About Gayle

Gayle is glad to be part of iLEAD Exploration. With more than 30 years of experience in education, she loves partnering with families on their independent-study journeys. She is excited to be a member of the OC Learning Studio team, where she can devote time to building stronger relationships with learners.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Gayle earned a degree in Biology from Arizona State University. Her mother, a sixth‑grade teacher, encouraged her to get her teaching credential and fueled her passion for encouraging kids and developing lifelong learners. After teaching science in Phoenix for two years, she moved to Long Beach, California, where she taught middle school science and math and later independent‑study high school. She has taught in formal and informal settings, outdoor and indoor classrooms, as well as in independent‑study environments.

Her favorite things include camping, puttering in her garden, reading, cooking and baking for her husband and three children, succulents, the thrill of a good thrifted find, good chips and salsa, and any baked goods.