Meet The Team

Katie Fowle, M.Ed, believes each child can learn to read and reach their full potential when given the proper support and consistent relationship. Katie draws on her nineteen years of teaching and specialized training in Orton Gillingham to design personalized lessons that empower children's confidence and success in school no matter where they live in the world.

 

Katie holds a Master's of Education in curriculum and instruction, a professional teaching license from the State of Virginia, and a post-master's dyslexia graduate certificate from the University of Florida.

Janelle has worked as an international special educator across Asia & Africa for over a decade. Her passion to create an inclusive world is rooted the experience growing up seeing her eldest brother's journey with significant special needs. In Malaysia, she was a founding board member of SENIA’s local chapter (SENIM). Additionally, at The British School of Kuala Lumpur, she established and served as the Head of Learning Support & Inclusion Department. Bridging the classroom to the real world, she founded chapters of Best Buddies International in China & Malaysia. 

 

Janelle holds a Master’s of Education in Special Education from Vanderbilt University (USA), and a professional teaching license from the State of Virginia. She is trained in a multitude of Orton- Gillingham interventions and is a Wilson® certified educator. She is also a member of the International Dyslexia Association.

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When not wrangling her own 3 kids or 2 social Japanese bobtail cats - she runs a lot, reads, explores, creates, and drinks Matcha tea.

Kelly Coleman started tutoring when she was a junior in high school and has been doing so ever since.  She attended the University of Pittsburgh where she majored in English Literature and minored in psychology and statistics.  She continued on at the University of Pittsburgh to earn her Masters of Art in Teaching degree.  She has spent 15 years in the classroom and is passionate about helping students find their learning style and growing their confidence in the classroom. At her last school, she was a founder of a support center for kids who wanted to take their first honors or AP class. She worked on teaching organizational and study strategies, so that all kids had the same opportunity to take and excel in upper level classes.

 

Outside of the classroom, she has attended training sessions for executive functioning, social emotional learning, self-esteem coaching, project based learning, and approaches to the digital SAT.  She has worked in college admissions for several universities in the past and currently does work with College Board.

 

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two dogs, Schenley and Eberly, named for places on Pitt's campuses.  She has written and published two books. She enjoys swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding.  You can also find her obsessing over Taylor Swift lyrics and clues.

Sarah is trained in Orton-Gillingham by the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (ISME) in both the Comprehensive and Morphology curriculums. She has over 15 years of experience teaching in classrooms and has had her own reading practice since 2021. Her undergraduate degree is from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, and Master's degree in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in gifted education as well as an endorsement as a School Library Media Specialist from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. She is certified by the state of Virginia to teach grades pre-K-6, gifted education, and high school government.

 

When not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband, three sons, and my 2 golden retrievers, Luna and June! She loves to read, travel, exercise, bake, and do pottery.

Eric Hayes has been working in education for over 16 years and has taught in the United States, Brazil, Lithuania, and Romania. His career has focused on supporting diverse learners, including students with neurodivergent needs, through inclusive and strengths-based practices. Eric’s experience spans learning support, math instruction, and mentoring students across middle and high school settings. He has also designed and facilitated professional development for educators on creating inclusive classrooms and integrating technology into learning.

Eric models curiosity and adaptability for his students, showing them how to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. He is committed to helping learners build confidence and independence by tailoring his approach to their unique strengths and needs. Fluent in Portuguese, Eric uses his international teaching experience to connect with learners and families from varied backgrounds. Eric holds a Master’s degree from Buffalo State and a Bachelor’s degree from Angelo State University. His professional certifications include Mathematics, Social Studies, and Special Education credentials in North Carolina and Texas. 

 

When not teaching, he enjoys playing with his three cats, Raven, Dinah, and Gatsby. He loves exploring nature, traveling, and listening to podcasts.

Kirsten has 14 years of experience as an educator in the United States, United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Rwanda, and Slovenia. She holds an undergraduate degree in elementary education from Elon University in North Carolina and a master’s degree in literacy from Concordia University in Wisconsin. She is a licensed K-6 teacher and reading specialist in Virginia. Kirsten has taught first, second, and fourth grades, worked as an elementary librarian, and is currently a homeroom parent, PTO Secretary, and a member of the Advisory Board at her daughter’s international school. She is qualified to provide Orton-Gillingham multisensory reading instruction. 

 

Besides teaching, Kirsten enjoys reading, hand embroidery, and exploring Slovenia with her husband and daughter.

With more than 20 years of international teaching experience, Irene McCann-Braun is an experienced reading specialist who partners with globally-minded families and international schools to support students one-on-one. She focuses on building strong reading, writing, and
critical thinking skills.

Irene has a proven track record of helping students grow in both skills and confidence. An
advocate for inclusive education, she is committed to putting students first. She believes that all students can learn at high levels- every student, every day. Irene uses research-backed tools, such as Orton-Gillingham multisensory strategies and Wilson Fundations. Her calm, structured, and
research-based approach is especially valued by families seeking literacy growth and renewed confidence for their students.
 

In her freetime, Irene enjoys a good cup of coffee, spending time with her family, working on her
novel, and reading the latest research in education.

Greg has a B.A. in History from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland and a M.Ed. in Special Education from Wilmington University in New Castle, Delaware. Since 2007, Greg has taught students of all ages with various learning differences in the US and international settings. Greg is a skilled and dedicated educator with extensive experience working with special needs students, including those diagnosed with dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder and multiple disabilities. Greg has training in both Orton-Gillingham Methodologies and Applied Behavior Analysis. Greg is very patient, kind and develops a wonderful rapport with students and parents. 

 

When not teaching students, Greg enjoys spending time with family and friends, animals, traveling and playing music. 

Christine Spilker, M.A., is an experienced and passionate educator with over 25 years in the field. Her teaching journey has taken her across the globe, from Honduras and the United States to Mauritania, Morocco, and Egypt, giving her a rich, multicultural perspective that deeply informs her work. Christine specializes in supporting school-aged students with special needs and is trained to implement the Orton-Gillingham multisensory approach to reading, which she uses to design highly structured, individualized lessons that meet each learner exactly where they are. She also helps students build executive function skills such as organization, time management, and task initiation, empowering them to become more independent and confident learners.. 

 

Christine is a lifelong learner who leads by example, inspiring her students to embrace curiosity and growth. She is committed to building student confidence, helping learners recognize their unique strengths, and creating a supportive path forward. Her approach includes collaborative, proactive communication with families, ensuring a strong team effort behind every student’s success.

She holds a Master’s degree in Child Development and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Elementary/Special Education and German, all from Michigan State University. Christine also maintains professional teaching licenses in both Michigan and California.

 

When she’s not in sessions with her students, you’ll likely find Christine rowing, practicing yoga, riding her bike, or diving into a great podcast—always on the lookout for fresh ideas and new ways to grow.

Lisa has worked as a school counselor for over twenty years, internationally in the United Arab Emirates, Austria, and Thailand, and stateside in Oregon, Utah, and Maryland, including three years as a virtual school counselor. She graduated with her M.A. in Counseling from George Fox University and holds a School Counseling License in Maryland. She has extensive experience working with families in transition and additional training in a range of areas; including, self
regulation, stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and strategies for increasing executive function skills.

 

Lisa thrives on creating individualized support to help each child embrace their gifts and learn new skills.
 

When not working with students, Lisa is an avid trail runner, Ironman athlete, traveler and enjoys trying new foods and coffee shops all over the world.