Location: Benton, Arkansas
Education: M.Ed., CALT
Years Experience Teaching: 19
Years Experience In Dyslexia: 9
Teaching Experience
With 19 years of experience in public education, I have served in a variety of roles including classroom teacher, literacy specialist, dyslexia specialist, and currently, Dyslexia Coordinator at the district level. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with students from kindergarten through 12th grade, supporting their academic growth and literacy development. My work is grounded in a deep commitment to educational equity and ensuring that all students, particularly those with dyslexia and other reading challenges, receive the support they need to thrive.
Professional Affiliations
ALTA
Programs Trained In
Pre-Flight
Build
Take Flight
Jet
Rite Flight
The Sonday System
Multi sensory Grammar
Just Words
Age Range You Feel Most Comfortable With:
All
Why did you decide to become a CALT?
My journey to becoming a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) was driven by a deep commitment to helping students who struggle with reading find their voice and confidence. Early in my career as a teacher and literacy specialist, I saw firsthand the frustration and discouragement many bright students experienced when traditional reading instruction didn’t meet their needs. I wanted to do more than offer temporary support—I wanted to be equipped with the tools, knowledge, and strategies that truly make a difference.
Pursuing certification as an Academic Language Therapist allowed me to provide intensive, individualized, and evidence-based intervention for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. It has been one of the most impactful decisions of my career, enabling me to not only teach reading but to change lives.
Favorite moment working with dyslexic students?
One of my most meaningful experiences as a dyslexia therapist came while working with a student who had struggled with reading for years. When we first began working together, he was quiet, discouraged, and convinced that reading “just wasn’t for him.” Over time, through consistent, structured, and multisensory instruction, I watched him slowly begin to engage—first with hesitation, then with growing confidence.
The turning point came during a lesson when he read a full paragraph out loud without stopping or asking for help. When he finished, he looked up at me with a mixture of pride and disbelief and said, “I didn’t know I could do that.” That moment captured everything I love about this work: helping students discover their potential and realize that their learning difference doesn’t define them—it empowers them.
Watching that student transform from reluctant reader to confident learner reminded me why I became a Certified Academic Language Therapist in the first place. It’s those breakthroughs—big and small—that make this work so deeply rewarding.
Your goal when working with kids with dyslexia?
My primary goal when working with a student with dyslexia is to provide individualized, evidence-based instruction that empowers them to become confident, independent readers and learners. I aim to create a supportive environment where students feel safe to take risks, experience success, and develop the tools they need to overcome challenges. Beyond improving reading and language skills, my goal is to help each student build self-esteem, recognize their strengths, and realize that dyslexia is not a limitation—but a different way of learning that can be embraced and supported.
Your teaching style, personality?
My teaching style centers on balancing high expectations with intentional, explicit instruction. I believe in holding learners accountable for their growth while providing the structured support they need to succeed. Clarity is essential—in teaching, communication, and in life. By being clear, direct, and consistent, I create an environment where students feel both challenged and supported, allowing them to build confidence and achieve meaningful progress.
Any family details?
I am married with one teenage daughter. You may see a dog pop into one of our sessions. We have a dachshund., blue heeler, and a doodle named Freddie Mercury. Freddie is being trained to be a therapy dog in schools.
