Brainworks® - About Us
About Us
Carla Crutsinger, M.S. (Education/Social Studies)
In 1981, Carla Crutsinger created the Brainworks Educational Center in response to her search for a facility which could address the needs of her highly intelligent, gifted ADD son who was not reaching his maximum level of achievement in school. Since then, Brainworks has helped over 1,000 clients of all ages with a wide variety of learning problems. As Director of Brainworks, Carla tests and interprets the results for all clients and works with her staff in the development of each individual's lesson plan. Her dynamic personality is particularly evident when she tutors selected clients one-on-one in areas such as time management, conflict resolution, and personal development.
In addition to her many responsibilities at the center, Carla presents workshops and staff development sessions on a wide variety of educational topics for school districts, parent associations, and other groups across the country. She has authored and co-authored a series of books dealing with topics such as communication skills for at-risk youth (Teenage Connection and Confidence Power ), study skills and critical thinking (Thinking Smarter), creative strategies for recalling information (Creative Memory), spelling mastery (The Most Wanted Words and Sir Spell-A-Lot-Grades 2-5), ADD coping skills (ADD QuickTips), and math strategies (Fighting Math Phobias)
Becky French, M. E. (Elementary Education, Reading)
Becky French is a retired elementary classroom teacher with 31 years classroom teaching experience. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and her master’s degree form Stephen F. Austin University. Becky taught 3rd and 4th grade in the Garland Independent School District for 15 years, and after receiving her Reading Recovery Certification, spent 8 years teaching reading to at risk first graders. After leaving public school, she taught 4th grade for 8 years at St. John’s Episcopal School in Dallas, where she was also the Director of the After School Program. She retired from classroom teaching in May of 2006.
Becky and her husband, Gary, who works as a freelance audio engineer, have grown twins. Her son, Chris, is a Naval flight Officer in the United States Navy. He, his wife and his boy girl twins are stationed in Pensacola, Florida. Her daughter Christy is a physical therapist who lives with her husband in Plano, Texas. They are expecting their first child in September 2009. In her spare time, Becky enjoys reading, spending time with friends, traveling, taking care of her grandchildren and listening to her husband play in a 60’s Rock n Roll Band. Becky is currently in charge of the elementary curriculum. She also serves as the Director of Brainworks.
Jo Morrow, B.A. English, Certified Secondary English/Language Arts/Journalism
Jo earned her B.A. degree from The University of North Texas in Denton and worked in the Garland ISD for 14 years as a middle school teacher before coming to Brainworks. She taught a variety of subjects, including 6th-7th grade English, 6th-8th grade Theater Arts. She also taught and coached girls’ athletics in the Physical Education department. Her favorite class was “Partners’ PE” – a class specifically designed for students with special needs. In addition, Jo taught 6th-8th grade mathematics 5 years in the summer school program for at-risk students.
Jo and her husband Matthew, who works for The State of Texas Department of Transportation, have two children. Her son Travis graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in psychology. He lives with his lady love, Tammi, in California, but will soon be moving to Chicago so he can further his career. Tammi will be attending the University of Chicago Law School. Jo’s daughter, Julie, who just earned her LVN license, lives in Colorado City with her husband and their 3 adorable children.
In her spare time, Jo enjoys her volunteer work for Faith Hospice and The Pen Pals Ministry. She is also training two of her 4 dogs for their certification test to become involved in Animal Assisted Therapy for Hospice patients. When she is not volunteering or working with her dogs, Jo enjoys working in her gardenia garden or spending time with her reading partner, her cat Baby Jack.
An Pham (B.S. Mathematics, Biology)
An Pham started at Brainworks in 2002 as a student instructor. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Creighton University, in Omaha, Nebraska. She majored in mathematics and biology and minored in Biological Physics. An now works for Brainworks as a math teacher and is currently teaching math to students in grades 6-12 and some collegiate courses.
An is currently working on her masters degree in education at the University of North Texas and is very busy planning her wedding for July 10, 2010.