I am in just the beginning of working with Deborah Bloom. So far I have had a pleasant experience…read morewith both Catherine and Deborah. Catherine has been very clear on what we need to be prepared for and have ready for the school. It helps that they are both direct and to the point. It helps me stay focused with a clear set goal. I'm impressed with how quickly they've accommodated uto meet our goals in such a short period time. Follow up after a Zoom meeting with Deborah Bloom (The new way to meet during the Corona Virus). I found Deborah very reassuring when reviewing our sons report. She gave simple tips and offered the best resources available to us during these times, and what to expect in the near future. All of this helps us out in the home and we have received a phone call already from one of the resources she mentioned. That was 1 business day. The professionalism and reduction in anxiety as she leads us on a path to success is so needed when we are so lost in these times, while having 2 working parents in health care is amazing!

When you are dealing with such a delicate issue (special needs child in public school), it is…read morenecessary to have someone that is knowledgeable in your corner. I thought that this would have been Deborah Bloom. Sadly, it was a very expensive mistake. During the intake, she seemed knowledgeable and asked all the right questions. We discussed a plan and it was set into action within a few days. However, there are a few areas that made me cancel my contract with her and went elsewhere for representation. First, the letter that she wrote to be dropped off at the school district was full of misinformation and I had to rewrite it. Not to mention that she charged me 130$ for the letter she wrote that was useless. Second, many emails and phone calls were left unanswered. When you are dealing with the school and have a few questions about the process, it is imperative that your hired advocate is there for you. I had a hard time getting Deborah to call me back. Third, I dealt more with her office assistant than Deborah. I'm sure her assistant is very knowledgeable, but I think that having her assistant do all the legwork made the room for the issues that I faced during an IEP meeting with the school. Lastly, during the IEP meeting, Deborah was extremely unorganized and unfamiliar with my case. She missed many important topics and asked the school district for something that was never discussed between us. I was in shock when she asked this and frustrated that she did not have notes for the issues we needed to bring up during the IEP meeting. Hence, a waste of money and everyone's time. After the meeting, I called and canceled our contract. Thank goodness I could get some of my retainer back.

Julian Brooks at EDMD has been absolutely amazing! He supported 2 of our 3 daughters with their…read morecollege experience. With both of our daughters, he provided feedback and created a customized plan, suggested courses and even took the time to help us during the dreading appeal process. His grounded approch to deal with the schools has been stellar. Because of his creative approach my daughters aid and grants increased significantly compared to what was originally offered at UC Santa Cruz and at the University of San Francisco. Not to mention, being admitted to multiple great schools. I'm extremely greateful and if I could rate him 10stars I would. Best investment ever! Thank you so much, Julian, we're looking to continue to work with you!

Julian Brooks at EdMD was an asset to have for my daughter's college preparation. He listened to…read moreall of our needs, he walked her through the preparation for college applications and admissions. He was there for all of our questions and concerns. He prepared her months ahead of time for the application and financial aid processes. He meet with her on a regular basis and updated myself. He was amazing when it came time for the application process and he made it so much easier on all of us. He stayed on top of her regarding her deadlines and helped her begin preparing her admissions essays and information months in advance along with reviewing and giving her insight and advice on improving her essays. I recommend using the service and especially recommend Julian. My daughter was accepted into several schools including UC Berkeley and UCLA. She will be attending UCLA this fall.

I hope they can treat their teachers better someday!read more

Genius Kids has played an instrumental role in helping my younger daughter build confidence and…read morefight away stage fear. Within 2 months she went from a shy girl to a confident girl speaking independently on the stage. Thank you Ms Navie and Ms Rennu !

My 8 year old daughter has been going here for 3 months and she loves it! I like the fact that that…read morethis place has a variety of art that my daughter can experience. She has brought home BEAUTIFUL artwork that we hang and use. Parking is easy to find. Its a one hour and fifteen min class every Tuesday and plans to open more sessions. The teacher, devina, is receptive to each child and allows their creativity to flow. She is kind, talented and is amazing with children!

Devina is one of the most dedicated teachers I have known. Under her instruction, my daughter has…read morelearned how to use various types of paint, mediums, techniques, and has been able to really surface the deep love for art she had inside. She always has that brilliant smile at the end of every class with an end product, which is quite priceless! Devina also does corporate events and special events like birthdays - we invited her to do a lesson for my daughter and her friends for her birthday (Andy Warhol's donuts). What a super cool outcome that was! In addition to art, Devina also teaches public speaking, which has helped my daughter understand how to write outlines, make better arguments, reduce filler words and project better body language. Most importantly it has helped boost her self confidence! Devina is not just a teacher - she is invested in the development of your child all along the way, which is not something you'd get in some of the best teachers. We are truly lucky to have her in our daughter's life!

My daughter attended Mindcraft throughout almost all of elementary school, and she absolutely loved…read moregoing there after school. It was the perfect mix of fun and enrichment a really well-balanced experience. Ms. Susan and all the teachers are amazing. Now that my daughter is in middle school, she still talks about and misses her time there. I highly recommend Mindcraft to any family looking for an after-school program. Thank you, Ms. Susan, for five wonderful years , Maya and I are so grateful for the experience.

We had a deeply disappointing experience with this daycare. Our family recently moved from Fremont…read moreto San Ramon, and we enrolled our two sons, ages 5 and 8, in the summer program before the school year began. Our 8-year-old was experiencing adjustment difficulties following the move and had some incidents involving aggression. After only two weeks, Susan and Art told us that our 5-year-old was "great," but referred to him as "the other one" while saying that our 8-year-old did not belong there. We found this comparison and the way the situation was communicated to be insensitive and unprofessional. We were also told that they were not equipped to support children who act out or do not fit their daycare's approach. Susan stated that they had not experienced this type of behavior from another child in 10 years. Rather than working with us on a transition plan or discussing possible supports, they made it clear that our son could not remain in the program. Our son had been academically successful in Fremont Unified, but he was struggling emotionally with a major move and needed patience, structure, and constructive communication. We understand that every program has limits regarding the behaviors it can safely manage. However, we were very disappointed by the dismissive way our child and family were treated and by the lack of compassion shown during a difficult transition. After only two weeks of enrollment, we now have to find new childcare for both children. Based on our experience, I would urge parents--especially those whose children may need additional behavioral or emotional support--to ask detailed questions about the program's capabilities and approach before enrolling. They conveyed to us that they had limited training, resources, and ability to support children who need additional help, and that their program is better suited only to children who fit within their narrow approach to childcare.

What an amazing program! My two boys attend GK. I love that they adapt the activities for each…read morechild's needs, they keep them one step ahead of elementary school's benchmarks, and the program address everything - math, writing, reading, physical activities, computers, manners, health, public speaking, emotional wellbeing, and also fun stuff. My boys are looking forward going to GK and they love their teachers, who are kind and caring, with very little turnover and relatively small student-teacher ratio. The director Melissa is simply a superhero, she manages both locations (San Ramon and Blackhawk) wonderfully and it does feel like my child is the most important one to this school. Huge thank you to Genius Kids, I am so grateful we are a part of this program.

My child started with GK - Gale Ranch in Kinder and after a full school year, we noticed…read moresignificant progress in terms of academics as well as my child's learning attitude. He started off with tantrums when others were doing work, he did not want to participate and just put his head down in the first two weeks. I thought the teacher was ready to give up on him but they gave him room to learn at his own pace. After 2 -3 months, he recited speeches at home and told me about what he learned at GK. I was very impressed with the speeches that he was able to memorize and on top of that, he was sounding out words as we drove to places. Soon after, he started writing simple sentences and accelerated in math as well. Now, he comes home with all his homework completed (at GK) which reduces our stress levels and allows us to spend more quality time together. I don't know how they do it but I highly recommend GK, they are the best and a life saver for us!! Thank you Ms. Kiran and her team!

Cliff MacDonald is an excellent resource for advising college-bound students. His vast knowledge…read moreon what a college is looking for in a student is invaluable. He is very personable and patient person. He will guide your child through the college application process including those dreaded college essays. Not sure whether you need Cliff's services, no worries. Give him a call and discuss it with him. He has limited openings for new students.

I would recommend you choose Oxford Advisors because it can help you reach your dream college just…read morelike my daughter did.

My exprience with Brilliant Minds has been awful to say the least…read more My first interaction was with the owner Syeda Tabassum. We had a very candid conversation where I set clear expectations for what I needed in order for my son to attend. Because I commute far distances for work and travel frequently, one of my requirements included drop-off service. When I asked if they offered this service, Syeda advised that she needed to speak with the center Director Mrs. Ramala and follow-up. Later that week, I attended open house (Per Syeda's recommendation) and met with Syeda and Ramala in-person and discussed requirements further. Drop off service was a primary area of concern because my son had attend Glitter Kids (their direct competitor) a couple of months prior and after a week or so they advised they could no longer provide drop-off services. However, both assured me this would not be an issue at Brilliant Minds. On 8/2 my son started their summer camp as a way to get acclimated and prepared for the new school year. On 8/14 he started their after school program. On 8/16 I was told by Syeda they could no longer provide drop off services and that I had 2 weeks to locate another facility for my son. This mishap is very unfortunate and has created a very stressful situation. As a parent finding a reliable, honest and trustworthy center is critical for our children's long-term success.

My son is here for summer camps, he is enjoying all the field trips, basketball classes, fun events…read morelike laser tag. I like that school take care of maths, writing, and art projects too. Overall he is really happy and wants to join after school program when school starts.

I brought my 5 y/o daughter to one of Future Forge's robotics workshops this past weekend in San…read moreRamon. We had no idea what to expect other than she'd be doing some sort of robotics build with other kids. On a Sunday, the building is pretty empty so I wasn't sure if we were in the right place but we walked into the Forge lab and were greeted by Rishabh, the founder of Future Forge. My daughter really enjoyed the build and loved her final build. We took out the "creeper" and played to finish off the session. Definitely worth checking out.

Great tutoring for my kids especially in the field of robotics and math. Kept my kids engaged and…read morelearning all at a reasonable price! Will definitely be sending my kids back for more lessons in the future.

Great experience, i made it through my class! Her hours are…read moreflexible and it was worth every penny. Thank you Abby. I'll be sure to use you again for my next class.

Working students do not have the luxury of haphazardly going about college. Free time is quite a…read moreluxury for me these days. Talking with Abby has been instrumental in helping me organize my coursework.