Our Mission
The foundational goal and objective of Integrated Learning Strategies (ILS) is to proactively engage children and adults in academic research-based programs that offer a holistic approach to the overall success of the student’s educational, emotional, and social well-being. ILS uses alternative and innovative methods that produce results in academic achievement.
The Journey
ILS was founded in 1994 by Alene Villaneda, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who has helped hundreds of children and students achieve academic success for more than 25 years. When Alene first started her journey to create ILS, she never imagined the impact it would have on children and how it would change their lives. In 1991, Alene realized that many children around her, including her own children and extended family members, were struggling in school and falling behind their classmates and peers. After much research, she surprisingly discovered there were no programs in
her home state of Utah at the time that offered a solution to these challenges outside the standard tutoring services.
Determined, and unwilling to accept that there was no resolution, Alene began flying out-of-state to complete the necessary training and certifications for more advanced programs that offered solutions to help children and adults succeed with the same challenges.
In 1994, Alene started her business as Alene’s Tutoring, which evolved into Integrated Learning Strategies. More than 25 years later, Alene has helped hundreds of children excel and progress at higher academic levels, allowing them to make huge strides in both their academic and professional lives. Her specialized programs give parents, therapists, educators and other professionals all over the world the tools and resources needed to help kids with sensory issues, attention and focus, speech, learning disabilities and academic struggles.
Alene Villaneda (CEO and founder of ILS)
Alene received certification and training under many industrial and scientific professionals, including Dr. Ron Minson, MD, and Kate Minson (Integrated Listening Systems (iLS)); Joy Moeller, RDH, OFM (Myofunctional Therapist); Barbara Greene, OFM (Myofunctional Therapist); Licia Coceani-Paskay , MS, CCC-SLP, COM; and Alec Doman, CEO (Advanced Brain Technologies).
Several of these certified programs are used and implemented at ILS; however, Alene has customized and developed other new and innovative evidence-based methods that produce the best results.
Degrees, certifications, and trainings include the following:
- Bachelors of Science (BS)
- Orofacial Myofunctional (OFM)
- Certified Natural Health Practitioner (CNHP)
- Integrated Listening Systems (iLS)
- Brain Integration Therapist (BIT)
- Interactive Metronome
Joy Cleveland (Occupational Therapist)
Joy Cleveland, Occupational Therapist (OT), joined the ILS team in 2021. Joy is the ILS OT expert and coach for the Integrate with Success program. She provides support and coaching assistance to ILS participants who have children or students struggling with retained Primitive Reflexes.
Joy has 33 years of experience as an OT serving clients under two frames of reference: medical and educational models. She dedicated 20 years of service in both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation facilities specializing in treatment of clients with progressive neurological conditions.
Joy holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Occupational Therapy from Elizabethtown College, Pennsylvania. She maintains OT certification with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). She is a licensed OT in the State of Pennsylvania.
In 2007, Joy became Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) certified as an Assistive Technology Professional specializing in assessment and selection of custom manual and power wheelchairs for pediatrics and adults.
In 2014, Joy began working as an independent contract OT for the Pennsylvania cyber and charter schools. She specializes working with students in elementary grades kindergarten through 5th grade. She soon discovered a renewed passion working with children to help address their learning challenges. She excels at using therapeutic games and activities to engage her students. She quickly acquired the nickname of ‘Joy the OT Toy Lady’.
In 2016, she started her private practice Joy P. Cleveland OT Time, LLC as an independent contractor for PA schools. She strives to treat the “whole child” and address foundational developmental deficits that are impeding their ability to learn.
By 2017, Joy discovered Integrated Learning Strategies which best aligned with her own OT frame of reference and the importance of integrating retained primitive reflexes to best excel in a student’s ability to learn and thrive.
Tera Robinson (Occupational Therapist)
Tera Robinson joined the ILS team in 2019. Tera has worked with children of all ages for many years and has seen so much in a child’s development. She is a licensed OT in the state of Utah, certified with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) with a Practice Area of Emphasis in Pediatrics.
For the majority of Tera’s career, she worked as an OT for Primary Children’s Hospital. She has spent the last several years working as an OT at a K-9 charter school and developing her own private OT practice in northern Utah. After graduating from OT school at Colorado State University, Tera worked with adults who had neurological injuries at McKay-Dee Hospital. Tera really enjoyed learning from the wide variety of the many children and adults of all ages and abilities she worked with in her OT career. Tera’s specialization is with children who struggle in gross and fine motor skills, oral sensory concerns, feeding issues, and sensory integration disorders.
Meagan Forsgren (Communications Director)
Meagan been with ILS since 2016 and is primarily responsible for marketing, communications and participant outreach for the organization. She has worked with several top organizations and companies for more than 15 years in public relations, marketing and social media. Her primary job is to support participants in course enrollment and course completion. In addition, she is available to answer questions and help participants receive the right tools and resources needed to help children and students in their academic growth.
