Meet the Team
Ashley Souryal
Ashley is the founder of Sunshine Learning Dallas and has spent her career in early childhood and elementary education. She began teaching in 2014 and moved into private tutoring in 2020, where she saw how impactful a more personalized approach could be for both students and families.
As her work grew, Ashley built a team of experienced educators to support students academically. This allowed her to focus more closely on working with parents through the private school admissions process. Today, she partners with families to help them find the right school environment for their child, one where they will feel supported and truly thrive. Born and raised in Dallas, Ashley has a strong understanding of the local independent school landscape. She helps families navigate school selection, applications, and overall strategy in a way that feels clear, thoughtful, and manageable.
With a background in social work and certifications in ESL, Special Education, and EC–6, Ashley brings a deep understanding of how children learn and what they need to succeed. She is known for being approachable, responsive, and genuinely invested in every family with whom she works.
Ashley Souryal
Ashley is the founder of Sunshine Learning Dallas and has spent her career in early childhood and elementary education. She began teaching in 2014 and moved into private tutoring in 2020, where she saw how impactful a more personalized approach could be for both students and families.
As her work grew, Ashley built a team of experienced educators to support students academically. This allowed her to focus more closely on working with parents through the private school admissions process. Today, she partners with families to help them find the right school environment for their child, one where they will feel supported and truly thrive. Born and raised in Dallas, Ashley has a strong understanding of the local independent school landscape. She helps families navigate school selection, applications, and overall strategy in a way that feels clear, thoughtful, and manageable.
With a background in social work and certifications in ESL, Special Education, and EC–6, Ashley brings a deep understanding of how children learn and what they need to succeed. She is known for being approachable, responsive, and genuinely invested in every family with whom she works.
Whitney Johnson
Head of Growth & Development | Chief of Operations
Whitney has served in public education for over 10 years, first as an elementary teacher and then as a campus instructional coach, supporting PreK-5th grade teachers across the district. She's since served as an adjunct professor at the University of Dallas for nearly 2 years supporting teacher candidates in their student teaching program. Since 2023, she has spent most of her time at home with her two kids, focusing on the administrative and leadership aspects of Sunshine Learning.
Credentials: B.S. in Elementary Education | M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning | Principal Certification
Maya Saker
ISEE Coordinator | Lead Tutor
Maya's roles at Sunshine Learning include providing test prep, reading intervention, dyslexia therapy, and general tutoring services. As a Dallas native, she is familiar with the schools in the area and working with students from here is close to her heart. Maya has loved growing alongside Sunshine Learning over the years, and is grateful for the opportunity to work with our amazing students each day,
Credentials: M.Ed | CALP
Peyton Corrigan
Lead Tutor Team | Social Media Content Creator
Peyton is an experienced educator who loves helping students feel more confident and successful in school. With a background in classroom teaching and academic support, she focuses on building strong habits, organization, and executive functioning skills that support long-term success. She is known for creating a warm, encouraging environment where students feel supported and motivated to grow.
Credentials: B.A. in Elementary Education | M.S. in Organizational Leadership | Learning Certified Teacher
Jennifer Willson
Lead Secondary Consultant
With over 16 years in college admissions, Jennifer helps students transition from high school to college. As the Lead College Consultant at Sunshine Learning, she uniquely integrates her experience as a 5th-grade teacher, science specialist, and counselor to provide a data-driven, caring approach tailored to each student's needs. As a mother of 3 teens, Jennifer understands the combination of excitement and "last-minute panic" that can come with such milestones, and she's committed to transforming that chaos into a clear, strategic plan for every family.
Credentials: B.S. in Elementary Education | Master’s Degree in Counseling | Texas Certified Teacher (grades K-8) | Texas Certified School Counselor (grades K-12) | Gifted & Talented Certified (grades K-12) | English as a Second Language Certified (grades K-12)
Catalina De La Pena
Lead Occupational Therapist
Catalina earned her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at El Paso, and went on to receive her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. She's been practicing as an Occupational Therapist since 2021, working with children to support their development across a variety of settings. Her areas of focus include fine motor and handwriting development through engaging, play-based approaches. Catalina also leads Developmental Play and Brain Boosters sessions, and provides individualized occupational therapy services to help children build confidence, independence, and the foundational skills they need for success at home and in school!
Credentials: OTR | MOT
Brittany Spann
Lead Speech Language Pathologist
Brittany attended Texas A&M for undergrad and earned her Master's degree from UT Dallas. Previously, she worked in a pediatric outpatient clinic for 4 years prior to making the switch to the public school system. She has a passion for being a speech therapist and loves watching each child she works with grow in their communication skills.
Credentials: MS | CCC-SLP
Kendall Murphy
Head of Innovation and Operations | Lead Tutor Team
Kendall Murphy is an experienced educator and instructional leader with over 15 years of experience in computer science, technology integration, and curriculum design. She spent ten years at St. Mark’s School of Texas, where she led school-wide instructional technology initiatives and developed an innovative 1–6 computer science curriculum. Kendall tutors students in grades K–6, supporting academic and personal growth through brain boosters, computer science, grade-level readiness, and ISAAD preparation.
Credentials: Texas Certified Teacher | B.S. in Psychology
Kathleen Trueblood
Lead Tutor Team
Kathleen is an experienced educator who truly loves helping students feel confident and capable in school. She has taught 2nd, 3rd, and 6th grade, giving her a strong understanding of how to support students at different stages of their academic journey. As a graduate of The Hockaday School, Kathleen is very familiar with the expectations of Dallas independent schools and brings that perspective into her work with students. She is certified in ESL and Gifted & Talented and is especially skilled at meeting each child where they are and helping them grow from there. Kathleen focuses on building strong academic skills while also helping students become more independent, organized, and confident. She’s known for her calm, encouraging approach and for creating an environment where kids feel comfortable, supported, and motivated to do their best.
Credentials: B.A. | ESL Certified | Gifted & Talented Certified
Melissa Gault
Lead Tutor of Early Childhood Team
Melissa is an experienced early childhood educator with over 20 years of teaching, specializing in Pre-K through 1st grade. She holds a teaching degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and is certified in Orton-Gillingham and Build Through the Scottish Rite Dyslexia Department. her passion is helping young learners build strong foundations in phonics and early reading skills. As a mother of three, Melissa brings both professional expertise and personal insight to supporting children’s growth and success.
Credentials: B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies | Orton-Gillingham Trained | BUILD Trained through Scottish Rite for Children
