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Orange County

Welcome to THINK Together in Orange County, where we are serving nearly 66,000 students per year at 67 school sites with extended learning time programs in Costa Mesa, Orange, Tustin, and Santa Ana. Our programs support students in kindergarten through 12th grade with academically oriented Extended Learning Time programs, small group tutoring, and summer programs employing more than 600 employees and 1,700 volunteers.

In addition, THINK Together’s Early Childhood Learning program serves another 60,000 children from age 0 to 5 through our Reach Out and Read program conducted at clinics throughout the county. The program is designed to engage families in research-supported, authentic early literacy strategies that promote reading to children every day to build language and learning skills for life. We believe that access to books and showing parents the importance of early literacy are some of the most effective strategies in helping children start school prepared to succeed. We run center-based school readiness programs for families at elementary schools in collaboration with the school district and at pediatric clinics throughout the county. We also distribute thousands of books and resources to local schools, various community partners, and at hundreds of community events.

We are committed to expanding our services throughout Orange County fulfilling our mission to provide high-quality, academically oriented out-of-school programs for students regardless of race, creed, or socioeconomic status.

"THINK Together is the perfect extended learning program for my students. It provides enrichment in literacy and mathematics. What is a great benefit is that, Think Together can extend existing curriculum, such as our supplemental math program from the Mind institute, and Accelerated Reader." - Principal Anita Ford, Thomas Jefferson Elementary SAUSD

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THINK Together’s Reach in Orange County

Office Address

1971 E. Fourth St. Suite 130
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone (714) 824-3522
Fax: (714) 836-5680

Our Team

Orange County is served by 102 full time staff members including a general manager, about 70 site coordinators and more than 400 part-time program leaders.  We strongly believe in growing our employees and hiring high quality staff from the communities in which we serve.

Tia Dwyer, General Manager, oversees THINK Together’s largest after-school and summer learning programs. She began her career at THINK Together as director of Learning Programs. Prior to that time, Dwyer served as director of Program Development and later the executive director of Lawndale School District’s (LSD) Realizing Amazing Potential (RAP) Program. Under her leadership, the RAP program grew to include before- and after-school programs at all elementary and middle schools in the LSD, as well as Kindergarten Academies at all elementary schools. Dwyer has also worked as an elementary classroom teacher. She holds a bachelor’s in music from University of California, Irvine.

Nadia Flores, Executive Director, is responsible for fund-development, school district and community relations. Prior to this role, Flores was the Director of Community Outreach, overseeing THINK’s Early Learning initiatives, and before joining THINK Together, she held management positions in integrated marketing and online marketing with private sector firms. Flores, is an original THINK Together alumni who attended our first site at the Shalimar Learning Center in Costa Mesa. She now holds a bachelor’s degree in global studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a certificate in project management certificate from the University of California, Irvine.

 

Michelle Pelliccino, Executive Director of Early Learning and School Age Care, oversees two national efforts – Reach Out and Read and Raising a Reader program – at more than 90 pediatric medical clinics, schools and licensed pre-school facilities across Orange County.  She also oversees a growing parent education program, targeting families with children ages 0 to 5. Previously, she served as the Executive Director/CEO for Camp Fire USA Orange County Council. She began her career with the organization as the Associate Director of after-school programs and through the years developed and grew all programs She holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in human development from Pacific Oaks College with dual specializations in social change and educational administration.Click here for more information about our Early Learning Program.

Natalia Flores, Director of Learning Programs, Orange County. She has worked in both the non-profit arena and in extended-learning programs for the past 12 years. Since joining THINK Together in 2010, she has spearheaded supplemental programs, which include the Summer Learning Program that serves more than 10,000 students daily during the summer in the Santa Ana Unified School District. Flores holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Chicano Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles and a master’s degree in education from California State University, Long Beach. Click here for more information.

 

Volunteers

Volunteers are critical to the success of our programs. We are always looking for energetic and positive people and organizations who want to volunteer one day or longer term. For more information please contact our Manager of Volunteers Chris Melendez at 714-824-3522 x 8608.

Board of Advisors

In order to be truly successful, developing partnerships with key community stakeholders is a must. To that end, we have assembled a Board of Advisors that will help us to connect with the community, develop a strong local donor base and advise on local issues.

Sam Anderson
Board Member Emeritus

Bobbi Dauderman
Board Member Emeritus

Ranney Draper
Chairman
Spring Creek Investors

Michael Kerr
CEO, Bluestone Communities

Marion Knott
Philanthropist

Don Moe
Board Member Emeritus

Hon. Frances Muñoz
Judge (Ret.)
Harbor Municipal Court

John O’Donnell
Chairman, The O’Donnell Group, Inc

Steven Perryman
Board Member Emeritus

William F. Podlich
Co-Founder & CEO (Ret.) PIMCO Advisors

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Careers

If you are dedicated to improving educational outcomes and are willing to work hard to make that happen, THINK Together may be the right place for you. Our fast-paced environment is on the forefront of educational innovation and offers tremendous opportunity for enrichment and advancement. Our organization has grown exponentially over the last 10 years and we remain on that trajectory today. If you love kids and want to roll up your sleeves and work, check out our Careers page

Orange County School Sites


Community Sites

Orange USD

Santa Ana USD

Tustin USD

Reach Out and Read Clinics


Our Sponsors