Kim became a passionate advocate for reading instruction when her oldest son was struggling in kindergarten. Since then, she has worked with hundreds of families in a variety of roles to improve outcomes for students with dyslexia or realted challenges. After spending 10 years in private practice, she joined the MO Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Charged with guiding schools to implement dyslexia screenings and best-practice instruction, she spent five years building a sustainable system orf profrssional learning and implementation. Now, with Really Great Reading, she continues to support educators across the country in growing their knowledge and practice in the Science of Reading so that all students have access to an effective teacher.

Stephanie Dimmitt has over 23 years of experience in education, serving as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and instructional coach in the Kansas City, Missouri area. She is passionate about structured literacy and dedicated to advancing evidence-aligned reading instruction to improve literacy outcomes for all students.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and a Master of Science degree in Elementary Reading and Literacy. She is a Wilson Certified Level 1 instructor and a Dyslexia Practitioner, specializing in supporting students with persistent reading challenges.

Stephanie was drawn to The Reading League after years of seeking high-quality, research-based resources. Early in her career, she found herself swimming upstream, asked to teach with ineffective methods that did not align with how children truly learn to read. When she discovered The Reading League, she finally found a place that provided the solid, science-based resources she needed—at just the right time. It became a professional lifeline, offering self-guided learning and a network of like-minded educators who shared her commitment to evidence-aligned instruction.

Now, as a member of The Reading League Missouri executive board, Stephanie is eager to give back by supporting other educators in their journey toward structured literacy. She is committed to equipping teachers with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to implement effective reading instruction that ensures all students have the opportunity to become skilled readers.

Victoria is a dedicated literacy advocate and elementary educator committed to ensuring all students receive evidence-based reading instruction. As the Reading Specialist in a SW Missouri elementary school, she provides targeted intervention, coaches teachers in effective literacy practices, and works to strengthen structured literacy implementation across classrooms.

Victoria is currently finishing her training to become a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT), expanding her expertise in supporting students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. She is also trained in the dyslexia therapy program, Take Flight, and brings extensive experience working with struggling readers, using structured and systematic approaches to build strong foundational skills.

Driven by a deep commitment to empowering educators, supporting families, and helping every child become a confident, proficient reader, Victoria continues to advocate for evidence-based literacy practices and high-quality reading instruction across the state.

Sarah Bartley is a professional special education advocate and the parent of child with learning differences who prides herself on building trusting relationships with families and being the voice for the child at the IEP 504 table. Her experience of advocating for her son with dyslexia in the public school fueled her desire to help others find help and support for their child.

Sarah is passionate about empowering parents and collaborating with parents and school districts to improve student outcomes. Using her extensive knowledge of IDEA and Section 504 Sarah helps families navigate the IEP and 504 Plan process.

Sarah graduated from University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She has completed trainings through COPAA, Dyslexia Training Institute, Wrightslaw, and Special Education Academy. She is the Co-Owner, Executive Director, Professional Development Coordinator, and Lead Educational Advocate at Dyslexia St. Louis Learning & Advocacy Center. Sarah speaks to professional groups, school districts, and parent groups on dyslexia and how to effectively support students in the classroom setting.

Maggie is a certified speech language pathologist, a certified Orton Gillingham teacher, and current clinical doctorate student at Kansas University with a primary concentration of dyslexia. She initially worked in the public schools as a speech language pathologist where she witnessed first-hand the devastating toll children with language disorders experience when they cannot read, write, spell, or formulate language with success. These experiences, and her passion for understanding how children learn to read and why it is easier for some children more than others, has led her on a continued journey of advocating, learning, evaluating, and providing therapy for children with spoken and written language disorders. In 2016, she opened up her private practice, Metro East Therapy, Inc., located in Edwardsville, Illinois, where she has continued to promote and advocate for the Science of Reading in the surrounding communities. She frequently provides continuing education to school district staff and often teaches adjunct at local universities to help educate and train speech language pathology students in their role with literacy.

Dr. Christy Lamb is an educational leader with extensive experience in curriculum development, nationwide consulting, and PK-8 school administration. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University and multiple degrees in education, including a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction in Literacy.

Dr. Lamb has successfully supervised staff and facilitated professional development initiatives that significantly enhance teacher efficacy and student outcomes in early literacy, reading, and ELA. With a proven track record of improving staff satisfaction and decreasing the need for interventions, she has led programs focused on strong Tier 1 instruction using research-based instructional strategies.

Passionate about continuous improvement, Dr. Lamb has conducted literacy audits, implemented evidence-based materials, and collaborated with educators nationwide to foster effective teaching practices. Currently serving as a middle school assistant principal, principal coach, and consultant, she is dedicated to advancing educational excellence in her own building and across the US.

Emily first encountered the word dyslexia teaching in Alabama public schools when a 10th grader informed her of his diagnosis and inability to read. Since then she has been working in private and international settings bringing educational support to students who need it most. In 2016 she saw the power of the Orton-Gillingham Approach for dyslexia when given the opportunity to work at The Greengate School–and she has never looked back. Currently as the Director of the Learning Center at Central Christian School and an associate in the Academy of Orton-Gillingham, she serves as an Orton-Gillingham practitioner and supports Tier 1 and 2 instruction. From this role she networks widely in the St Louis area, desiring to make a difference by ensuring that each year more students have access to literacy instruction supported by the Science of Reading. When she’s not researching best practices and reading textbooks, she can be found pretending to train her adorable Goldendoodle, Shirley, to be a therapy dog.