About Us

                                    About Us

We started the Encinitas Learning Center over a decade ago because too many highly capable children were not being successful or as successful in school as they could or should be. At the Encinitas Learning Center, our goal is to help parents, students and teachers better understand the individual needs of the student so that the teacher can teach the student more effectively and the student can learn more successfully.

Crucial to any child's academic success is an understanding
of how the child learns (orally, verbally or visually, for example), understanding the child's learning environment, and knowing whether accommodations are needed in the school environment, presentation of material, and testing of the student's knowledge.

For a child whose capability has not been accurately challenged, reflected, assessed or demonstrated at school, an individualized academic support program can be devised at the Encinitas Learning Center that helps teach transferrable learning strategies so that the student is not only successful at the Encinitas Learning Center but also at school in general.

Please call today to schedule a visit! (760) 634-6886 or email: enclearn@pacbell.net

General Information                          Technological Support                            Our Team

General Information

The Encinitas Learning Center has been supporting students for over a decade with academic tutoring, special education services and scientifically proven technological assistance in a calm nurturing environment. Our professional staff welcomes the opportunity to work with parents, students and schools to support each student's needs and to help each client reach his/her full potential.

Certified as a nonpublic school in March of 2009, the Encinitas Learning Center started the ELC Academy to supplement its existing educational support with a non-public private school option for students in grades 2 - 8 who have mild to moderate learning differences who need a smaller learning environment to appropriately progress. Our non-public private school is unique in that it provides 1:1 and small group instruction based upon the California State standards as well as proven technological support customized to meet a student's individual needs. Our mission is to help each student build crucial foundational skills, develop a lifelong love of learning and establish a lasting self esteem through academic success.

Non-Public Agency Vendor IA-37-057
Non-Public School ID: CDS Code 37-68080-0119156
DBA File No. 1997-021623

Technological Support

The Encinitas Learning Center offers a number of different programs customized to meet each student's individual needs and uses technology to reach, teach and support children with learning disabilities. These programs include, but are not limited to: Fast ForWord® , PACE® ,  Interactive Metronome® ,  BEST® , and others proven by scientific data to be effective tools to help build foundational skills. (See Programs & Services for more information)

Our Team:
While there are many talented persons who work with your children at the center, the below persons are the individuals primarily responsible for devising and directing the implementation of the programs. For additional staff information, please contact the Encinitas Learning Center directly at (760) 634-6886 or enclearn@pacbell.net.   (return to top)

Lynda Detweiler-Newcomb, M.A., SLP, CCC
Founder & Co-Director

Ms. Newcomb has over 35 years of experience in the provision of special education and speech & language
services. With extensive professional experience as a teacher and speech pathologist, Ms. Newcomb has
been certified in numerous specialty areas as well as in connection with scientifically proven technology
support programs. Ms. Newcomb offers speech, communicative, academic and  technological support
to students who need additional or different learning support than what is traditionally available in public
school settings.

        Masters Degree - Speech & Communicative Disorders (CSU/Northridge 1973)
        Baccalaureate - Speech (San Fernando Valley State College 1972)

        Professional Certifications:
        CA Lifetime Teaching Credential, STC 350332, Special Education (1991)
        CA Board of Medical Quality Assurance Speech Pathologist License SP 6849 (1972)
                Accented Speech Therapy (Dr. Lorna D. Sikorski 1994)
        Swallowing Disorder Therapy (J. Logemann 1989)
        American Speech & Hearing Ass'n Clinical Competence Certifications (1974)

        Certifications Relating to Technology:
        2002 - Processing & Cognitive Enhancement (PACE) (Learning RX)
        2000 - IMT Certification for the Interactive Metronome
        1997 - FastForWordTM programs (Scientific Learning)
        1987- CA Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)

Ghazal "Sandy" Ansari-Basir, M.A., IMFT
Lead Educational Therapist
(return to top)

Ms. Ansari received her M.A in Counseling Psychology from Union Institute and University, and her B.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Vermont.   She is currently registered with the Board of Behavioral Science as an IMFT (Marriage and Family Therapist) and is working on her Ph.D in Clinical Psychology emphasizing in pediatric neuropsychology.

Sandy has worked as an Educational Therapist at the Encinitas Leaning Center since 2007. Her work at the ELC consists of working with children and adolescents struggling with cognitive processing deficits. As part of a multidisciplinary team, she plays an integral role in developing many of the educational plans. She has also received training and certifications for many of the neuro-developmental programs offered at the ELC. Sandy has specialized experience, training and passion for working with and overcoming the cognitive challenges associated with Dyslexia.

At the ELC, she takes special interest in working with teens as a life coach and mentor. As a Marriage and Family Therapist, Ms. Ansari also coaches parents and families to help them utilize motivational and behavioral managements strategies both at home and in school.

Sandy specializes in working with children of all ages who struggle with social, emotional, and motivational roadblocks. Her doctoral research emphasizes the social-emotional as well as the academic needs of gifted and talented children and adolescents, "the twice exceptional population", keeping in mind the theory of multiple intelligences.