I serve as the director of dyslexia education in the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia & Learning Disorders. My role is multifaceted — I work closely with those who oversee our dyslexia lab school, the dyslexia therapist training program and curriculum development.
What do you do on a daily basis or what sort of duties do you have at work?
In the last few years, I have become the leader of our curriculum development team. Our very successful curriculum, Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia, annually serves more than 18,000 new students throughout the United States. We are also doing research on our newest curriculum, Bridges: A Dyslexia Intervention Connecting Teacher, Avatar and Students. We will also be rolling out a K-1 pre-intervention for students identified at risk for dyslexia next fall, with a high school and dysgraphia curriculum soon to follow.
How long have you worked here? I began my career as a public school teacher in Corsicana, Texas. I was offered the opportunity to become a dyslexia therapist for Corsicana ISD, and they sent me to Scottish Rite for training. After my first training course, I told everyone that I would work at Scottish Rite one day. Little did I know that I would soon be offered a job at Scottish Rite and have now worked here for the last 27 years. I commute from Corsicana, and I love what I do.
I love everything about this place — from the people I work with, to the children we serve and to those we get to meet on a daily basis. I have been given a great opportunity to help children learn the gift of reading. I know that it is a gift, and I will never take that for granted. As a sister, mother and grandmother of individuals with dyslexia, I know what it means to share with someone the gift of reading, and I take that responsibility seriously.
Tell us something about your job that others might not already know.
I’ve had the opportunity to serve on the Texas State Dyslexia Handbook committee, the Texas First Grade Reading Adoption committee, as well as the committee writing the Texas standards and competencies for reading. I also have served as the president of our national certification organization, Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA) and the international accreditation organization, International Multisensory Language Education Council (IMSLEC).
What energizes you outside of work?
My grandchildren bring me great joy and keep my husband and I very busy. Ryan (12) shows heifers, Abby (9) is learning to barrel race, Kanin (7) is a baseball player and Paige (3) is our dancer.
What’s your favorite sport to watch and which team do you root for?
I am not a big sports fan, but I can’t help but root for the West Virginia University Mountaineers. I was born and lived there until the age of 16.
What is special about the place you grew up?
I moved to Burkburnett, Texas my sophomore year of high school, and that is where I met Tim, my husband of 42 years.
What’s the top destination on your must-visit list?
I have this crazy desire to live in Alaska for one full year. I love Alaska and would like to experience it for a full year.
