ABOUT ME
I am a veteran educator of children, parents, and teachers spanning a career of over four decades. My academic credentials include a Master’s Degree in Special Education with a specialization in Learning Disabilities from Columbia University Teachers College in New York. I received a Bachelor’s Degree majoring in both Psychology and Economics from The University of Rochester. I maintain teaching licensures in New York, Maryland, and Ohio. I am a Fellow of the Orton-Gillingham Academy and a Wilson Language Therapist, as well as a retired Wilson Language Trainer. I also maintain Certification in Learning Without Tears, which specializes in the development of letter formation (manuscript and cursive handwriting), reading and math readiness, and keyboarding skills.
I have taught hundreds of children throughout my career. First as a classroom teacher, then as a tutor specializing in the treatment of dyslexia. I have trained and mentored thousands of teachers through my work as an Orton-Gillingham Fellow and Wilson Language Trainer. I have deep knowledge of literacy development, particularly in Science of Reading and dyslexia. I have conducted well over 500 workshops over the past 20 plus year in public, private, and charter schools, as well as for literacy organizations. I have expertise in all areas of literacy development, inclusive of pre and early literacy for general education students and remedial efforts for more challenging to teach students in the areas noted by the National Reading Panel (2000): phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, as well as spelling, handwriting, and written language composition skills.
I have conducted well over 100 educational evaluations. These involve administering individualized tests, writing of detailed analytical reports, and most importantly, meeting with the parents and school personnel of the students evaluated. I have the gift of reaching each child, parent, teacher, and administrator with care, empathy, and most importantly, time. One of my goals is to maximize each stakeholder’s role in improving the educational and emotional outcomes of each child. I have the ability to translate what appears to be complex and at times overwhelming into user-friendly and easily understood language. Another of my goals is to make those I interact with feel supported and ‘taken care of’. In a current world where things seem to be moving increasingly faster, I have the ability to present the information and offer solutions in a slower paced, less intimidating fashion. This provides clear perspective and comfort.
I am a member of several professional organizations including The International Dyslexia Association, The Orton Gillingham Academy, The Reading League, Literary Cleveland, Author’s Guild, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). I am a Past President of The Northern Ohio Branch of The International Dyslexia Association, and continue to serve on its Advisory Council. I have been an active volunteer throughout my career at the national level for The International Dyslexia Association. I am a Moderator of the large (over 113,000) FaceBook Group, Science of Reading-What I Should Have Learned in College.
Currently, I have expanded my efforts to pursue education and public outreach concerning literacy. I hope to bring our community together for more conversation.