ALTA Leadership — Officers and Board of Directors, 2018-2020

Jean Colner, CALT-ICALP, C/AOGPE

Board Position: President
Term: 2018-2020
ALTA Member Since: 2006
Company / School Name: Children's Dyslexia Center
What I Love About ALTA: The ALTA membership includes professionals who have been well-trained with appropriate content knowledge and rigorous supervised practicum; conducted by certified QIs or ICALPs. All ALTA members maintain high standards by completing and submitting the required logs of their 10 hours of professional development CE hours each year. Parents and school districts can be assured that their at-risk dyslexic students are receiving high-quality instruction from ALTA certified members. I have been proud to be associated with the ALTA gold standard of MSLE instruction and have encouraged many others in my state to become certified members of ALTA.

Lynne Fitzhugh, Ph.D., LDT, CALT-QI

Board Position: President Elect
Term: 2018-2020
ALTA Member Since: 1993
Company / School Name: Colorado Literacy and Learning Center
What I Love About ALTA: ALTA represents the highest standards in the intersection of the fields of dyslexia, reading, linguistics, psychology, and literacy. ALTA members share a common bond in their commitment to excellence in their own education, and to making a difference in the lives of those who struggle with reading.

Paul Entzminger, LDT, CALT

Board Position: Secretary
Term: 2018-2020
ALTA Member Since: 2015
Company / School Name: Sue Crouch Intermediate School
What I Love About ALTA: ALTA loves, with fervor and commitment, people with Dyslexia and those who want to help those with Dyslexia. This commitment includes comradery, collaboration both within our membership and with governmental entities, and rigorous standards of preparation and continuing education. ALTA gives me professional context as a therapist, that I am part of a large family committed to the same people and principles.

Ginny Little, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI

Board Position: Treasurer
Term: 2017-2019
ALTA Member Since: 1990
Company / School Name: Payne Ed. Center
What I Love About ALTA: ALTA is an organization that not only provides legitimacy for its members through its certification, but also creates an atmosphere for shared information and professional relationships in our chosen field of dyslexia education and remediation.

Janna Curry-Dobbs, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI

Board Position: Past President, Historian
Term: 2016-2018
ALTA Member Since: 1985
Company / School Name: SMU and MTS Publications
What I Love About ALTA: I am so proud of what ALTA represents; an organization of professionals in the field of dyslexia who are highly qualified as therapists and practitioners. I love being able to communicate, share and associate with individuals who are concerned and caring educators. ALTA represents excellence in our field.

Michelle Qazi, M.Ed., CALT-QI

Board Position: VP Programs
Term: 2018-2020
ALTA Member Since: 2012
Company / School Name: Children's Hospital Colorado
What I Love About ALTA: The focus of ALTA is on children. Everything ALTA does has children at its center.

Jo Ann Handy, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI

Board Position: VP Membership
Term: 2017-2019
ALTA Member Since: 2003
Company / School Name: The READ Center
What I Love About ALTA: ALTA provides an opportunity for me to network with others who work in the field of dyslexia. Most people have no idea of what we do and it's nice to be able to talk and learn from others with similar training and experiences. ALTA also provides legitimacy to our profession. Being a member of ALTA lets the public know that we are highly qualified to provide dyslexia services.

Joyce Pickering, Hum.D, LDT, CALT-QI, SLP/CCC, AMS/EC

Board Position: VP Long Range Planning
Term: 2017-2019
ALTA Member Since: 2006
Company / School Name: Shelton School and Evaluation Center
What I Love About ALTA: I love ALTA for the remarkable work the organization has done since 1981 in providing credentials to Academic Language Therapists and Practitioners, which assures the quality of services being provided to students with dyslexia. The services the organization provides to trainees, in offering the Alliance Exam and keeping records on each certified member, are invaluable. ALTA was also instrumental in the success of achieving licensing for dyslexia therapists and practitioners. Without ALTA the state of Texas would not be unique among the states in the services offered to individuals with dyslexia.

Susan Louchen, M.S., CALT

Board Position: VP Public Relations
Term: 2017-2019
ALTA Member Since: 2015
Company / School Name: Key to Reading & Writing, LLC
What I Love About ALTA: Parents know that those who have earned the prestigious ALTA certification are the best prepared to enable struggling students to gain real-world skills! ALTA established and continues to maintain the highest professional standards for training, with a wealth of continuing education opportunities. I'm proud to belong this dynamic group, which has such a profound positive impact on the world!

Lesha Stallons, M.Ed., CALT-QI

Board Position: VP Website
Term: 2018-2020
ALTA Member Since: 2010
Company / School Name: Frisco ISD
What I Love About ALTA: I love that we have an organization that allows dyslexia therapists to work together to improve upon what we know so that we can better serve the students that we teach.

Kathleen Carlsen, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI

Term: 2018-2019
ALTA Member Since: 1998
Company / School Name: Children's Dyslexia Center of Philadelphia
What I Love About ALTA: ALTA membership and serving on the board allows me to collaborate with like minded colleagues. I live in an area of the country that has been slow to recognize dyslexia. ALTA provides a reliable resource for families to locate one of our highly qualified members to provide proven effective intervention for dyslexic children.

Rebecca Gould, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI

Term: 2017-2019
ALTA Member Since: 1997
Company / School Name: Masters Elementary / Judson ISD, San Antonio, TX
What I Love About ALTA: I love that ALTA has led us into becoming licensed and causing our profession to grow with respect.

Linda Gladden, CALT

Term: 2018-2020
ALTA Member Since: 2002

Kim Haughee, M.A.E., CALT-ICALP

Term: 2018-2020
ALTA Member Since: 2012
Company / School Name: Children's Dyslexia Centers, Inc.
What I Love About ALTA: ALTA has established, continues to maintain and promote, the highest standards of education and practice for professionals who provide multisensory intervention for individuals with language disorders such as dyslexia. Continued professional development opportunities are made available which allows members at all certification levels to obtain the necessary and most current knowledge to provide effective intervention and training for those in need. It also demonstrates continued collegiality and support for its members. It is my privilege to be a member of ALTA and serve on the board.

Carin M. Illig, M.Ed., CIT, CALT-ICALP

Term: 2018-2020
ALTA Member Since: 2009
Company / School Name: Clinical Director for the Children's Dyslexia Centers, Inc.
What I Love About ALTA: ALTA is a professional organization that sets and maintains high standards for credentialing individuals. ALTA offers its members the opportunity to share in a community of like-minded professionals and to participate in high quality professional development activities. I am honored by the opportunity to serve on the ALTA Board of Directors.

Mary Lou Johnson, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI

Term: 2017-2019
ALTA Member Since: 2007
Company / School Name: Mississippi College M.Ed. Dyslexia Therapy Program, Choctaw Tribal Schools Dyslexia Therapy Program
What I Love About ALTA: As a professional, ALTA represents a group of colleagues who encourage high standards and value their personal mission of providing quality literacy instruction and training. ALTA members strive to develop skills through professional development, promote collaboration, and encourage fellow members. The Academic Language Association sets the highest standards for credentials and services for their members. As a parent of a dyslexic child, I appreciate the meaning of ALTA high standards for professionalism, continued educational development and accountability of its membership.

Vicki King, M.Ed., CALT-QI

Term: 2017-2019
ALTA Member Since: 2001
Company / School Name: Arkansas Department of Education
What I Love About ALTA: I love what ALTA stands for and the commitment to providing quality services for students and families. I also appreciate the opportunities for professional collaboration.

Kara Lee, Ed.S., CALT-ICALP

Board Position: Chapters Chairman
Term: 2018-2019
ALTA Member Since: 2012
Company / School Name: Horton Educational Services, LLC
What I Love About ALTA: I love ALTA because it represents the highest standards, superior practioners, therapists, and trainers, and professional development and camaraderie that is second to none.

Helen Mannion, CALT

Term: 2018-2020
ALTA Member Since: 2010
Company / School Name: Delaware Valley Friends School
What I Love About ALTA: I love ALTA because it is an organization that is commitment to ensuring that a teacher's training and instructional practices meet or exceed the highest standards possible before certifying the teacher. This is not an easy certification to achieve because becoming the best reading instructor is not an easy endeavor. Anyone looking for a reading teacher should require they be certified through ALTA!

Jennifer H. Rowland, M.Ed., CALT-QI

Term: 2018-2020
ALTA Member Since: 2011
Company / School Name: Colorado Literacy and Learning Center
What I Love About ALTA: A quarter of a century ago, those with dyslexia were incredibly misunderstood and often experienced oppressive classroom situations. Thanks to current research, exceptional curricula, and dedicated, passionate professionals, ALTA and its members are empowering this extraordinary group of individuals to shine!

Tammy Tillotson, D.M., Ed.S., M.S., CALP-I, CDP

Board Position: Newsletter Chairman
Term: 2017-2019
ALTA Member Since: 2013
Company / School Name: Children's Dyslexia Center of Upper Wisconsin
What I Love About ALTA: What I love about ALTA is that we are afforded opportunities to engage with other professionals who have the knowledge, passion, and drive to ensure reading is a right for everyone. It is an organization that promotes high standards of quality in reading instruction that support that right.

Jackie Valadez, Ph.D., LDT, CALT

Term: 2018-2020
ALTA Member Since: 2015
Company / School Name: Dillon's TLC, Inc.
What I Love About ALTA: What I love about ALTA is the recognition of Certified Academic Language Therapists as highly qualified specialists in the field of dyslexia. The high standards placed on ALTA members sets the expectation for all professionals servicing persons with dyslexia. To be part of a well-informed, prestigious, and passionate group of professionals is an honor and an achievement to be proud of.