Meliesa Tigard — Director

Meliesa Tigard is a teacher, academic coach, and award-winning writer and speaker. She is the author of two books and numerous healing journals available on Amazon. She is an active member of the community, having dedicated her spare time to community advocacy for over a decade. She earned a degree with High Honors from the Honors College of the University of Montana. Tigard has been honored as a Presidential Leadership Scholar and recognized at the American Academy of Achievement and the Banquet of the Golden Scroll. During those years of academic recognition, she was privately struggling with ADHD. She used the methods she now teaches to overcome her own ADD symptoms and master math — eventually making her worst thing her best thing. Meliesa is the author of the Tigard Method™, the proprietary math method used exclusively at FocalPoint. Today, she would rather teach math than anything else, because she has been there.

Opal Hopkins, M.Ed., Assistant Manager

Opal Hopkins is a Master’s Level Educator who has been coaching and tutoring students at FocalPoint since 2022. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Communications and completed her Master’s in Education at Central Washington University by age 22. Prior to joining FocalPoint, Opal served her community through work with the Federal Government. She transitioned into education because teaching is where she gets to share the excitement of learning — not only with students, but with everyone who walks through the door. Opal works with students across a wide range of needs, engaging each one with different techniques to support neurodivergent learning styles. She is kind, focused, and genuinely connects with every student she works with.

Natasha Sanborn, Teacher

With experience as a high school math teacher, Natasha brings the math skills to our older students. She knows how to explain complex topics in simple ways – giving her students the skills to succeed in their math curricula. She has experience with several of the curricula used in our area, and can easily help your student with their math and writing assignments. Natasha lives in Wenatchee with her husband and their dog.

Kathleen Tigard, Teacher

With her experience in early education and behavior, Kathleen brings another dimension to the well-rounded FocalPoint classroom. Kathleen works at a local grade school, doing intervention work in reading and math, as well as working with behaviorally challenged students. She excels at setting expectations, keeping kids on task, and is generally loved by her students. Kathleen was once a student at FocalPoint, grew up in the learning center, and went into the education business just like her mom, Meliesa. Kathleen lives in Wenatchee with her cat, Shuggy and a huge garden, which is her hobby. When not at FocalPoint, Kathleen is feeding families and learning more about how to live off the land.