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Master’s in Education Licensed Spanish Teacher P-12 TESOL Endorsement (K-12
10 years of teaching 9-12th
(TESOL) endorsement
I Student-taught in Spain and love celebrating Spanish culture. I enjoy offering opportunities for students to be creative and use higher order thinking skills in the classroom and in the community. I am excited to be more involved in the DSACO community and build literacy skills for our adult learners!

Maestría en Educación Maestra de Español Certificada P-12 TESOL Aprobada como Maestra de Enseñanza a Estudiantes de otros Idiomas (K-12)
La historia profesional de Alexandra incluye 10 años de experiencia docente a nivel de escuela secundaria. Ella realizo prácticas profesionales bajo la guía de un maestro mentor en España y le encanta celebrar la cultura española en su salón de clases. Tiene la aprobación como Maestra de Enseñanza a Estudiantes de otros Idiomas (TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Alexandra se enorgullece de cultivar un ambiente de enseñanza atento y positivo. Le gusta ofrecer oportunidades para que los estudiantes sean creativos y usen habilidades de pensamiento de orden superior en el salón de clases y en la comunidad. ¡Está muy emocionada de estar más involucrada en la comunidad de DSACO y desarrollar habilidades de alfabetización para nuestros estudiantes adultos!

Master’s in Reading & Literature Reading Endorsement (K-12) Orton Gillingham Certification In-Process Licensed Educator (P-3)

Amy’s professional history includes 27 years of tutoring and teaching experience as an intervention specialist, general education teacher, and reading specialist. Additionally, she has served as President of the Granville Education Association, served as Chair of her local Professional Development Committee, and was a National Board-Certified educator during her tenure as a Special Education teacher. In her undergraduate days, she enjoyed volunteering at an after-school program specifically for students with Down syndrome. Amy uses Read Works, which offers several non-fiction texts and articles to help assess background knowledge and ultimately build comprehension skills. Amy shares that she struggled with reading in elementary school, but with some intervention she learned how to break the code and then couldn’t put books down! She feels that reading is something you need daily, and that it can be fun. She looks forward to sharing her love of reading with learners in this program!

M.A. CCC-SLP
Speech Language Therapy
Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Breanna’s professional experience includes working with individuals with Down syndrome, individuals with developmental disabilities, and adult populations throughout her graduate school career and during her clinical fellowship year. Specifically, she has worked in The Ohio State University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, Columbus City Schools, OSU Wexner Medical Center Dodd Rehabilitation, and The Ohio State University Aphasia Initiative. Breanna uses multi-sensory, language-based approaches. All her instruction is personalized, direct, and flexible. Breanna believes that reading unlocks so many parts of our world! In her day job, she serves the state of Ohio making sure people with disabilities have accessible voting available to them, as well as support for entrepreneurs with disabilities. Breanna is excited to be part of this program because being able to support literacy and accessibility with our adult learners is another great way she can learn about and help identify barriers that individuals face – and collaborate with them on the best solutions!

Master’s in Education Reading Endorsement Certified Academic Language Practitioner / Orton Gillingham Certified Licensed K-12 Intervention Specialist

Over the course of her 27-year professional career as an Intervention Specialist, Carrie has served a multitude of students with a variety of learning disabilities and needs. She will deliver instruction specifically using the Orton-Gillingham framework. Carrie is passionate about literacy and supporting those who have learning gaps in reading. She loves to read and wants to give others the opportunity to develop skills so they can enjoy reading and have the skills to support themselves in their everyday lives.

Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and Educational Administration Certified School Psychologist & Superintendent (K-12) Certified Dyslexia and ADHD Specialist (K-12)
Jean is a veteran educator with over 30 years of experience working with various ages from early childhood to post-graduate students. The reading program that she uses is based in Orton Gillingham principles; however, she takes pride in knowing how to adapt and meet the needs and interests of the individual learner. Her professional history includes working as a director of curriculum and instruction, a director of special education, an assistant superintendent, an assistant professor, and a supervisor of student teaching at Otterbein College. She is involved in many professional associations, including the Central Ohio Dyslexia Association and the International Reading Association. Jean enjoys learning and embraces new challenges. She wants adult learners to know that their minds can be stretched. Neuroplasticity is not just a term; it provides a window for us to open. Jean is willing to explore every angle to help adult learners grow and make a positive difference in their lives!

M.A., Applied Behavior Analysis, Capella University M.A., Educational Leadership, University of Dayton M.A. in Education, Literacy Minor, University of Dayton B.S., in Special Education, Dowling College Licensed Intervention Specialist K-12 with Teacher as Leader Endorsement

Althea has worked with students of diverse age ranges from preschool through high school as well as various developmental disabilities including learners with Down syndrome. She implements creative ways to foster curiosity for complex principles through hands-on learning, community inclusion and transition preparation. Her professional history includes teaching, tutoring, curriculum planning, and development of assessment methods. She is currently the Executive Director of a learning and resource center in Columbus. Althea uses the Stevenson Language Skills Program and BrainSpring’s Phonics First program. Althea is excited to help fill the gap in adult literacy programming for adults with Down syndrome because she believes it is everyone’s right to be equipped with the tools to read and write. She has successfully assisted many students in their quest to learn how to read and is a firm believer that individuals of all ability levels can build literacy skills with the right supports.

M.A. Ed Ashland University, Curriculum & Instruction: Literacy Licensed P – 3 Reading Endorsement Pre-K - 12

Over the course of her 21-year teaching career, Ashley has worked with a variety of students in the elementary setting. While working at Our Lady of the Lake School in Euclid, she facilitated a community partnership by pairing her students with adults with developmental disabilities to work collaboratively on monthly projects. She also has experience with private tutoring inclusive of learners with Down syndrome. Ashley uses both Orton Gillingham and Wilson Foundations. She is very passionate about reading and loves showing people the joys of reading. She is excited to share that passion with adult learners through this project!

Bachelor of Science in Special Education (Moderate – Intensive), Bowling Green State University Highly Qualified Teacher Status in ELA/Reading Licensed K-12

Carla’s professional history includes 8 years of classroom teaching experience and tutoring. In addition to teaching children with developmental disabilities (including Down syndrome), she also has a daughter with special needs and is a treatment foster home provider. She has volunteered over several years through the Heinzerling Foundation and enjoyed working with both children and adults with developmental disabilities through the Foundation. Carla has received training in Orton-Gillingham and primarily uses these materials for literacy instruction. She prefers these because they are multi-sensory, systematic, and evidence based. Carla is excited to join this project because she believes that literacy is critical in every walk of life – from using a menu at a restaurant to reading a map at a local park. She believes that literacy is a powerful tool that equips individuals to advance their education, experience new hobbies, and communicate. She looks forward to supporting adult learners in reaching their literacy goals through DSACO’s Adult Literacy Project!

Master’s in Special Education Licensed Intervention Specialist K-12

Ingrid has 23 years of teaching experience which includes classroom instruction as well as in-home tutoring. She has access to Orton Gillingham, Stevenson and Wilson materials as well as many resources to help improve reading comprehension (materials for vocabulary, making inferences, visualizing, sequencing, etc.). Ingrid has a passion for teaching reading, and she does not believe that learning stops when students leave school. She is excited to be part of this project and help adults improve their literacy skills and be life-long learners.