Welcome to the official website for the La Jolla Band of Los Suenos Indians

Our Inspiration

The inspiration behind the Learning Center is the banyan tree. This amazing plant grows in regions where the soil is not able to support the heavy branches. It has learned to compensate for the weakness by growing support limbs as the tree branches out. Like the banyan tree, our goal is to provide support and strengthen foundations for learning as students mature into lifeling learners.

In addition to the concept of the Learning Center providing support to learners, the foundations, or roots of the tree, must also be feeding the tree and entwine to make a strong trunk. The foundational skills that must be in place for efficient processing are memory, attention, language, reasoning, and integration. When these are intact and working together, students are ready to branch out.....and learn basic skills, develop their unique gifts and areas of interest, and find success academically, socially, and emotionally.

At Banyan Tree Learning Center, we can assist students in developing skills in any of these areas, either academic or foundational. Please browse our site to find how we can help students at all levels of learning.

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Our Staff

Banyan Tree Staff is trained to not only provide academic and learning assistance, but to integrate the instruction into a nurturing environment, building a caring relationship with each student. By developing a trusting relationship, students feel valued, respected and successful, which can enhance academic and emotional growth. For more information on our services or to schedule an appointment please call one of our offices or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Nanci Engle, Founder

Nanci has a BS in Speech and Language, credentials in Learning Disabilities, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and General Education. She also has a M.Ed. in Education. She received a Certificate in Educational Therapy from UCSD and is a member of the Association of Educational Therapists, Learning Disabilities Association, and Council for Exceptional Children. An educator for over 30 years, she has experience as a Special Day Class Teacher, Resource Specialist, and Mentor Teacher. She opened Banyan Tree in 1993, in an effort to help students who "fall through the cracks" and find frustration with learning. Currently, she is the site administrator and educational therapist at the Point Loma location.

Kathryn MacIsaac, Educational Therapist

Kay has a M.Ed. and credential in Learning Disabilities. An experienced and talented educator, she has worked in public schools both as a classroom teacher and a special education teacher, was director of a franchised learning center, and had her own educational therapy business prior to joining Banyan Tree in 1998. She specializes in assessment, homeschool programs, and working with students who need educational therapy.

Laura Johnson, Assistant Director / Intake Coordinator / NPA Coordinator

Laura has BA and her credential in Special Education. She has had experience as a Resource Specialist in public schools. She has been with Banyan Tree since 2000. She is the site administrator at the Scripps Ranch location, and responsible for intake, enrollment, and case management of NPA students.

Our Other Staff

Instructors come to us with a variety of backgrounds, from BS in Psychology or Speech, to general education credentials, to special education experience. Depending on prior experience, they go through 2 to 4 weeks of training in our special programs, learning theory, and our philosophy, with ongoing training and support. We work as a team to foster professional growth and match instructor's expertise with student's learning styles and individual needs.