Administrators

School for Independent Learners Los Altos was founded by Herman and Jean Ohme in 2001. Karen Hobbs, Ph.D. and Shary Nunan, Ph.D. are the co-directors of SIL East Bay, which opened in September 2006. Both schools share the same philosophy, teaching approach, and UC approved curriculum. Both schools serve a broad range of students and work with public and private high schools throughout the areas in which they are located.

Herman Ohme, Ed.D., has made his life’s work developing programs and published materials to help students learn. Prior to beginning School for Independent Learners, he co-founded Mid-Peninsula High School and Palo Alto Preparatory Schools, both successful schools that are still thriving. He is an expert in performance, learning and motivation, and is the author of the “Learn How to Learn” study skills books, which are used in numerous schools in the United States and Canada. He has taught at UCLA, Yale and Stanford, and has been a teacher, counselor and administrator in public and private schools for over forty years.

Jean Ohme, M.A. is a graduate of UCLA, New Haven Teacher’s College and the University of Santa Clara. She has an M.A. in Learning Disabilities, and holds a California teaching credential and California Administration credential. She taught for many years as a Special Education teacher in Los Angeles and Redwood City.

Karen Hobbs, Ph.D., a graduate of UC Davis and the California School of Professional Psychology, is a licensed psychologist with a specialty in adolescent psychology for the past 25 years. She provided teen counseling at an East Bay high school for nine years, participating in numerous IEP meetings and working with guidance counselors and teachers to meet students' needs. Dr. Hobbs has taught courses at the college level and at professional conferences.

Shary Nunan, Ph.D., a graduate of Yale University and the California School of Professional Psychology, is a licensed psychologist who has worked with children, teens and families for the past 25 years. She has provided numerous assessments for students, working in conjunction with educational professionals to meet their needs. She has taught college and graduate level courses, and presented at professional conferences.

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