Location: Arkansas
Education: MSE Reading Specialist/CALT
Years Experience Teaching: 10
Years Experience In Dyslexia: 5
Teaching Experience
I’ve taught middle school and high school English for five years before leaving to homeschool my children. I’ve since been in private practice providing dyslexia therapy since 2018. I have experience working with children as young as 6 all the way through adulthood. I enjoy working with all ages, but my specialty is older students and adults. I also enjoy working with children who have multiple diagnosis.
Professional Affiliations
ALTA member
Programs Trained In
Take Flight
Barton Reading and Spelling
Logic of English
Age Range You Feel Most Comfortable With:
4th grade and older
Why did you decide to become a CALT?
My children and husband are the reasons why I chose to help others. Four of my children and my husband have dyslexia. When I first began homeschooling, I struggled teaching my oldest to read. After he was diagnosed with dyslexia, I began to learn everything I could about it. Eventually, I achieved a master’s degree in reading; then, I decided to become a CALT using the Take Flight program.
Favorite moment working with dyslexic students?
I’ve been doing this long enough that I’ve experienced life-changing moments. One favorite memory is having a 7th grade student sitting across from me in therapy crying tears of joy “because this [reading] is finally working”. For so long, this child wanted to read, but didn’t have access to proper reading instruction. After two months of therapy, they noticed they were reading better, and it brought them to tears. I also love the moment when students tell me “I got this” during reading/spelling instruction indicating they are confident enough now that they don’t need me to help.
Your goal when working with kids with dyslexia?
When working with kids with dyslexia, it’s my goal to build their confidence and to help them make sense of something that seems senseless. So often, the kids believe that reading makes no sense, but with proper instruction, they learn just how much our language does make sense. It really does follow the rules!
Your teaching style, personality?
I have a dry sense of humor which is typically why I work better with older students. I do have a positive attitude, believe in positive reinforcement, and am enthusiastic about what I do. I am a fan of the growth mindset theory and incorporate those ideas into therapy sessions. With older students, I will teach them self-advocacy through tasks like working on needs for a 504 plan, role-playing different situations where they may need to advocate for themselves, and validating the emotional impact of dyslexia.
Any family details?
My husband and I have been married since 2004. We have five children; three boys and two girls. We also have two dogs, Rosie (a mini Shar Pei) and Dawn (a German Shepard) who live their best life on a daily basis.
