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Welcome!
Heather Hodge founded Sunlight Developmental Evaluations to provide families with answers and solutions regarding their child’s development. She brings a unique perspective to the table, having worked extensively within public education for 14 years and journeying through the evaluation process with her own children. As a parent and educator, she knows firsthand the challenges faced in both the home and school setting, and her expertise lies in creating reasonable and effective recommendations for families and schools.
Heather specializes in gifted evaluations and understanding the unique needs of gifted populations. She has five years experience identifying gifted children and developing programming for this population in a regular school setting. She is skilled at spotting giftedness when other symptoms may be hindering its presence.
Heather is a licensed school psychologist (SSP), licensed professional counselor (LPC), and nationally certified school psychologist (NCSP). She received her bachelor of science degree in psychology (B.S. Psychology) from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania and her educational specialist degree in school psychology (EdS School Psychology) from Rider University in New Jersey. She has served as a board member for the Colorado Society of School Psychologist as the independence Practice Chair. She has played a role at the State level participating in the Colorado Department of Education's Mental Health Advisory Committee and Serious Emotional Disability Taskforce.
Heather has earned two certifications through the Institute for the Study of Advanced Development, directly under Dr. Linda Silverman of the Gifted Development Center. She is licensed to administer and interpret the Overexcitability Questionnaire II, IIC, and the Overexcitability Inventory for Parents II. She also completed the Foundations of Gifted Assessment course with Dr. Silverman, further deepening her expertise in the field of giftedness and 2E evaluations and supports.
Heather is from New Jersey and has lived in Colorado since 2009. She currently lives in Arvada with her husband, two daughters, and dog. She enjoys snowboarding, trail running, reading, and spending time with her family.
Heather's Story
After working in the public school system for over a decade, I gained substantial experience participating on multidisciplinary teams conducting comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations. I also reviewed private evaluations presented to the schools by parents. I recognized limitations of both. School-based teams are often faced with barriers to time and resources. Meanwhile, the private practitioners provided in-depth reports but often lacked input from the school, where a child spends a large majority of their time.
To bridge this gap, I decided to start my own practice. I use the time and resources needed to provide detailed evaluations while including perspectives from the home and school settings. I conduct a school observation which is one attribute that sets my services apart from most others. You can read more here about what makes Sunlight's services unique.
I am rewarded by the intimate relationships I build with families. And most importantly, I am rewarded when the families I work with leave our feedback sessions with clarity and hope for the future. I am happy to answer any questions your family may have before embarking on this journey. You may email me directly at heather@sunlightevaluation.com. You may also read Sunlight's Google reviews to see what other families experiences working me with have been like.
Learn more in this VoyageDenver article that features Heather
Mission
To provide clarity to families and equip them for next steps.
Vision
To empower individuals to claim the life of happiness and success they are entitled to.
Values
Optimism
We instill a sense of hope for the future by helping clients to accept any challenges or limitations and learn how to accommodate them.
Perseverance
Our recommendations are designed to encourage clients to keep trying in the face of difficulty and to view challenges as a surmountable obstacle that may even provide learning opportunities.
O
We instill a sense of hope for the future by helping clients to accept any challenges or limitations and learn how to accommodate them.
Integrity
We hold high expectations for ourselves and maintain integrity throughout the evaluation process.
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Why Choose Sunlight?
Real-World School Experience: Heather offers practical recommendations grounded in real classroom experience. Her deep understanding of IEP, 504, and ALP processes ensures her advice is actionable and relevant. Heather has a lot of experience with evaluations, but more importantly, with treatment and interventions following a diagnosis. She can see the road you or your child will travel after the evaluation is complete and can provide insightful and appropriate recommendations.
School Input: Heather prioritizes school observations and input to provide an accurate diagnosis. Relying solely on the home perspective and one-on-one observations in an artificial office setting does not give the full picture.
Tailored Feedback: Heather provides personalized feedback through separate sessions with parents, school staff, and the child.
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For Parents: You will experience a private and supportive session where your concerns are addressed, and you receive guidance tailored to your child’s needs.
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For Schools: What educator has time to read a 30-page report? Heather personally gives schools the highlights and helps adapt her recommendations to fit their setting.
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For the Child: The child works hard during the testing session and often worries they are being tested because something is wrong with them or they are bad. Heather combats these negative beliefs with a kid-friendly feedback session that is strengths-based and provides closure.
Ongoing Support: Heather does not just deliver a report and move on. She stays engaged throughout your child’s journey, offering follow-up support and helping implement the next steps. Once on your team, always on your team. She refers families to people whom she trusts and has built a professional connection with. If those professionals are unavailable or are not a good fit, she does not leave you to your own devices. She continues to support you in finding the right professional.
Comprehensive Gifted Evaluations: In addition to assessing IQ and academic achievement, these evaluations delve deeper, exploring areas such as art, creativity, and performance, aligned with Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. They also examine overexcitabilities—intensities that are more common in gifted individuals. Emotional and behavioral health are key considerations as well. Gifted individuals are complex and multifaceted, extending far beyond their intellect. Understanding the whole person is essential for them to fully appreciate and embrace their unique gifts. Read more about gifted and 2E.
Virtual Evaluations: This is an excellent option for individuals living in rural areas or regions where access to psychoeducational evaluations is limited. It’s also beneficial for those with autoimmune conditions or physical disabilities that make leaving home challenging. For local families, virtual intake and feedback sessions are available, so the only in-person requirement is for the actual testing session. Read more about virtual evaluations.
Integrity: I have a strong sense of integrity. It is one of my guiding values in life personally and professionally. I always want families to leave me feeling like there was value in my services and do what I can to make sure this happens.
"They said he wouldn't, but he did. They said he couldn't, but he can. They said he won't, but he will."
~ Unknown
