About Mary Ann Lowry

From the time I was old enough to play with the kids in the neighborhood, I loved playing the role of “teacher”.  When it was time to choose a major in college, elementary education seemed like the perfect choice for a major, as I already knew that teaching was “play”  and a natural passion.  While participating in the required practicums for education majors, I felt for the students, who really seemed to struggle with learning. 

At that time educators were just beginning to recognize that “learning disabilities” were real.  I wanted to be part of this emerging ground breaking field, so I  graduated with a degree in elementary education with an additional credential to teach students with language and learning disabilities.  

As I began my career as a resource teacher in West Texas, I had no idea all the places I’d go and the opportunities that I would have to be inspired to learn  more from my students.   While working on my Master’s Degree in Special Education, I taught students with developmental delays, seizure disorders, and autism.   At the time, the name of my position was “The Trainable Mentally Retarded Teacher”, as this was the label given to my students.   Luckily, I was “trainable” and  graduated  from the University of North Texas with an additional credential, which provided the certification to serve as an educational diagnostician (being able to test to diagnose learning disabilities). 

In my role as a special educator,  I  taught students labeled with all sorts of learning, emotional and behavioral challenges; and, honestly can say that,  
“Each student, whether five or 17,  provided me with an education regarding the magic of life--as each child can find a way to live and learn with a spirit of contentment, joy, unconditional love, and the power of believing in what could be”

Through my students and their struggles to learn, I was “inspired to rewire” my own educator mind and learn more about brain compatible learning.   After I took several post graduate hours in a program developed by Dr. Reuben Feurstein called “Mediated Learning”,  I came to understand that my students could learn.  They appeared to be “learning disabled”, because I wasn’t teaching them in the way that their brains could learn.   When I learned how to diagnose the cognitive/thinking deficits that were blocking my students’ ability to write,  they all began to pass the district writing proficiency test each year. 

By the time my boys were born, I had the advantage of working with so many professionals in the field that I knew about behavior management, child development, mediated learning and the need to establish a connection with children while they are young.  Referred to as “Brent and Ross’ Mom”, I was awed by the enormous responsibility of becoming a parent.  I left the hospital without a parenting manual after both boys were born.  Though the nursing staff taught me how to feed them and keep them clean, that was all was formally taught about my own children.   My professional experience gave me an “Edge”, which was clearly a blessing.   

As I came to see that most parents didn’t have that “Edge”,  I agreed to teach parenting classes for our church in CA.  It was a humbling experience, because my boys were becoming tweens (middle school age) at the time.  My background as an educator and the views people had of my awesome kids gave me the credibility to teach these classes before my boys were officially “raised”.  (I’ll admit that I’m a proud Mom).

After polling parents on their needs, I came to see that even parents, who were with the local University,  were very hungry for realistic concrete user/friendly parenting knowledge. There appeared to be a huge gap between what parents wanted to know about parenting and what they had actually learned through books and other parenting classes. When one class ended, people asked for new classes, as they came to see that what they learned in class made a positive impact at home. 

As I entered the official “empty nester”stage, when both my sons received college degrees and obtained the J.O.B., I turned to another career.  As of August of 2009, I’m an official Master Certified Life Coach trained by Martha Beck, Ph.D.   Martha Beck is a well know author, who wrote Expecting Adam, Finding Your Own North Star, and Steering by Starlight,  and contributes regularly to “O Magazine”.  www.marthabeck.com
  
Today, I love combining my knowledge of how the brain functions with my expertise as an educator to offer individualized parenting/family mentoring/coaching (click here) and educational therapy for students struggling in school.   I also offer parent telephone classes.  One of my favorite classes to teach is “Guiding Your Children to Their Own North Star”. 

By combining my knowledge in hands on parenting, brain compatible learning and as an educator, it’s my life’s work to serve my clients, who get the results they desire.  Clients tell me that their parenting style has changed as the result of taking my coaching, and the results are reflected in the joyful spirit in their children and themselves. 

I’m happy to offer parents the information that I was privileged to learn before my children were born.  If you’re looking for a spirit of calm,joy and peace at home, my research “user friendly” mentoring style works.   

Call me to schedule a complimentary session.
800-720-9307.

• Special Education Teacher and College Instructor in Teacher Training,
  
• Masters Degree in Special Education,
  
• Experienced worker with adolescents and young adults in psychiatric hospital settings,
  
• Educational Diagnostician,
  
• Special training in brain-compatible mediated learning techniques,
  
• Feurstein Instrumental Enrichment Certified,
  
• Dynamic Cognitive Assessment Certified through International Center for Mediated Learning,
  
• Experience with those who suffer from Chronic Pain Syndromes,
  
• Martha Beck Certified Life Coach