Location: Nebraska
Education: BA Education-Special Education, CALT
Years Experience Teaching: 17
Years Experience In Dyslexia: 5
Teaching Experience
Prior to devoting to working with dyslexic students, I have taught as a regular education teacher in grades 2-6 for 9 years. I left brick and mortar school to teach special education grades k-8 virtually while I helped my dyslexic son gain the skills he needed to be successful to return to brick and mortar school. I was a dyslexia interventionist/therapist in TX and virtually for 3 years before moving to Nebraska. In Nebraska I have been working part-time as a special educator grades K-5th and a private dyslexia therapist.
Professional Affiliations
Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA)
Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT)
Nebraska Dyslexia Association (NDA)
Programs Trained In
BUILD
Take Flight
Age Range You Feel Most Comfortable With:
All ages, I love how every age group has unique learning acquisition and needs.
Why did you decide to become a CALT?
My motto is: I aspire to inspire!
I became a CALT because I wanted to help my son as well as other students that were struggling readers. I knew that the highest form of reading acquisition took place in therapeutic settings and saw that there was a great need for highly trained educators in this specific setting. I have always had a love for reading and language arts and wanted to reach as many students as possible with reading difficulties.
Favorite moment working with dyslexic students?
Some of most favorite moments have been when students have worked so hard and see their own success. The proud moments when they realize they CAN read successfully and the huge proud smiles and confidence they have.
Your goal when working with kids with dyslexia?
My goal is to empower students. if students feel empowered, they will willingly work to break the boundaries or struggles they encounter to be a success in whatever they choose to aspire to.
Your teaching style, personality?
I am a data driven personality; I want to make informative decisions and be prescriptive, but not let that be the complete focus of my students.
A student’s identity is not their scores but their unique person as a whole. I like to be relaxed in my teaching but firm to hold students to expectations they are given. Your child s needs are my biggest concern. I am flexible and adjust to each individual student’s needs. Building relationship with students is a number one priority because it is the driving force in our ability to learn and teach..
Any family details?
I have three wonderful children. A daughter that is a senior that will pursue a medical degree and has been working as a CNA at a local nursing home since she was a sophomore. I have a Dyslexic son that is a sophomore who is an active athlete, cowboy, 4-H and FFA member. And I have another daughter who is in 6th grade who suffers from JRA but is highly active in sports, 4-H, and ranching. We are partners and operate at APEX cattle in Nebraska. We also have continued to own and operate a commercial cattle business back home in New Mexico. Ranching/farming and cowboying is my other vocation and love.
