Our Team
Crystal Sanford, M.Ed., M.A. CCC-SLP
owner/CEO/SLP
Crystal celebrates 20+ years experience in the field of speech-language pathology, supporting students from 0-22 years in public schools, private clinics, etc. throughout California.
In 2014, Crystal gained personal knowledge regarding the supports required for children with unique needs when her daughter was identified as on the autism spectrum at age three. While seeing the void of services available for parents, Crystal soon after opened a boutique consulting practice with an emphasis on empowering the autism parent through the special education process (Sanford Autism Advocacy Group).
In 2022, Crystal returned to her first love and opened her second business, the Sanford Speech & Learning Center. Her intention is to offer a safe space where all children can learn and thrive in their communication skills.
In her free time, Crystal enjoys reading, word games/puzzles, walking for exercise, and non-technology time with her husband and two tween daughters.
In 2014, Crystal gained personal knowledge regarding the supports required for children with unique needs when her daughter was identified as on the autism spectrum at age three. While seeing the void of services available for parents, Crystal soon after opened a boutique consulting practice with an emphasis on empowering the autism parent through the special education process (Sanford Autism Advocacy Group).
In 2022, Crystal returned to her first love and opened her second business, the Sanford Speech & Learning Center. Her intention is to offer a safe space where all children can learn and thrive in their communication skills.
In her free time, Crystal enjoys reading, word games/puzzles, walking for exercise, and non-technology time with her husband and two tween daughters.
Melanie K. Milicevic, B.A., Enrichment Educator
Melanie is a graduate of UCLA and a former 5th grade teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District. She worked mostly with second language learners and collaborated with special needs families to meet the unique needs of her students. She now advocates for her own special needs children and continues to work with schools to help educate them about ways to include children of all abilities in the classroom. Melanie is a passionate writer and has been published in Autism Parenting Magazine, Exceptional Needs Today and Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego.
After a long pause away from the workplace, Melanie is now returning to teaching. She is most enthusiastic about teaching literacy, social skills and working with upper elementary students and teens. She looks forward to working more closely with the homeschool community and to facilitating an engaging book club for neurodiverse learners.
Melanie hopes to publish a children’s book someday and is always chasing her dream between driving her kids from activity to activity. She lives in San Diego with her husband and two children.
Melanie is a graduate of UCLA and a former 5th grade teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District. She worked mostly with second language learners and collaborated with special needs families to meet the unique needs of her students. She now advocates for her own special needs children and continues to work with schools to help educate them about ways to include children of all abilities in the classroom. Melanie is a passionate writer and has been published in Autism Parenting Magazine, Exceptional Needs Today and Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego.
After a long pause away from the workplace, Melanie is now returning to teaching. She is most enthusiastic about teaching literacy, social skills and working with upper elementary students and teens. She looks forward to working more closely with the homeschool community and to facilitating an engaging book club for neurodiverse learners.
Melanie hopes to publish a children’s book someday and is always chasing her dream between driving her kids from activity to activity. She lives in San Diego with her husband and two children.
Tonya Lehman, M.A., Enrichment Educator
Even when participating in non-educational activities, people ask Tonya, “Are you a teacher?” That’s because Tonya has her Masters in Education (Curriculum and Instruction) and has spent many years bringing educational experience across age, disciplines, and environments (high school life science. elementary/middle guest teacher, Parent Ed, VAPA Dance, Swing Dance from middle school to senior citizens, girls’ Sunday School, adult school T-Shirt Quilt in a Day, etc.).
Tonya is also a small business owner (Joy Lab Video), adept in marketing and managing interns from pre-production to post-production for video shoots.
In her free time Tonya enjoys traveling with her family of four (by the time her daughters were in college, they had been to 23 states and 16 countries together), making cooking videos, and swing dancing.
Even when participating in non-educational activities, people ask Tonya, “Are you a teacher?” That’s because Tonya has her Masters in Education (Curriculum and Instruction) and has spent many years bringing educational experience across age, disciplines, and environments (high school life science. elementary/middle guest teacher, Parent Ed, VAPA Dance, Swing Dance from middle school to senior citizens, girls’ Sunday School, adult school T-Shirt Quilt in a Day, etc.).
Tonya is also a small business owner (Joy Lab Video), adept in marketing and managing interns from pre-production to post-production for video shoots.
In her free time Tonya enjoys traveling with her family of four (by the time her daughters were in college, they had been to 23 states and 16 countries together), making cooking videos, and swing dancing.