She is excited to be working with your child and looking forward to seeing the progress they make. Leslie looks forward to developing new relationships with all her students. Leslie has been married for four years to her husband Derek, who is also a teacher. In her free time, she enjoys running, watching football, and playing with her dogs, Lola, and Delaney.