Haven Learning, Compassionate Support for Struggling Readers

Lisa D.

I am a retired special education teacher with 18 years of experience helping struggling readers, multilingual learners, and students with dyslexia build literacy skills and confidence. Supporting students in discovering that they can become successful readers remains one of the greatest joys of my career.

I spent 15 years working at the elementary level and 3 years at the middle school level providing individualized reading intervention and academic support for students with diverse learning needs. My teaching style is structured, encouraging, and tailored to each student’s unique strengths and challenges.

I hold undergraduate degrees in English and Journalism, as well as a Master’s Degree in Education. I am certified in two Orton-Gillingham-based reading programs — Wilson Reading System and Reading by Design — and also hold certification in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). In addition, I have extensive experience working with multilingual learners and students whose primary language is not English.

As a former special education teacher, I understand the importance of strong parent communication and collaborative support. I strive to create a calm, compassionate learning environment where students feel safe, encouraged, and capable of growth.

I work with students in the following areas:

dyslexia and reading intervention
ESL/English language development
phonics and decoding
reading fluency and comprehension
vocabulary and academic language
writing support
confidence-building for anxious or discouraged learners
study and organizational skills

I also have a growing interest in supporting adult learners seeking to strengthen their literacy and English language skills.

I look forward to partnering with students and families to help learners gain confidence, independence, and success.