With a confident smile, Michele Jervis-Schultz sums up one of the key guidelines in her life: "I don't like to look back and see that I have missed opportunities!" Considering her career thus far, it would seem that she has not missed many opportunities.

Perhaps the most dramatic opportunity was striking up a friendship during a vacation in Denmark with Mikkel. Although the visit to Denmark was brief, the relationship has been long lasting. The couple now lives in Wyndmoor with their 11-year old son, Alexander, who has the privilege of growing up in a home where English, Spanish, and Danish are all accepted currencies of communication.

Michele´s parents are from Ecuador and so she grew up in an English and Spanish speaking home. She majored in French in college and then worked in New Orleans with Teach for America, where she saw the importance of helping children develop a solid linguistic foundation. Seizing upon that opportunity, she obtained a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology with a concentration in language based learning disabilities. She has worked with this specialty in Boston, New York, Arizona, and now for the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit.

For several years, Michele has volunteered at ACLAMO, working with children as they prepare for kindergarten and move through the first few years of formal education.

The latest opportunity for Michele was also a great opportunity for ACLAMO when she agreed to join the Board of Directors. "Michele has been an invaluable asset for ACLAMO families for several years," comments Executive Director Juan Guerra, "and we are looking forward to working with her on the Board."