Joanna Brown
Joanna Brown, founder and CEO of The Reading Guru, is a master Orton-Gillingham reading tutor with more than 15 years of experience providing personalized, one-on-one reading instruction. Joanna earned her M.S. in Elementary Education and Literacy from Bank Street College of Education in New York City in 2011, and her B.A. in History from the University of Colorado in 2004.
Joanna is certified by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI) as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist (C-SLDS). Joanna earned this certification through training at the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (AOGPE) as well as with the digital, multisensory training program, Lexercise. She also has training with the Orton-Gillingham based, multi-sensory program Preventing Academic Failure (PAF). Joanna was also recently profiled in VoyageDenver in an interview that explains why she founded The Reading Guru.
Joanna began tutoring children in reading in New York City in 2005. She has worked with hundreds of struggling readers, dyslexic readers, and readers needing enrichment and became one of the most in-demand Orton-Gillingham tutors in Manhattan and Brooklyn. In 2019, she founded The Reading Guru and began developing a series of tools and techniques to allow her to bring her Orton-Gillingham-based literacy tutoring to students all over the world.
Joanna and her team of highly experienced tutors now work virtually with students who attend private schools, public schools, charter schools, and homeschools, both in the United States and internationally, so they understand the challenges students face in dramatically different educational environments. She and her team also work with students who have a variety of educational differences including dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, speech and language disorders, writing issues, and executive functioning issues. The Reading Guru team also offers in-person reading tutoring in Denver.
In addition to her teaching and tutoring work, Joanna writes comedy, watches horror movies, fosters dogs and figure skates in her spare time.
Jenny Fansler
Jenny is a certified Reading Specialist with 18 years of experience teaching reading to students from Pre-K to 8th grade. She holds a Master’s Degree in Literacy from the University of Pennsylvania and is trained in the Wilson Reading System, a comprehensive and research-proven program that emphasizes Orton-Gillingham methods and is designed for students with dyslexia and other reading needs. She is also trained in Fundations, Heggerty, Sound Partners, and Read Naturally interventions.
For 15 years, Jenny taught students in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Initially an 8th grade ELA teacher, she discovered that many older students had undiagnosed decoding and spelling gaps, prompting her to learn how to address foundational reading skills. As she gained expertise in intervention, she transitioned to the elementary school level to diagnose and address reading needs as early as possible.
For the past 3 years, Jenny has worked with students one-on-one, both remotely and in person, and is now based in Denver. She individualizes each lesson to target specific phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, and fluency skills based on data from previous lessons. She loves building strong relationships with each child and demonstrating how successful they can be when taught at their own pace and according to their specific needs.
Jenny enjoys being outdoors, playing with her three young children, running, and reading.
Laura Haefner
Laura Haefner is a Senior Reading Specialist, Academic Coach, and ALTA certified CALT (Certified Academic Language Therapist) with a goal to earn her QI (Qualified Instructor) status in the next couple of years so that she can train other teachers and grow capacity for literacy instruction in the Denver area. Laura graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Regis University and later received her Master’s Degree in Reading with an emphasis in OG (Orton-Gillingham) from Kings College in Pennsylvania. Laura has had a passion for studying literacy since 2016 and is trained in both Yoshimoto OG as well as MSLE (Multisensory Structured Language Education). She is also trained in Hill Reading Acceleration Program from the Hill Springs Institute in Colorado Springs. Laura is also a member of the International Literacy Association.
Laura spent over 10 years teaching in various public-school settings in Colorado. While there, Laura worked as both a French immersion classroom teacher and as a reading specialist providing reading therapy to students with characteristics of dyslexia. During lessons, Laura provides data-driven, individualized, and comprehensive reading instruction that is explicit, systematic, structured, and most importantly multisensory. For Laura, lifelong learning is a priority, and she finds joy in supporting students as they grow into confident and fluent readers. Most recently, Laura has had the opportunity to use her knowledge to serve with the Westwood Reads Initiative supported by Carmel Hill and finds great purpose in providing reading instruction for the English learner and bilingual population. As a result, Laura is committed to continuing to grow her knowledge and experience in best practices for CLD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) instruction.
When Laura is not tutoring, you can find her hiking or biking with her husband, gardening, riding her motorcycle, doing yoga, or of course reading.
Jennifer Hamer
Jennifer Hamer is a highly experienced elementary teacher with over ten years of experience in the classroom. She graduated from New Mexico State University with a B.A. in Government. After college, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic for two years. During her time abroad, she recognized the value of quality literacy education, which became the cornerstone of her career. Since then, she has earned an M.A. in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education from the University of Colorado and has become a valuable member of her school community in Jefferson Country, Colorado.
Jennifer has focused her ongoing reading education training on Orton-Gillingham, Fundations, the Science of Reading, and Heggerty. She has had the privilege of helping over 250 children at her school progress from emerging to proficient and advanced readers.
When she is not teaching in the classroom, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family engaging in various outdoor activities around Colorado. They can often be found hiking, biking, swimming, skiing, or camping in the great outdoors.
Erica Herro
Erica is a highly experienced literacy educator with over 25 years in the field, specializing in supporting students with complex learning needs, including those with dyslexia. Her background includes extensive training and expertise in various areas of education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a Master of Arts in Psychology from Chapman University.
During her undergraduate studies, Erica trained in Orton-Gillingham instruction and worked as a reading specialist while pursuing her graduate degree. She later became a licensed school psychologist and a board-certified educational therapist.
She has held various positions at private clinics on both the East and West coasts, including Director of Clinical Instruction and Director of Evaluation and Instruction. Erica has researched and published effective interventions for phonological processing and established an early intervention preschool for students with intensive language and literacy needs. Her nuanced approach to working with gifted dyslexic students is particularly notable.
She has most recently worked as Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Stevenson School in Carmel, California, and is currently the Head of Lower School of TASIS Portugal.
Her expertise and comprehensive approach make her a valuable resource for supporting students’ literacy needs.
Katelan McCullum Hirsch
Katelan McCullum Hirsch is a highly experienced reading tutor with 10 years of experience in elementary education. She received her B.S. in Education from the University of Kentucky and M.Ed, Literacy Specialist from the University of the Cumberlands.
She has received training on the Orton Gillingham approach, Carolyn Gwen for guided reading, WIDA for English language learners and SEL (social emotional learning). Katelan provides online Orton-Gillingham tutoring.
She worked as an elementary educator at a Title 1 school in Indiana for the past decade with roles ranging from kindergarten and second grade teacher, Academic Improvement Coordinator and reading interventionist. She has experience working with students of diverse backgrounds with various educational needs in a small group setting.
Katelan has a calm, patient, nurturing and understanding approach that helps her to connect with students.
She resides in Louisville, KY. In addition to tutoring, she enjoys spending time with her husband, son and dog. She also enjoys going to concerts and hiking.
Nicole Hittner
Nicole Hittner brings 14 years of teaching experience to her current role as a K-5 reading interventionist in one of Jersey City’s most diverse schools. Prior to this role, Nicole taught 1st grade in an autistic inclusive school in Harlem, NY. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree as a Reading Specialist from New Jersey City University. She is also an active member of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) and the International Literacy Association (ILA).
Certified as an Orton Gillingham teacher from an IDA-accredited reading program, Nicole has two years experience teaching the Orton approach. She utilizes personalized, multisensory techniques to support students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. In her online tutoring sessions, Nicole prioritizes creating a fun, nurturing, and engaging learning environment, to motivate students and build reading confidence. She believes that communication with families is vital, as it fosters a collaborative partnership in supporting the student’s learning journey.
Beyond the classroom, Nicole finds joy in practicing yoga, traveling, and exploring her creative side through watercoloring. Nicole also cherishes moments spent with her boyfriend and their beloved dog, Toby.
Jess Krook
Jess Krook is a master educator with 23 years of experience teaching children in grades Kindergarten to 5th grade. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist in the state of Massachusetts. Jess is currently a Reading Specialist servicing students in grades Kindergarten to 5th grade. She is always looking to grow and learn as an educator and she enjoys taking courses based on current reading research. She is trained in Orton-Gillingham, Fundations, SPIRE, the Science of Reading, Heggerty, Keys to Literacy, and Telian Letters. She provides online Orton-Gillingham tutoring.
When she first started her teaching career she realized very quickly that teaching her students how to read gave her the greatest joy.
For Jess, “This is more than just a job to me, this is my passion! I enjoy assessing my students to find out their strengths and weaknesses and tailoring my lessons accordingly. The best part of my job is when that lightbulb goes off in their head and they feel successful!”
Jess is a wife, mom to 3 children, and a dog mom to a teacup Yorkie named Lulu. In her spare time you can catch her at the football field or baseball field watching her son, or at the dance studio where her daughters dance competitively.
Melisa Leong
Melisa is a certified teacher with over ten years of tutoring experience, during which she has successfully guided students in developing reading, writing, organizational and study skills. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education and English from The College of New Jersey and has trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach, having completed the OG Associate level course and practicum. She has also helped students overcome reading difficulties using the Barton Reading and Spelling System, an Orton-Gillingham based program. She incorporates phonemic awareness and multi-sensory strategies into each of her lessons, teaching concepts in an explicit, systematic, and sequential manner to ensure students become proficient and self-assured in their abilities.
Throughout her career, Melisa has enjoyed teaching students possessing a wide range of needs, talents, and interests. Her approach is characterized by her patience and diligence, and she is fully dedicated to crafting lessons and activities that align with each student’s unique strengths and learning style. A lifelong learner, Melisa actively seeks out new and innovative techniques that she can use to help struggling readers overcome challenges and gain confidence.
Outside of teaching, Melisa has a deep love for nature and enjoys hiking the scenic hills and mountains of Marin County, California. She also loves exploring nature abroad, sampling local foods, and visiting museums and shops during her travels.
Katie McConnell
Katie McConnell is a Special Education Literacy teacher with ten years of experience in elementary and middle school education. Currently, she is the Child Study Team Coordinator and Structured Literacy Teacher at a Jersey City charter school. She has also taught Kindergarten through 7th grade in general education and special education settings at a public school in Washington, D.C., and an international school in Malaysia.
Katie has undergraduate degrees in English and Psychology from Dartmouth College and a Dual Master’s in Elementary Education and Special Education from Lesley University. She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach through the Institute for Multisensory Education (IMSE) and certified as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist (C-SLDI) through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI). She continues to seek out new training and research to inform her instruction. Utilizing the structured and multisensory principles of Orton-Gillingham and tailoring it to specific student strengths, interests, and needs has been incredibly effective for literacy instruction. Katie has always been passionate about teaching literacy and helping all students find confidence and success through a personalized and engaging approach.
Katie loves reading books, trying new recipes and foods, biking, and dancing. She also enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends in the city, nature, or new destinations.
