Credentials

Terese M. Burk, Educational Therapist

Terese Burk, owner of S.M.A.R.T. Learning Strategies, has a wide range of experience in education as a teacher, mentor, and coach. Her expertise is in the development of executive function skills. While working as an Education Specialist for Rush NeuroBehavioral Center, Terese served as a secondary author for the Middle School and High School publications of Rush NeuroBehavioral Centers Executive Functions Skill-Building Notebooks. Additionally, Terese mentored teachers to incorporate executive function curriculum into classrooms and tutored students who struggled with executive dysfunction. She opened S.M.A.R.T. Learning Strategies in November of 2016 to provide services to students with learning difficulties. Terese presents locally on the practical application of learning strategies and serves as an adjunct instructor for the College of Du Page. Terese received her Master of Education in Teaching and Learning from De Paul University in May of 1999, and her Certificate in Educational Therapy from UC Riverside in the Fall of 2018. She has been an active member of the Association of Educational Therapists since 2015.

My Story

Hello and Welcome to SMART Learning Strategies. As an educator of over 25 years, my goal has been to help students develop skills for success and become life-long learners. While teaching, it was obvious that at least 25% of my students struggled with learning. They did not use a purposeful approach to learn and they struggled to stay on top of school work. I have been assisting students develop executive function skills as an education specialist for Rush NeuroBehavioral Center since 2011. In this role, I worked with schools to integrate the development of executive function skills in the school curriculum, mentored teachers to develop lessons that supported the practice of executive function skills, and served as secondary author for the Middle School and High School publications of RNBC’s Executive Function Skill-Building Notebooks. In 2016, I opened S.M.A.R.T. Learning Strategies to continue working with students independently.

My motivation to become an educational therapist began when I recognized that many students who struggled with executive function skills often had underlying learning deficits, such as ADHD, Autism, Slow Processing Speed, or a Nonverbal Learning Disorder. As an educational therapist, I can address all learning concerns of a client. Additionally, I consult with clients’ teachers and parents to ensure that strategies being implemented are followed thru at school and home.