Grace Sharma ATF/OGA – Orton-Gillingham Accredited Training Fellow – Certified Dyslexia Educator and Consultant
Grace is the founder of Empowered Readers and has been active in the field of education for over 17 years as a tutor, teacher, intervention specialist, and administrator. She has provided instruction to students demonstrating learning challenges associated with Dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ADSD), Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), Down Syndrome, Emotional Disabilities, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), and Developmental/Cognitive Disabilities.
Grace is a credentialed educator in the areas of early childhood education, special education, and pupil administrative services. She holds a Master’s degree in Transdisciplinary Early Childhood Education from the University of Dayton (OH) and a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Early Childhood Education and American Literature focus) from Miami University (OH). She is a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI) and a Certified Level Orton-Gillingham Tutor through the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA). She is also an Accredited Fellow through the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA). Grace serves as President-elect for the Northern California Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (NorCal-IDA).
Grace strives to empower students with their own ‘tool kit’ of strategies to approach daily challenges and become confident, lifelong learners.
Keely Rincon FIT/OGA – Orton-Gillingham Certified Level – Certified Tutor and Fellow-in-Training
With more than 20 years of teaching experience, Keely Rincon has had the opportunity to work with students of all ages and ability levels. Additionally, she is a state-certified teacher in the areas of elementary education and special education. Keely has taught as a classroom teacher, special education resource teacher, and private tutor. She holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Union College in Lincoln, NE. She is a Certified Level tutor through the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA) and is currently a Fellow In Training (FIT) through the Academy. Keely specializes in working with students who find learning difficult and need a different teaching approach to be successful.
Lindsay Oberschlake FIT/OGA – Orton-Gillingham Certified Level – Certified Tutor and Fellow-in-Training
Lindsay is an educator with over 17 years of experience. She serves as a Literacy and MTSS Coordinator for her school district. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Miami University. She also holds a Master’s degree in School Administration from Miami University and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a Literacy focus from Ashland University.
Lindsay is a Fellow-in-Training through the Orton Gillingham Academy (OGA) and serves as a Certified Level Orton-Gillingham Tutor through OGA. She is a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI). Lindsay is a LETRS Local Certified Facilitator for her school district. She is a Wilson Fundations Local Facilitator for Levels K, 1, 2, and 3 for her school district.
Lindsay is very passionate about Literacy and educating others about the Science of Reading and Dyslexia.
Shanda Heinrichs – Orton-Gillingham Associate Level – Certified Tutor
Shanda, a South African native, received a Bachelor’s degree in history in Pennsylvania and now lives in Boulder, Colorado. With an emphasis on writing, her degree allowed her to foster a love for language and the written word. Working closely with her nephew, a bright student with dyslexia, she discovered a passion for helping struggling readers reach their potential. She quickly enrolled in the Associate Level training program with the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA). During her practicum work under the supervision of Diane Mayer, M.Ed., Shanda discovered the joy of providing students with the skills to break through reading challenges, and of helping them to gain confidence and pride in their own intellectuals gifts, despite these hurdles.
Rebekah Mammoser – Orton-Gillingham Associate Level – Certified Tutor , Lead Tutor for Empowered Readers
Rebekah has been in the education field for 15 years. She has served as a tutor, classroom teacher, resource teacher and principal. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education from California State University, Fresno and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Rebekah is continuing her training to become an associate tutor with the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA). Rebekah is passionate about the field of education. She loves seeing her students progress when they learn the skills and tools they need to break through reading challenges.
Alyssa Thiele – Orton-Gillingham Associate Level – Certified Tutor, Online Training and Registration Manager
Alyssa has worked as a special education teacher and classroom teacher for the last 11 years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Reading Education from Otterbein University and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary/Special
Education from Wittenberg University. After getting her start in special education under mentor Grace Sharma, Alyssa continued her training with Grace to become an Associate Level tutor and is currently working towards becoming a Certified Level tutor with the Orton-Gillingham Academy. Alyssa is passionate about understanding and promoting a positive culture around different learning styles. She loves watching her students feel successful when they have achieved a skill that they could not do prior.
Arbesa Gashi – Operations Manager
Arbesa is a highly driven and positive-minded operations manager with a Master’s Degree in Neuropsychology and over four years of experience in educational environments. She has a passion for helping others strive in any environment and she is dedicated to finding innovative ways to overcome barriers. Arbesa enjoys being part of a team that helps so many overcome the barriers of dyslexia and distance learning.