Accolades

We're thrilled with the feedback we've received from parents and from experts in the field.

Parent Testimonials

Illuminated Learning absolutely changed my children’s lives. From the very beginning, they took the time to truly see and understand each of my kids. They looked beyond academics to understand how they learn, what they were struggling with, what made them feel safe, and what they needed to thrive. For the first time, I felt like we had a team walking alongside us. The confidence both of my children have gained has been incredible to watch. They’ve learned to reflect on their own growth, celebrate their wins, and believe in themselves in a whole new way. The staff have this amazing ability to be incredibly supportive and encouraging while also knowing exactly when to challenge them just enough to step outside their comfort zones. We are so incredibly lucky to have Illuminated Learning in our community. I honestly can’t imagine where we’d be without them, and I’ll always be grateful for the impact they’ve had on our whole family.

I signed my 9 year old son up for an 8 week reading intensive with Ali and Lib at Kennedy Illuminated Learning Center. He had been working with different tutors for years and had been making slow progress, but this program was a game changer! Ali and Lib's experience made a huge difference. They started and ended the program with comprehensive testing and met with me several times to keep me in the loop so that I could get a sense of how he was progressing. Best of all my son enjoyed his time with Ali and Lib; he was engaged, tried hard, and was happy when I picked him up. Ali and Lib didn't just work through a predefined curriculum but rather took cues from my son, how he learns, what he was sensitive about and what motivates him. Unlike our past reading programs they were able to teach to his intelligence so he was challenged in the right way and therefore felt more pride and accomplishment than we previously saw in him. I loved that they not only addressed the hard work of learning to read and write, but also taught him emotional regulation techniques that helped to keep him calm and grounded. My son will continue to work with Ali and Lib, and I would wholeheartedly recommend Illuminated Learning to other parents.

An all around positive experience. The whole child approach means that in addition to academic focus my child has developed impactful learning and emotional strategies that will support her beyond the classroom. We have seen such growth in reading, writing and math. Now my child is confident to read environmental print, write with more confidence and doesn't shy away from situations that involve the application of these skills with peers. We are so grateful to the entire team and regularly think about how lucky we are that Illuminated Learning exists in our community - world class approach to learning right in our backyard.

Our daughter attended Kennedy Illuminated Learning for reading support for her dyslexia when she was 9 years old in grades 4 and 5. She spent almost a year working with Ali and Lib diligently on her reading skills and growth mindset strategies. I feel truly fortunate for their involvement in our daughter's life and learning at that time. Our daughter is now 14 years old and is still achieving academic success, now in grade 10. I asked my daughter if she thought that attending Kennedy Illuminated Learning changed her life and she replied that she thinks it did. Ali and Lib were professional, warm and caring and I felt that they were really invested in seeing our daughter progress and succeed. I appreciated their one-on-one personalized approach. Our daughter emerged from her time at Kennedy Illuminated Learning as a capable reader, self-assured and with more confidence overall.

What makes Lib and Ali so remarkable is the process behind everything they do. They began by meeting Niko exactly where he specifically needed to start; with basic fundamental academic skills. They had a structured approach and were consistent and repetitive; and it was personally tailored all for him. They took the time to learn what motivates him and understand how he learns. As his foundational skills became stronger, they gradually expanded his learning, continually reinforcing what he had learned before introducing the next step. They helped him turn all the small specific skills into meaningful reading, understanding and comprehension. The progress Niko has made in reading and comprehension of the world around him has grown in ways we never expected. He is better able to follow conversations, understand social situations and express himself. The reading level for the books and engaging stories were all carefully chosen to help him understand and relate to the world around him and became a bridge for him to explore, learn life lessons and connect it back to his own life.

As a retired secondary school Principal and past Parent client, I can highly recommend Ali and Lib Kennedy at Illuminated Learning to not only care for your child’s academic future, but provide a solid science based literacy approach that will provide the foundation they need for years to come. For some time both my son’s were struggling in the regular school literacy program. I spent many months researching what science based literacy learning required. We were so fortunate to find the Kennedy’s in our own backyard. They were able to diagnose and create a unique program for each of my sons which was based on their specialized individualized needs. For decades, they have been delivering what science has determined children need in order to acquire strong language skills. Illuminated Learning is a leader in individualized literacy learning.

Lucy Hiltz

Illuminated Learning Individualizes the Learning Experience.

Ali and Lib Kennedy are able to address a variety of learning needs at Kennedy Illuminated Learning. As a retired teacher and administrator, I know that some students struggle in regular classrooms, for a variety of reasons. Teachers do their best to meet a wide range of learning differences, and the programs offered at Illuminated Learning could support those efforts. Intensive, individual teaching, with a focus on the specific learning needs of a student, along with stress-relieving strategies, can help students to realize their learning potential. We are fortunate to be able to offer high quality education to the children of Ontario, and all avenues of support for those with learning difficulties should be explored and utilized. Every child deserves a solid education. Their, and our, future depends on it.

Laurie Koch
B.A., M.Ed.

I was an educator for over 30 years. I have worked in inner city schools in Toronto, in Grey Bruce as a classroom teacher and department head, and as a curriculum and instructional leader at the board level. I have, I feel, acquired the ability to assess and value performance. This is what compels me to acknowledge the professionalism of Ali Kennedy and Lib Kennedy and their learning centre, Illuminated Learning.

Their specialized, research-based training in assessing and remediating learning difficulties, their creativity and dedication in helping students manage stress and open themselves to their greater potential to be successful learners – all help students under their care grow in skills transferable to their regular school based learning.

Moreover, Ali and Lib Kennedy are highly respected professionals and individuals
in their community on issues of inclusivity, compassionate care and civic responsibility. Their commitment to nurturing student success and to growing student potential are major contributions not only to the lives under their instruction but also to our wider community.
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Specialized, research-driven and results oriented programs are needed now more
than ever in pandemic and post pandemic times when student learning has been halted and compromised. The programs provided by the Illuminated Learning specifically and compassionately address the needs for these students so that each can move forward with renewed confidence in her/his ability and future promise.

Mary Jane DeCoste

Accolades

We're thrilled with the feedback we've received from parents and from experts in the field.

Parent Testimonials

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