Location: Brenham, TX
Education: M.ed, Diagnostician
Years Experience Teaching: 31
Years Experience In Dyslexia: 21
Teaching Experience
Melanie started teaching in 1991. She gained her special education certification in 1995 and started teaching resource and inclusion students. After seeing students struggle to read she started taking classes to learn more about dyslexia and started teaching dyslexia intervention classes in 2001. In 2016 Melanie went back to school to earn her Masters Degree in Special Education with a Diagnostician Certification. She started working as a Diagnostician in 2020. Her current position is a tutor and Diagnostician for Dyslexia on Demand.
Professional Affiliations
Neuhaus Education Center – Dyslexia Specialist
Academic Language Therapist Association – Certified Academic Language Therapist
Programs Trained In
Basic Language Skills – Neuhaus Education Center
Educational Diagnostician – The University of Texas @ Tyler
Age Range You Feel Most Comfortable With:
All ages
Why did you decide to become a CALT?
I trained to become a CALT so that I would know all there is to know about teaching reading in order to best help students learn to read and reach their highest potential.
Favorite moment working with dyslexic students?
I would have to say that my proudest moments are when my students come back years later and thank me for teaching them how to read. I have several students, including my son, who have graduated from College and are very successful in their careers.
Your goal when working with kids with dyslexia?
My goal is to help students learn to read to the best of their ability so that they will be successful in school and beyond.
Your teaching style, personality?
I get to know my students and develop rapport with my students so they will be comfortable as I’m teaching or testing them.
Any family details?
Both of my sons are dyslexic. When I started learning about dyslexia I realized this and started advocating for them to ensure that they were getting the right dyslexia intervention instruction. I was lucky to have been able to teach my youngest son how to read and to then advocate for a stronger dyslexia intervention program in the district.
Any extra anecdotal info you want to add?
All children can learn. It’s up to us as educators to find how best to teach them!