Special Needs Kids Need Special Tutoring

In the 36th episode of Bald Ambition, host Mookie Spitz digs into the heart of education with Michelle Waugh—a doctorate-trained scientist who left academia to devote herself to personal tutoring. What makes her story remarkable isn’t just her credentials, but her conviction that personalized learning—built on empathy, patience, and human connection—can succeed where our system repeatedly fails.

Michelle shares how a severely autistic fifth-grader, written off by the public school system as “hopeless,” learned to read Dr. Seuss and Berenstain Bears after just one summer of weekly one-on-one sessions. She explains why phonics works better than memorization, how audiobooks transform reading comprehension, and why even gifted kids need tailored approaches to stay engaged.

Together, Mookie and Michelle explore:

• Personalization over standardization: Why no two students should be taught the same way.
• Empathy and patience as superpowers: The quiet, consistent presence that makes breakthroughs possible.
• Parents as partners: How nightly reading, advocacy in 504 meetings, and active support can change outcomes.
• Technology as a bridge: Audiobooks, text-to-speech, and other tools that complement—not replace—the human touch.

Michelle’s belief in personalization is rooted in her own journey. She holds a PhD in plant pathology—a field she pursued out of fascination with fungi and a desire to teach at the college level. But she left that world behind, disillusioned not just by the limits of research but also by the darker realities of academia. Early in her career, she faced harassment from a senior professor—a classic example of the #MeToo power imbalance in male-dominated sciences. That betrayal of trust drove her to step away from the lab and toward work where she could define her own space and values.

In tutoring, Michelle found what she had always been seeking: the chance to teach in a way that was direct, humane, and impactful. Her story is not only about the victories of her students but also about her own resilience—choosing to create a space where empathy and patience are central, not optional.

The episode is both a celebration of the small miracles that come from personalized instruction and a critique of the larger systems—schools, academia, and culture—that too often crush individuality. It reminds us that education is not mass production, but a deeply human relationship, one child at a time.

If you’ve ever doubted whether a single teacher’s attention can change a child’s life—or whether someone can reclaim their purpose after being failed by institutions—Michelle’s story proves otherwise.

The Guest

Michelle Waugh is a dedicated tutor specializing in supporting students with special needs. With years of hands-on experience, she blends patience, empathy, and proven teaching strategies to help children overcome academic and personal challenges. Michelle works closely with parents, creating individualized plans that not only improve learning outcomes but also build confidence and independence. Her commitment goes beyond academics, as she focuses on nurturing each student’s unique strengths, ensuring they feel understood, supported, and capable of success. Michelle holds a doctorate in biology and a California multiple-subject teaching credential, and brings over 20 years of experience as a teacher, instructional assistant, substitute teacher, and tutor in both in-person and online settings.

Her Website

https://michellewaughtutor.crd.co/

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