Meet Your Coaches
Lauren Hart, LBS 1, MA
Founder/ Owner
Jenny Matsie, LBS1, MA
Coach
Lauren will use an integrated approach to build a connection and meet your student where he/she/they are and then implement a strategic plan to foster growth.
Lauren Hart, LBS1, MA is fully invested in building LB Learning Lab in response to community need. Prior to making LB Learning Lab her full time job, she spent 12 years as the Clinical Supervisor of the Education Department at Ascension- Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital. She supervised the teaching staff for the inpatient and outpatient levels of care at both the Hoffman Estates and Crystal Lake locations, while also teaching in the classroom for the School Anxiety/School Refusal program, as well as the Adolescent- PHP/IOP program. Lauren was also responsible for the educational development, documentation, and facilitation of education services for all programs across all service lines. She also served as a mentor to staff of other in-network Ascension and Advent hospitals, such as Hinsdale, Westmont, Mercy Aurora, and The Chicago Children’s Hospital in order to build and establish education departments within those hospitals as well. She was an ABIDE council member as well as a Safety Coach. She continues to be a member of the C3 (Community Connect to Care) Advisory Council.
In addition to her role at Ascension, Lauren was also the Advanced Reading and Creative Composition teacher for the D211 Alternative High School program for 15 years. All students in the program had been divorced from the day school system in some fashion and were seeking a high school diploma through enrollment in the Alternative High School.
Lauren earned her BA in English and Education from the University of Iowa. She continued her education, gaining a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Concordia University and holds a Learning Behavioral Specialist Endorsement (LBS1) from National Louis University.
Professionally, Lauren has worked with the at-risk population her entire teaching career. She has taught at the middle school and high school levels, as well as in a therapeutic day school before securing her role at Ascension. While teaching at the middle school level, she worked with truancy officers and mental health professionals to create and co-found two after school programs, Unstoppable and Keepin’ it Real, programs that provided academic tutoring as well as offered skill based lessons on improving decision making and building social skills; application of skills was also then implemented and reinforced by exposure to real-life situational learning opportunities within the community. While teaching at the high school level, Lauren teamed with the school psychologists to enforce a supportive attendance policy through home visits and served as a group leader through the Positive Peer Culture program.
Over the past couple years, Lauren has been co-presenting to multiple area school districts on the topic of Learning Engagement in the Virtual and In-Person Classroom. Most recently, she founded The LB Learning Lab, an independent company based in Palatine, IL, in which she offers in person and virtual executive functioning coaching and academic support to elementary through college aged students as a way to bridge gaps that have presented themselves during the pandemic and foster academic success.
Jenny will use an evidence-based and personalized approach to meet the unique needs of each client. She looks forward to making tailored plans that will foster success.
Jenny Matsie, LBS 1, MA is excited to be joining LB Learning Lab as an Executive Functioning and Academic Support Coach. She is looking forward to helping students strengthen the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. She specializes in building executive functioning skills such as organization, time management, task initiation, and study strategies, while also providing targeted academic support to help learners reach their full potential.
With 16 years of experience in education, Jenny has taught students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. She earned her LBS1 certification from NIU and holds a Masters degree in curriculum and instruction with an endorsement in ESL from Concordia University. Drawing on her education and extensive classroom experience, Jenny uses evidence-based strategies and a personalized approach to meet the unique needs of each student.
Known for her patience, encouragement, and collaborative style, she works closely with families and educators to create practical, sustainable learning plans that foster both confidence and independence.