About Me

My Qualifications

I am a certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner and Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist, both of which are certifications recognized by the International Dyslexia Association.

Are you looking for an Orton Gillingham (OG) tutor? OG is a structured literacy approach, and the Wilson Reading System is an Orton Gillingham-based program. This means that if you’re looking for an Orton Gillingham practitioner, you’re in the right place!

I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Education in Special Education. I have eighteen years of experience as a special education teacher in high-needs public school districts. I hold special educator licensure in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. I’m trained in Orton Gillingham methodology, the Wilson Reading System, and Lively Letters.

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Services Offered

I’m currently partnering with The Vine Enrichment in Hampstead, New Hampshire to offer literacy-based support to homeschool families. Sessions during the 2024-2025 school year will take place at The Vine. The Leach Library in Londonderry may also be an option.

New Leaf Literacy is an EFA-approved vendor!

Orton Gillingham Tutoring

New Leaf Literacy offers 1:1 tutoring for students in second through eighth grade who have dyslexia or are demonstrating significant reading weaknesses. Lessons use the Wilson Reading System and are individualized to each child and are based on the results of the informal reading evaluation. Instruction is provided by an International Dyslexia Association-recognized practitioner. Families must commit to a minimum of two sessions per week but three is ideal for effective progress.

If you are ready to begin the evaluation process to enroll in tutoring, please complete this form.

Annual Portfolio Evaluation

I am available to evaluate students through grade five who are participating in structured homeschool settings. With my background in special education, I am sensitive to the differing rates of progress for students with learning challenges. Please use the contact form below to request a portfolio evaluation.

Informal Reading Evaluation

The informal reading evaluation assesses your child’s strengths and weaknesses in literacy skills, including phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling, fluency, and comprehension. You will receive a report summarizing the results and recommendations. If you’re interested in tutoring for your child, the informal reading evaluation is our first step.

What are some reasons that parents consider completing an informal reading evaluation?

Four main reasons include concerns about a family history of dyslexia or reading struggles, prevention of future reading weaknesses in children who are at the early stages of formal literacy instruction, remediation of established reading weaknesses in older students, and peace of mind that your child is on the right track.

Family history of learning issues: 30%-50% of children of parents with dyslexia will also have dyslexia. 50% of siblings of individuals with dyslexia will also be affected. If there is a family history of dyslexia, the informal reading assessment can look for signs of dyslexia and help determine appropriate instruction.

Prevention: According to Dr. Nancy Young (2023), about 35% of children learn to read with relative ease no matter what type of instruction they receive. Approximately 60% of children require explicit instruction. By assessing your child’s foundational reading skills in the early years, we can determine if more robust literacy instruction is required to help your child become a fluent reader.

The “wait to fail” model is common in public schools but we do not need to wait until your child struggles to take action! Weaknesses in phonological awareness and rapid naming skills can predict future reading struggles. We can assess these skills as early as 5 or 6 years old. Uncovering a weakness in either of these areas means you can thoughtfully choose a curriculum that will fully support your child as formal reading instruction begins.

Remediation: If your child is struggling with literacy despite previous instruction, the informal reading assessment will pinpoint the weaknesses that are holding your child back, as well as the strengths that we can capitalize on. The results provide valuable information about what type of instruction will best suit your unique learner.

Peace of mind: Literacy is the foundation for future success, and it’s natural to worry about whether you’re teaching reading effectively. An informal reading evaluation can provide peace of mind by giving you a clear picture of your child’s skills. It helps identify strengths and areas that may need more focus, allowing you to tailor your instruction with confidence.

If you are ready to begin the evaluation process, please complete this form.

Parent Guidance Through the Special Education Process

After nearly two decades working in public school special education and being a part of hundreds of eligibility decisions, I will help you understand your rights as a parent and guide you to advocate for your child’s needs! Here are some scenarios in which I can provide support:

Before the evaluation process: Are you worried that your child is falling behind academically? Are you confused or overwhelmed by the grades and test scores being sent home? Are you worried that your child is falling under the radar and not receiving the support they need? I can help you cut through the confusion and choose the next step!

During the evaluation process: Are you nervous about receiving evaluation reports from the school and feeling overwhelmed by all the information in them? Are you worried that your evaluation review meeting with the school will move too quickly and you won’t have a good grasp of what the team is explaining about your child? I can help you understand the evaluation reports so you can walk into the evaluation review meeting with confidence!

For children who had a private neuropsychological assessment and now you plan to meet with the school to request support: I can help you understand the neuropsychological assessment results and help you prepare for the meeting with your child’s school.

IEP Review: Are you worried that your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) is not resulting in effective progress? Let’s review the IEP, make sure you understand each section, look for any red flags, and work together to come up with questions for the IEP team. If necessary, we will advocate for changes to ensure that your child’s IEP is adequately supporting their needs.

Support for Teachers in School Settings

I began my career as a jack-of-all-trades special education teacher with a broad but not deep knowledge of learning disabilities. If this sounds like you but you want to develop the knowledge base and skill set necessary to fully support your underperforming students, I can guide you in choosing the books, professional development, and training that will help you become a skilled literacy teacher.

Would you like to work together?

I’d love to meet with you, virtually or in person, to talk about how I can support you! Please complete the form below. I look forward to connecting with you!