Location: Mena, Arkansas
Education: Bachelor of Science
Years Experience Teaching: 35
Years Experience In Dyslexia: 17
Teaching Experience
I have had the wonderful opportunity to teach students in grades K-12. The bulk of my classroom teaching was in grades 1-4, but I have been blessed to help students in middle school and high school! Most of my classroom and dyslexia experience was in Texas schools. I count all my classroom experiences as rich and abundant wealth of knowledge to help students to overcome dyslexia!
Professional Affiliations
ALTA Academic Language Therapy Association
CALT Certified Academic Language Therapist
LDT Licensed Dyslexia Therapist
Programs Trained In
Build
Take Flight
Reading by Design
Age Range You Feel Most Comfortable With:
1st- 12th grades
Why did you decide to become a CALT?
As a first grade teacher for many years, I had students that no matter how I presented reading lessons, some just never progressed. I had been reading about multi-sensory ways of teaching reading and another wonderful CALT at my school, asked if I would be interested in training at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. I believe that God was so present in that moment, because the training I received from Karen Avrit one of the authors and pioneers at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in the dyslexia department, has blessed so many lives that I have had the great opportunity to serve! I loved my years in public education and feel so blessed to be able to continue this service in my retirement years!
Favorite moment working with dyslexic students?
I love working with my high school population. One of my dyslexic students came into my office that was having a particularly difficult day. He sighed wearily and said, “Mrs. Salisbury, I’m just not going to be able to make it out there in the real world. It takes me so long to read and comprehend even though you have helped me so much.” I want to stop and say that I give my older students many apps and text to speech apps, but this student struggled greatly with his dyslexia. It was the middle of the year and the semester was about to change. I suggested that he take the airplane mechanic class the the high school was offering at our local airport. Now this student was brilliant, so smart, just had little confidence because of his dyslexic journey in school. He agreed and I got him to the counselor and he was to start the airplane mechanic class the following week. On the following Wednesday my door swung open with an enthusiastic smiling from ear to ear student stood before me. He said, “I can do this! I want to be an airplane mechanic!” I knew that if he found an area where he was working with his hands and brain, he would be so awesome! That young man went on to work for Delta Airlines in Atlanta, Georgia making a six figure salary !
Your goal when working with kids with dyslexia?
My goal in working with dyslexic students is to give them the confidence that they so richly deserve! Dyslexic students are the brightest and smartest students in the classroom. It is my passion to let that student know they can achieve whatever dreams they dream! Confidence is key. I strive to listen to my students and build a relationship so that they know that I am going to help them with their dyslexia struggles!
Your teaching style, personality?
I love to laugh and find moments where my students and I can laugh at our mistakes and just use them as learning experiences! I love that the therapy is discovery by the student. I am patient and realize some days are just hard, but letting my students know I am in their corner!
Any family details?
I have been married to my wonderful husband for 45 years! We retired to the Ouachita Mountains near Mena, Arkansas and built a beautiful home and barn. We love to fish and he loves to hunt also, I have a son that lives in Henderson, NV that is a project manager for the city of Henderson. My sweet daughter is an RN and works for an insurance company after being in the ER for over 15 years. I have a sweet and wonderful granddaughter that is just my everything! She is 16 years old and a sophomore in high school and plays tennis. I have two cats Bingo and Bossy that are just old and grumpy cats! I have a granddog Cooper that is a golden retriever!
Any extra anecdotal info you want to add?
I feel extremely blessed to be able to continue to help dyslexia students of all ages with their journey!
