Reading is powerful. And complicated. We’re here to help.
We support students with dyslexia and others who are struggling with reading, writing, and/or spelling. The literacy therapy we provide follows the Structured Literacy approach (also known as Orton-Gillingham) supported by decades of research and recommended by the International Dyslexia Association. This means that we use multisensory instruction methods to directly teach and connect the patterns between sounds, letters, and meanings. We assess student progress and adapt instruction according to each student’s needs. We are able to provide this support worldwide through Lexercise Teletherapy — a program that includes weekly online sessions along with games, videos, and other activities that provide essential practice opportunities in between lessons.
Literacy Therapist Elena Girling has loved stories and learning all her life. Once she learned how to read, she spent most of her free time as a kid curled up in her favorite chair with a library book. When she grew up and studied at Claremont McKenna College, she double majored in math and literature while trying to figure out how to pursue her love for problem-solving along with her love for beautiful stories. Reading instruction was the perfect fit. For the past eight years, Elena has worked with students one-on-one to build reading-related skills and help them become more independent learners. She has supported students with a variety of learning disabilities. Elena completed her master’s degree through the University of Florida with a major in special education and a certificate in dyslexia assessment and intervention. She is also certified as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI). She believes in identifying reading difficulties as quickly as possible to set students up for a positive and productive school experience.
Literacy Therapist Jerica Briggs has always had a passion for serving struggling readers, spurred by the learning difficulties in her own family. She graduated from Oklahoma Christian University with a degree in elementary education in 2011 and began to work in public schools as a classroom teacher. She also had a desire to support children internationally, so she transitioned to Ecuador to help schools focus on their struggling students. While there she discovered that she wanted more training in how to meet the needs of the children around her, so she pursued her master’s degree from University of Nebraska in special education and a dyslexia certification with Lexercise. She is also certified as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist through CERI. For over ten years, Jerica has helped students in the classroom, small groups, and one-on-one settings to develop their reading and writing skills. She has assisted students with a wide range of learning difficulties and disabilities. She believes that every child can experience success and grow in confidence as a reader.
Literacy Therapist Gail Grigg is an Orton-Gillingham certified practitioner as well as an elementary Montessori teacher. She believes her responsibility as a reading instructor is to provide students and their families with evidence-based reading instruction through a structured literacy approach informed by the science of reading. Gail recognizes that students learn best in an environment that cultivates a growth mindset, persistence, and resilience, sharing this motto with all her students: Practice makes progress. Building relationships and focusing on strengths are key to successful learning experiences, and Gail prioritizes the creation of safe and warm learning environments for her students. Gail has her Wisconsin teaching license in Montessori elementary education as well as dyslexia practitioner certification through the Children’s Dyslexia Center in Madison, Wisconsin. She also holds a master’s degree in education with a focus on teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) and has completed the Dyslexia Advocate Certificate Program through the Dyslexia Training Institute in San Diego.
Literacy Therapist Tawny Saleem wanted to be an educator from an early age. Her teachers’ encouragement helped her do her best work and gave her confidence in her academic skills, so she was inspired to pursue a career helping children build their literacy skills and confidence. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2004. She taught in public and private schools, and she also spent 11 years establishing and running a preschool that focused on early one-on-one instruction. When she realized her middle daughter was struggling with moderate dyslexia at a school that could not meet her needs, Tawny decided to pursue a CALT certification, which she is currently finishing. Even more importantly, she realized she wanted to focus her career on language therapy since she knew the training she got for her daughter could also change the lives of many other struggling readers.
Literacy Therapist Mickaela Leopold’s passion is teaching children to become confident and capable readers. As a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist, she believes there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing the sparkle and excitement in a child’s eyes when they develop the skills that will help them be successful readers! She earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Psychology and pursued a Masters in Education from the University of Phoenix. An elementary teacher for more than 19 years, Mickaela witnessed so many capable and hardworking students struggle with reading and searched for ways to help them. In 2021, she became a reading specialist and now works one-on-one with students to help them develop foundational reading skills. In addition to her passion for teaching reading, Mickaela enjoys hiking and biking with her husband and swimming with her dog.
Literacy Therapist Mark Staal has loved children’s stories from an early age. His mother would read to him nightly as part of his bedtime routine, a routine Mark continued as a father with his own son. As a fourth-grade teacher, Mark was able to reach his struggling readers by reading books like Roald Dahl’s James and The Giant Peach aloud and in character. Mark discovered Structured Literacy as a result of his fascination with how children learn to read and his passion for research. As a Literacy Therapist, Mark feels empowered by the quick progress he observes his students making. He holds an M.Ed. in Special Education and a B.A. in English Literature. He has taught a variety of ages both as a general and special educator.
Developing Readers 