About The Author - Professional Vitae

Education

College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. M.A., Special Education 1976
Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota. B.A. Business Education 1954

Additional Courses

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Winona State College, Winona, Minnesota
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Certification

Fellow, Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators
SLD - Elementary and Secondary
Business and English - Secondary

Professional Experience

1999 – continuing Trainer of Trainers, Coach, Winsor Learning, St. Paul, MN
1997 – 2003 Teacher Educator, Scottish Rite Children's Learning Centers
1993 – 1996 Adjunct Faculty, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux LA
1988 – continuing Adjunct Faculty, Hamline University, St. Paul MN
1988 – continuing Adjunct Faculty, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck NJ Dyslexia Specialist Certificate, 5 courses
1972 – continuing Workshop Leader, Lecturer
1970 – 2003 Private practice in diagnosis and remediation of reading problems. Locations in Cleveland, OH, Milwaukee, WI; S. St. Paul and Mendota Hts., MN
1978 – 1987 Co-Director, Language Skills Seminars, an adult evening class teaching reading, writing, spelling, math and study skills to adults with learning problems.
1975 –1993 Founder and Academic Director, Summer School, St. Paul Academy-Summit School, St. Paul, MN. Teacher education practicum site.
1975 – 1985 St. Paul Academy-Summit School, St. Paul, MN, SLBP Teacher Consultant, part-time.
1968 – 1970 Pine Island Junior High School, Pine Island, MN, SLBP Tutor part –time
1964 – 1970 Remedial Reading Center, Rochester, Minnesota, tester and tutor.
1959 – 1962 St. Paul Public Schools, St. Paul, MN, substitute teacher
1954 – 1956 Washington Junior High School, Duluth, MN; typing teacher.

Extended Practicum Workshops

1991 – 1993 The Gow School, Buffalo Public Schools, University of Buffalo, NY (6 credits), 6 weeks.
1975 – 1993 St. Paul Academy, University of St. Thomas (3 credits), Hamline University (6 credits), 5 weeks.

Two-week Practicum Workshops

2005 Hamline University, Anoka-Hennepin ISD – Orton Gillingham 3
2005 Hamline University/Sonday Learning - Orton Gillingham 1
2001 –02 University of Hawaii, Manoa/Hawaii Department of Education
1994-95 U of Nebraska/NE Branch Orton Dyslexia Society; Lincoln, NE
1989 Newark Boys/Girls Club, Fairleigh Dickinson University; Newark NJ
1989-90,92-95,97 College of New Caledonia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
1984-86 Madison Area Technical College, Madison, WI
1987 Suffolk Branch, Orton Dyslexia Society, Long Island, NY
1983,85,87 St. Paul Academy-Summit School/College of St. Thomas; St. Paul MN
1982-83 Long Island U, New York Branch Orton Dyslexia Society
1976-77,81 Adams State College/SLD Institute; Aspen/Carbondale, CO
1979 College of New Rochelle/Suffolk Orton Society; Southold, NY
1979 College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN
1978 College of New Rochelle/Suffolk ODS, Westhampton Beach, NY

One-week Practicum Workshops

2005 Kuwait Dyslexia Association, Kuwait
2003-06 Washburn Academy, LaCrosse, WI
2001 Educational Cornerstone for Teachers, Karachi, Pakistan
1996-99 Camperdown Academy, Greenville, SC
1994, 96 Sheila Morrison School, Barrie, Ontario Canada
1993-96 Caddo Parish, Shreveport, LA,
1993 Port Huron Public Schools, Port Huron, MI
1991 Plymouth-Canton Schools, Plymouth, MI
1989 Philadelphia Orton Dyslexia Society at Bryn Mawr College
1989-90,92,94,96 Washtenau Intermediate School, Ann Arbor, MI
1987,91 Gill-St. Bernard's School, Bernardsville, NJ

Three-day Workshops

2004–05 Orkids, New Delhi, India
1999 University of California, Northridge
1993-95 Lafourche Parish, Thibodaux, LA
1993 Avoyelles Parish, Marksville, LA
1990 The Children's Hospital, Denver, CO
1990 Gill-St. Bernard's School, Bernardsville, NJ
1989 Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grand Rapids, MI
1988 University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
1987-90 Traverse City, MI
1988 Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ

TWO-DAY WORKSHOPS

2005 Orkids, New Delhi, India
2004 Alpha to Omega School, Chennai, India
2004-05 Maharasta Dyslexia Assn., Mumbai, India
1996 Camperdown Academy, Greenville, SC
1996 Trident Academy, Charleston, SC
1993-94 Jefferson Davis Parish, Jennings, LA
1990 St. James Public Schools, St. James, MN
1988 Prince George Dyslexia Society, British Columbia, Canada
1988 Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis, MN
1987-88 Puget Sound Branch, Orton Dyslexia Society, Seattle WA
1986 Jackson County Intermediate School District, Jackson, MI
1986 Neuhaus Educational Center, Houston, TX
1985-86 Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ
1984 Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
1984-87 St. Paul Academy/College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
1978,80-90,92,94,96,98 Washtenaw Intermediate School District, Ann Arbor, MI
1982,84-86 Adventure School, Birmingham, MI
1983 New Jersey Branch, Orton Dyslexia Society - Graduate credit, Keane College
1973 CESA #19, Wauwatosa, WI
1972 Westlake Public Schools, Westlake, OH

Lectures and Media Events

First International Conference of the Arab States on Dyslexia, Cairo, Egypt, 2005
Council for Exceptional Children, Beijing, China, 2004
British Dyslexia Association, U of Warwick, Conventry, England, 2004
Jamaican Dyslexia Assn., Mancheste, Jamaica, 2003
Children 2002, Chennai, India, 2002
Thailand TESOL, Bangkok, Thailand, 2000
Thailand TESOL, Post-Conference Institute, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2000
The British Dyslexia Association/European Dyslexia Association< Oxford, England, 1992
The International Dyslexia Association Annual Conference 1978, 1983-2005
The International Dyslexia Association Branches including NY, MN, LA, NE, DC, MD, WA, OR, IL, WI, NC, SC, IN, FL, TN, IA, MI, HI, OH, NJ
Academy of Orton Gillingham Practitioners and Educators
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented
National Association of Bilingual Educators
National Head Start Association
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Learning Brain Conferences
Council for Exceptional Children
State Education Associations - MN, WI
Learning Disabilities America
International Reading Association, North American Conference on Literacy
"Mary Hanson Show", Regional Cable. Panelist, 1991
"Adult Dyslexics Talk about Attaining Success", Cable TV. Consultant, 1990
"Twin Cities Live", NBC. Panelist and Consultant, 1986, 1987.
Numerous radio interviews.

Publications

Sonday System 2 (curriculum), 2003. St. Paul, MN. Winsor Learning, Inc.
Effective Reading Instruction, 2003. Online at www.visionsonlearningdifferences.com
Sonday System – Let's Play Learn (curriculum), 2000, St. Paul, MN. Winsor Learning, Inc.
Asking Eliciting Questions Encourages Self Correction, Academy News, Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators, 2000
Sonday System 1, (published curriculum) Author, 1997. St. Paul, MN. Winsor Corp.
Ultra Phonics Tutor, (software) Educational Consultant, 1996. Rochester, MN: Prolexia Reading Education Software Corp.
Teaching Strategies for Alternative Learners, Elementary, (video) Writer, Producer, Lecturer, 1995.
Teaching Strategies for Alternative Learners, Junior High, (video) Writer, Producer, Lecturer, 1995.
Teaching Strategies for Alternative Learners, Senior High, (video) Writer, Producer, Lecturer, 1995.
Fundamentals of Reading Success, an Independent Education Series for Teachers of Children. (video) Writer, Producer, Lecturer, 1991.
Fundamentals of Reading Success, an Independent Education Series for Teachers of Adults and Adolescents. Writer, (video) Producer, Lecturer, 1991.
"The Efficacy of Orton Gillingham Instruction in a Practicum Setting", Clinical Studies of Multisensory Structured Language Education, International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council, 1995.
"Orton Gillingham: Making Language Skills Accessible", book chapter in publication.
"The Road to Reading: Basic Skills to College Allowances", Chapter in Dyslexia Integrating Theory and Practice, Whurr Publishers Ltd., 1991.
"Guidelines for the Dyslexic College Student", Perspectives, The Orton Dyslexia Society, 1990.
"Language Skills Seminars: Adult Dyslexics Learn to Learn", Learning Disabilities Focus, 1986.
"To Tutor or Not to Tutor", Perspectives, The Orton Dyslexia Society, 1986, and MACLD Newsletter, Minnesota Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities, 1985.

Professional Affiliations

Scottish Rite Children's Learning Centers, Professional Advisory Board, Teacher Trainer, 1997– 2003
Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators, Founding Fellow, First President
Learning Disabilities of Minnesota, Board of Directors, 1981-1989
Learning Disabilities of America
International Dyslexia Assn., Board of Directors, 1984-1993; Chairman, Branch Presidents' Council, 1982-1984; Vice-President, 1986-93; Nominating Committee, 1995-1998.
Upper Midwest Branch of International Dyslexia Assn., Board of Directors, Secretary, President, various committees, 1969-continuing
International Reading Association
Council for Exceptional Children
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Council for Learning Disabilities, MN Secretary, 1985-86
Higher Education Consortium on Learning Disabilities
Twin Cities Area Reading Council

Awards

Marquis Who's Who of American Women in Education, 2006-07
Excellence in Teacher Training, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 2006
Distinguished Service Award, The Gow School - 1994
Betty Jones Dedicated Service Award from MACLD - 1989
Special Recognition Award from Upper Midwest Branch of Orton Dyslexia Society - 1981

Miscellaneous Professionally Related Activities

Mayor Randy Kelly's Capital City Education Initiative, 2002-continuing
International Multisensory Structured Langage Education Council (IMSLEC) - 1998 - Evaluation Team for Learning Disabilities Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Local Arrangements Committee, Annual Conference, International Dyslexia Assn., 1997, Chair of Fundraising and legal Symposium Committees.
Local Chair of National Symposium, WHle Language and Phonics, Orton Dyslexia Society, 1990
Organizing Committee, Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators 1991-1995; Board of Trustees, 1995-continuing
Minnesota Adult Literacy Coalition - 1988-1992
Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) - 1985 - Evaluation Team for Fracis W. Parker School, Chicago, IL
Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) - 1985 - Evaluation Team for University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Chicago, IL
Upper Midwest Branch, Orton Society - Conference Chairperson, November 1-4, 1978 (1300 participants)
MACLD State Conference Program Planning Committee - 1977-83, 1987-89
St. Paul Public Schools Task Force - 1977-1983; Implementation of Special Education services to nonpublic schools

Graduate Courses

The following courses offered at Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ; Hamline University, MN; University of Hawaii-Manoa, HI; Nicholls State University, LA; University of Nebraska, NE; Open University, British Columbia, Canada

A History of Multisensory Instructional Methods for Dyslexic Students: 1 credit.; An historical perspective of multi-sensory teaching techniques in the areas of reading, spelling, and writing. Various curricula will be compared and contrasted.
Orton-Gillingham I: 3 credits.; Beginning skills for teaching reading, spelling and handwriting, focusing on the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching basic language skills. Includes lecture sessions on alphabetic orthography, 16+ hours of supervised clinical practice in a one-to-one setting with learning disabled/dyslexic students, and the follow-up discussion seminars.
Orton-Gillingham II: 3 credits.; A continuation of the training techniques taught in Orton – Gillingham I, including testing procedures to evaluate growth. Includes lecture sessions on alphabetic orthography, 16+ hours of supervised clinical practice in a one-to-one setting with learning disabled/dyslexic students, and the follow-up discussion seminars.
Orton-Gillingham III: 3 credits.; Advanced alphabetic orthography, including roots and affixes. Methodology for teaching upper level language skills, including error analysis. Supervised practicum applying advanced language structure in a group/classroom setting and/or one-to-one private practice setting.
Orton-Gillingham IV: 3 credits.; Supervised practicum permitting students to demonstrate the synthesis of skills gained from clinical sequence and workshops. Presentation of case histories and exercises in formulating advanced lesson plans. Survey of curriculum materials.
Orton-Gillingham V: 3 credits; Techniques for teacher training and supervision in the Orton-Gillingham approach. Students will plan, present and evaluate training sessions. Supervised practicum in providing instruction and feedback to individuals in training.