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Supporting Students with Developmental Needs

Does your child experience:

  • intellectual disabilities?
  • autism?
  • developmental disorders?
  • difficulties with social skills or communication?
  • challenges with processing information?
  • behaviors that require additional assistance?

LEARN Academy Redwood City, formerly the Creative Learning Center, is a state-certified, non-public school and clinical provider of applied behavior analysis (ABA) services in California for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other neurological disorders.

Our comprehensive services — available across the South Bay, Peninsula, and San Francisco Bay Area — are designed to meet the unique needs of each student. We are a division of the LEARN Academy, a national leader in special education, academic intervention, and behavioral services for autism.

Redwood City, CA

Our School

      Design Element Shape

      Student-Centered Approach:

      At LEARN Academy Redwood City, the focus is on creating a nurturing, student-centered environment where learners feel supported and motivated. We foster a love for learning and encourage students to become independent thinkers, confident individuals, and successful lifelong learners.

      Our Team

      Tamila Sayar
      VP of Behavior Programs

      Tamila Sayar

      VP of Behavior Programs

      “Our approach as educators and behaviorists can strongly influence a student’s experience and ability to learn. It is our responsibility to adapt to all students’ learning styles to ensure success.”

       

      Tamila Sayar, founder of the LEARN Academy Redwood City (formerly Creative Learning Center), has deep roots in education. As a child, her family moved to Iran, where her mom taught in multi-grade classrooms. Tamila learned the language. During the revolution, when American international schools were closed, Tamila participated in private lessons and one-on-one teaching sessions that her mother ran.

      In the late 1970s, the family moved to the Bay Area, where Tamila often volunteered in schools and supported students who needed extra help. She studied at California Polytechnic State University and San Francisco State University, and she worked as a classroom aide for students with disabilities. This experience sparked her interest in teaching and individualized learning.

      After finishing her degree, Tamila moved to Boston, where she worked as a middle school assistant guidance counselor and art teacher. She discovered the importance of personalized positive behavior programs for student success.

      When she returned to California, Tamila taught while completing her special education credential. In 1999, she started the Creative Learning Center as an applied behavior analysis (ABA) and independent learning program. She assisted districts in setting up classrooms and training teachers for individualized programs.

      In 2001, Tamila opened a preschool, Children’s Learning Cottage, which focused on inclusion, positive behavior management, and individualized learning. In 2004, she opened another preschool, Foothill Preschool, in Los Altos Hills. In 2016, she started a similar preschool in Colorado. Creative Learning Center grew, employing more than 100 people. Because of its success, the center expanded to include a program for grades K-6. The Creative Learning Center was acquired by LEARN in 2022.

      Tamila is the Vice President of Behavior Programs in Northern California and is passionate about education. She lives in California with her son and two university-aged daughters.

      Heather Trujillo, M. Ed.
      Site Administrator

      Heather Trujillo, M. Ed.

      Site Administrator

      “Helping students grow and succeed is the most rewarding part of my work.” 

      Heather Trujillo is the site administrator at LEARN Academy in Redwood City. Her passion for education began early in her career, working in early childhood education. She earned a master’s degree in special education and gained valuable experience as a paraeducator and parent liaison supporting students with special needs.

      Since joining LEARN Academy (formerly Creative Learning Center) in 2016, Heather has held several administrative roles, gradually advancing to her current leadership position. She is dedicated to fostering an environment where students and staff can thrive and have a high-quality educational experience. Outside of her professional life, Heather enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and sons.