Who We Are
Our Story
and Values
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Our History
From our Founder,
As I worked with my patients and their families, I wished for therapeutic support to be embedded within all educational and recreational activities, for everyone, such that there was no longer any distinction between “therapy” and “life”, "therapist" and "teacher".
I wished for anxious brilliant children to relax, let go, run around, learn to bike, learn to swim, and just be “children” while still being mathematicians, astronauts, musicians, artists, doctors, engineers, inventors, coders and everything in between. I wished for them to learn how to communicate how they felt, safely and effectively, and I wanted the world to learn how to hear them, even if they didn’t utter any words. I wished for them to learn the tools necessary to soothe themselves in a timely manner, before anxiety took over, and the skills that would empower them to grow into respectful members of a larger society.
I started this project because I deeply believe that no diagnostic measure could possibly encapsulate the richness of a human mind, and that no diagnostic term could ever place a cap on potential.
A project more than 8 years in the making, which would not be possible without the parents who entrusted me with their precious children during our pilot phase, the children who shared their deepest fears and wildest dreams with me, the unwavering faith, dedication, love and support of my partner, friend and co-founder Steve, the wonderful teachers and staff who support our children every day, my soulmate husband, our brilliant son and my family.
Our Vision
Accelerate When Possible, Support When Necessary, Enrich Always
It is often very difficult for 2e learners to find any setting where both areas of remarkable talent and areas of significant challenge are simultaneously understood and nurtured, and where social-emotional growth is prioritized without compromising intellectual or academic pursuits.
Our Mission is to create just that – a haven for learning and growth, where social-emotional support, skill-building, and talent development are delivered simultaneously, in one place, in a comprehensive and well-coordinated program tailored to the learner's specific needs. We focus on nurturing mutually respectful relationships, healthy self-esteem and effective communication skills in the context of enjoyable activities.
Our vision is to help create paradigm shifts in the worlds of Education and Therapeutic disciplines, where "2e" becomes commonplace and widely understood, where measurement instruments no longer supersede in-depth perspectives, where education and therapy don't need to be separated.
We envision learning to become universally personalized, where school and life are no longer separate.
We see classrooms as innovative think-tanks, where interests are at once respected and expanded, where autonomy is praised and connected to a healthy appreciation of the freedom of others, and where individuality is embraced and simultaneously paired with a sense of service to society.
Our Team
At 2e4Me Academy, our remarkable team consists of qualified staff who are deeply passionate about supporting our unique kids. Each member is committed to creating an inclusive environment where every child feels valued and understood.
Inspired by the positive feedback from our kids, we know our staff's warmth and understanding make all the difference in their educational journey. Join us to see how our staff creates a wonderful place for your children!
Our Leadership Team
Lamis Jabri, MD
Founder & Director
Certified Collaborative Proactive Solutions Provider
Board Certified Psychiatrist
Licensed in the State of California
Dr. Jabri has been practicing as a psychiatrist in various clinical settings since 2014, and has enjoyed teaching children since 1998, and graduate-doctoral level students in academic and community settings since 2010. Dr. Jabri designed the 2e4Me Program because she needed something exactly like it. Dr Jabri enjoys working with our students directly as an "undercover" therapist" while teaching many of the Science and Social-Emotional learning classes herself. The students call her "Ms Lamis" as they view her as their teacher or "principal". Dr. Jabri has achieved certification in Collaborative Proactive Solutions by Lives in the Balance by Dr. Ross Green. She fosters an environment where children are encouraged to express their concerns truthfully and trust that they are heard. She specializes in helping teachers and families understand the unsolved problems that are preventing students from meeting expectations, and then engage students in solving those problems collaboratively. Learn more by visiting Dr Ross Greene's Collaborative and Proactive Solutions model, as well as Bridges Academy's dual differentiation and Badges models. Centering on CPS unlocks the path forward in the classroom, the playground, and everywhere. Dr . Jabri also offers psychiatric assessments, individual and family counseling.
Steven Flores, MA
Educational Psychology
Lead Therapist
Our very own Zen Master! Father, coach, therapist and so much more - Steve is the absolute essence of our program. He has 20 years of experience working with children and adults, supporting and scaffolding areas of developmental need. He helps everyone problem-solve effectively, within a collaborative framework which validates the child's feelings and encourages self-advocacy. Steve helps everyone include the children as partners identifying, describing and solving problems which underlie common challenges. Steve is masterful at implementing strengths-based strategies to teach each child the essential skills they need. He is extremely patient, attentive, thoughtful, empathetic and respectful.
Gabriela Locoh-A, PhD.
Educational Therapy & Curriculum Design
Director of Education in Science & Mathematics
Dr. Locoh-A is a talented, enthusiastic, and seasoned educational therapist. She earned a doctoral degree in Learning Sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago, specializing in Mathematics and Science education. She possesses a wealth of experience in K-12 and post-secondary education, with a focus on comprehensive assessment, strengths-based curriculum design and foundational learning skills. Dr. Locoh-A enjoys working directly with each of her students, tailoring curricular content and format to suit every learner's interests, strengths and needs. Her passion for teaching Mathematics and Science is infectious and has spread to everyone around her. Dedicated to teaching children the way they learn best, her boundless creativity, engaging nature, and personalized approach make her a perfect fit for the gifted and twice exceptional learners at 2e4Me Academy. Ever since joining us in December 2023 she has significantly elevated the educational experience of all her students, and inspired them to embrace the Growth Mindset.
The Board
Founder & Director
Certified Collaborative Proactive Solutions Provider
Board Certified Psychiatrist
Licensed in the State of California
Lamis Jabri, MD
Dr. Jabri is the founder and Program Director of 2e4Me Academy Inc. She is a Board Certified Psychiatrist, educator, and mother of a twice-exceptional son. Dr. Jabri designed our comprehensive program by merging the clinical principles of Dr. Ross Greene's Collaborative and Proactive Solutions, with the educational principles of strengths-based learning, dual differentiation and talent development. In addition to directing the 2e4Me Academy programs, Dr. Jabri runs a private practice in Newport Beach, California, with a special focus on helping neurodivergent individuals and their families thrive across the lifespan. Dr. Jabri offers Medication Management, Screening and Assessment, Second Opinion, Parent/Family Counseling, and Individual and Group Counseling. She is dedicated to helping individuals and families understand neurodevelopment and twice exceptionality.
Co-Chairman of the
Board of Directors
Ariel Eckfeld, PhD
Ariel Eckfeld, PhD, is a licensed pediatric neuropsychologist who specializes in evaluating children, adolescents, and young adults with complex presentations, especially twice-exceptional youth. Dr. Eckfeld earned her undergraduate degree with a dual major in Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology and Psychology at Emory University, then worked at NYU’s Institute for Pediatric Neuroscience. She completed her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at UCLA, working in various academic and hospital settings, including CHLA and CHOC. Dr. Eckfeld has been a longstanding member of the scientific and academic communities, presenting neurocognitive and neuroimaging (i.e., MRI) research at several international annual conferences. She currently works in private practice at a multidisciplinary clinic, consults for a pharmaceutical company, guest lectures within the Orange County community, and supervises graduate students’ assessments at the UCLA Psychology Clinic. Dr. Eckfeld is the proud parent of twice-exceptional children, one of whom attends 2e4Me Academy. She is passionate about supporting this unique community.
Co-Chairman of the
Board of Directors
Hillary Murphy
Hillary is a dynamic entrepreneur and interior designer. She owns Lovely Nest Interiors and serves on the Boards of 2e4Me Academy Inc. in Newport Beach, and Helping the Behaviorally Challenging Child in Tustin.
Co-Chairman of the
Board of Directors
Founder of Helping the Behaviorally Challenging Child
Debra Ann Afarian
Debra Ann Afarian is the founder of the non-profit Helping the Behaviorally Challenging Child (HBCC) in Tustin, California. As the mother of a challenging and twice-exceptional child, she has made it her mission to make sure that adult/child power struggles are understood in a whole new way to break the cycle of misunderstanding challenging, difficult-to-manage behaviors. She has developed a program to help parents, caregivers and educators understand that challenging behaviors are the result of deficits in key skill areas like frustration tolerance, flexibility and communication of needs/thoughts. Debra Ann has been certified in Collaborative Problem Solving since 2003, a model developed by Dr. Stuart Ablon and Dr. Ross Greene.
Michael Burke
Advisory Board Member
Michael Burke is a dedicated father, seasoned lawyer and astute business strategist. He has advised clients in national and international matters, including marina and airport development projects; hotel projects; and technology transfers and logistics with the US Department of Defense and State Department. He represents corporate clients in shareholder and partnership disputes, white collar and regulatory compliance cases, and trade secret matters. Previously, Michael was an attorney at the international law firm of Morrison & Foerster; a judicial law clerk for the US District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal; and a policy consultant at the RAND Corporation, a global nonpartisan think tank. Michael studied law at UCLA School of Law, business strategy at Cornell University’s Graduate School of Management, and has undergraduate degrees in cognitive science, psychology, and political science. On the personal front, Michael is married and is the father of two extraordinary girls with special needs, including a daughter that is a student at 2e4Me Academy. He is a passionate advocate for those on the autism spectrum and with other learning challenges. He serves on boards and committees of some of the leading organizations in this field, including UCLA’s Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART); UC-Irvine’s Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CAND); and the In STEPPS Academy (a non-profit school for autistic children). He has also advised school districts on effective delivery of programs and services to their students with special needs. Michael has been honored by the United States Congress for his contributions in these fields.
Kim Vargas
Advisory Board Member
Kim Vargas is the Director of Admissions at the Bridges Graduate School and Bridges Academy Online. She has professional history in the education of twice exceptional students. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Southern California, Kim obtained her Master’s Degree in Special Education for the Gifted and Talented from California State University at Los Angeles, where she studied under noted Gifted and Talented expert, Dr. Barbara Clark. She recently returned to Cal Poly University, Pomona to acquire a special education teaching credential for mild to moderate learning disabilities. Kim taught in the South Pasadena Unified School District as the visiting teacher for students requiring in-home educational services. Over the years, Kim provided differentiated high school courses to accommodate the unique needs of her students,which ensured their academic success and satisfied credit requirements. She is the parent of a twice exceptional son and graduate from the Bridges Academy.
Dr. Lin Lim Ph.D.
Advisory Board Member
Dr. Lin Lim has a Ph.D. in human development psychology from Boston University, an Academic Graduate Certificate in twice-exceptional education from Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education, and an Academic Graduate Certificate in Mind, Brain, and Education from Johns Hopkins University Graduate School of Education. Being a first-generation immigrant raising second-generation Asian American teens, she has a special interest in sustainable well-being and complex outlier lifespan development through a relational cultural dynamic systems perspective. Dr. Lim volunteers for gifted-related non-profits, currently serving on the board of Gifted Homeschoolers Forum (GHF), the PECAB advisory for the National Association of Gifted Children (NAGC), PGRetreat, and has been the president of Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) since 2022. She is currently a Dean at Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education, pursuing an MBA at UCLA, and founder of Quark Collaboration Institute Inc. She is an international presenter, author, and creator of NEST!® Visit her website at zenliving.com and contact her through linkedin.com/in/linlimgoh