JENNIFER ROWLAND, CALT-QI
FOUNDER, CROSSROADS LITERACY, LLC
An educator for the over 25 years, and specializing in dyslexia treatment since 2010, Jennifer is an experienced literacy evaluator, interventionist, instructor of teachers, and community outreach spokeswoman. Jen is a Qualified Instructor in the Take Flight curriculum and recently started teaching courses to the teachers of Ohio in dyslexia training to earn Certified Academic Language Practicitioner (CALP) credentials and Instructors of CALP. She is the former president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA) and previous member of the ALTA National Board of Directors. She currently serves as the ALTA Ethics Chairman.
"It is a privilege to support children, teachers, administrators, and parents in order to impact these exceptional individuals​. Students want to learn, and teachers want to be successful. Bridging the chasm between research and classroom application, my focus is twofold: educating teachers to empower them to support all emerging readers and working with students to remediate their language skills to help them to become successful readers."
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KARA LEE, CALT - ICALP
HORTON EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
What started in 2009 as a first-year teacher desperately wanting to help her students learn to read, blossomed into a six-year mission to become a trainer who was qualified to bring the same feelings of confidence, pride, and expertise to her colleagues. Through my work with the Children’s Dyslexia Center in Columbus, Ohio, I completed the requirements for certification as a Language Therapist (CALT), as well as an Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practitioners (ICALP) from the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA). I was a founding member of the Ohio Chapter of ALTA, served on its National Board of Directors, and have trained 90+ teachers to the Practitioner level of certification since 2017.
am passionate about my work, as I believe there is no substitute for a professionally trained teacher who is empowered to make instructional decisions based on a student's strengths and weaknesses. Toward that end, I am currently working toward a Doctor of Education degree with a Concentration in Reading Science at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. I hope to one day work in a College of Education that embraces the science of reading and adequately prepares teachers. At the same time, I plan to continue my work on behalf of in-service teachers who are ready to take on the challenge of teaching ALL kids to read.
KARI PERMAN, CALP, ICALP Intern
Kari Perman is a passionate educator who believes that, withgiven the right instruction, all children can learn to read. Kari began her teaching career in Columbus Public Schools as a 1st grade teacher and then as a 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade teacher in Bexley City Schools. After staying home to raise her two sons, Kari earned her Reading Endorsement and began her career with Worthington City Schools. She taught 5th grade Language Arts in Worthington, while continuing to learn and grow her knowledge around the Science of Reading.
Kari now serves as a Reading Specialist in Worthington City Schools. In this position she works with the building’s most at-risk readers. Kari received her Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP) certification from the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA) in 2022. She is also a Children’s Dyslexia Practitioner-1 (CDP-1) which she earned at the Children’s Dyslexia Center in Columbus, Ohio. Most recently, Kari completed the Advanced level Structured Literacy training with Jen Rowland of Crossroads Literacy in 2023.
As the Facilitator of her building’s MTSS leadership team, Kari works closely with teachers to support them as they work with their emerging readers. She is also the volunteer coordinator for her building’s Ready for Reading program; a program that trains community volunteers to support the most at-risk Kindergarten students in building early literacy skills.
Kari’s passion for learning and teaching others how they can help children learn to read has led her to becoming an iCALP. She believes that it is a privilege to teach children to read and feels fortunate to be able to make an impact with both students and colleagues.
CHRISSY SLIFE, CALP, ICALP Intern
Meet Christine Slife, a dedicated and passionate educator, Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP), and Reading Specialist committed to inspiring and empowering students to reach their full potential. With 18 years of experience in the field of education, Christine brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise. As a lifelong learner herself, Christine holds a Masters degree in Reading K-6 and stays updated on the latest educational research and best practices. She has been in a sustained pursuit of improving her practice for years. She believes in creating a nurturing and inclusive learning environment where every student feels valued and supported. Christine has a background as an Intervention Specialist, specializing in designing and implementing targeted interventions to support students who may be struggling academically or facing learning challenges. She possesses a deep understanding of various instructional approaches and intervention techniques tailored to meet the diverse needs of learners. As an integral member of the Student Assistance Team, Christine collaborates with colleagues to develop and implement strategies to support students' academic, social, and emotional well-being. Additionally, she actively contributes to the Building Leadership Team, where she participates in decision-making processes and initiatives aimed at improving school culture and student outcomes. Join Christine on an educational journey where curiosity is celebrated, knowledge is shared, and growth is embraced.
DAVID HENSINGER, CALP, ICALP Intern
David Hensinger holds a Master's Degree in Education with a specialization in Administration. With a rich career spanning over two decades, David began his journey as a 4th grade teacher, where he dedicated 12 years to building supportive classrooms, personalizing instruction using data, and effectively monitoring and measuring student learning.
Following his teaching career, David served as the building principal of a K-4 Elementary school for three years. During this time, he gained a deep understanding of maximizing a building's resources to meet diverse needs, from instructional materials to physical spaces. He also contributed as an author to the book "Responsive Literacy - A Comprehensive Framework," where he shared insights on creating building-wide rubrics, identifying professional development needs, and measuring the implementation levels of instructional shifts.
David's expertise extends to his role as a Reading Specialist and Instructional Coach, where he spent three years in an elementary building. Here, he learned to create and utilize diagnostic measures to evaluate student learning across the entire building. He transformed the school's Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process by developing student profiles, identifying research-based instructional materials, and providing professional development for K-4 teachers.
For the past four years, David has continued his work as a Reading Specialist and Instructional Coach in a 5-6 intermediate building. He further refined the MTSS model, trained intervention teachers on best practices in early literacy, and developed a Tier 1 curriculum complete with standards-based formative and summative assessments. David holds a LETRS certification and has successfully utilized the Language! curriculum with 5th and 6th graders. As a certified Academic Language Practitioner, he has been providing language interventions for two years.
David's continuous pursuit of professional growth and his passion for supporting students and teachers are evident in his extensive experience and dedication to education. His innovative approaches and commitment to effective teaching practices make him a valuable asset in any educational setting.
LAUREN DEVINE, CALP, ICALP intern
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Lauren Devine is a district instructional coach in Marysville, OH. In this role, she supports the district in curriculum development and implementation, MTSS development, and developing evidence-based instructional practices with a strong focus on literacy. Lauren has been dedicated to this position for three years, striving to enhance the educational experience for both teachers and students.
Prior to her current role, Lauren taught 1st grade and 3rd grade for a total of eight years. Her classroom experience laid a strong foundation for her current work, allowing her to experience the power of teaching students to read and build their literacy skills. She holds a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from the University of Dayton and a master's degree in literacy from the American College of Education, which have equipped her with the knowledge and skills to support her work.
Lauren is enrolling as an ICALP intern to continue her mission of teaching educators how to best support students in reading. She is passionate about literacy and believes that empowering teachers with effective strategies and knowledge can significantly impact student success so all kids can read! In her free time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family and reading.