Work with me
Mary Jo “MJ” Hollis’ approach to helping students achieve their full potential started almost three decades ago in Georgia. Her passion is for working with students who tend to struggle with learning in the typical educational environment. She continues to learn and implement new strategies to encourage students to find their joy of learning and overall self-confidence as a learner. With the use of her farm animals, she is integrating activities with animals into the educational process. She currently teaches Middle School and continues working with children of all ages through academic tutoring and a non-profit organization call Living Free Together.
In order for MJ to expand her influence beyond the classroom, she was inspired to start The Pickle Patch, where she worked with students on academic skills, self-regulation, behavior, and social skills with a customized program to meet their individual needs. The purpose to promote positive self-confidence and effective self- advocacy also began here. Her desire to reach more children, help more parents, and share her love of animals led her to create The Pickle Patch at Pickle Meadows Farm in Oklahoma. After moving to Charlottesville, VA, she began GOAAT Educational Services to continue her educational tutoring program with animal assisted interventions.
Mrs. Hollis holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Bachelor’s Degree in Learning Disabilities. She is a Certified Teacher in the State of Virginia and Oklahoma. She holds post-graduate certifications in Autism with experience with augmented communication and Positive Behavioral Interventions. She also holds a certification in Animal-Human Health from the University of Denver.
For more information about the certification in Human-Animal Health at the University of Denver. click on the link below.
https://socialwork.du.edu/humananimalconnection/education-about-human-animal-interactions