JENNIFER ROWLAND, CALT-QI
FOUNDER, CROSSROADS LITERACY, LLC
July 12, 2023
An educator for the last 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
July 12, 2025
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.
SALLY LIGHTFOOT, CALT
NEW HOPE READING CENTER
July 12, 2025
Sally Lightfoot is passionate about helping parents and their struggling readers get the support they need by providing evaluations for a profile of dyslexia, offering reading tutoring and dyslexia therapy using Orton-Gillingham based programs such as Take Flight, and being an advocate for families. Sally has had a variety of roles in her thirty years of experience in education including classroom teacher, reading interventionist, literacy coach, data and assessment coach and a literacy trainer for Academy School District 20.
Sally has taught hundreds of students how to read using a research-based, multisensory, structured language approach. Her extensive training has given her the ability to meet the unique needs of any struggling reader and empower them to reach their fullest potential. Students with dyslexia or other reading difficulties can learn to read if given the right instruction in a safe and encouraging environment. It is her greatest joy to see students become confident readers.
TAMMY KLEINSMITH, CALT
PASSPORT TO LITERACY
January 23, 2023
Tammy is a Colorado native, born and raised in the greater Denver area. Originally, Tammy owned a dance studio where she worked with recreational and competitive team dancers ranging in age from 3 to 18. A teacher at heart, Tammy decided to make a career change in 2018. Now a Certified Academic Language Therapist, Tammy worked as a reading interventionist at a Colorado Springs charter school. Currently, she is teaching Take Flight to students in the private setting as well as providing instruction in comprehension, fluency and writing. Tammy's goal is to not only teach children how to read, but to build confidence, raise self esteem, and help kids experience the joy learning can provide.
KRISTIN HANGE
Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practitioners- Intern
Kristin Hange is a literacy specialist for the Mercer County Educational Service Center and Marion Local Schools. She has over eight years of education experience, most of which included time as an Intervention Specialist. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts, specializing in Speech & Hearing Science, from The Ohio State University and a Master of Education, Intervention Specialist K-12 (Mild/Moderate), from Wright State University. She also earned a Certified Academic Language Practitioner certification through the Academic Language Therapy Association, and is currently pursuing certification to become an Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practitioners. Kristin has dedicated herself to continuing education in order to stay current regarding best practices in literacy instruction - she strives to empower teachers and students with this knowledge in order to provide equal access and best possible reading outcomes for ALL learners.
ASHLEY DELP
Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practitioners- Intern
Ashley Delp is a Literacy Specialist at Bellevue City Schools with almost 15 years of education experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with an Ohio Reading Endorsement (P-3) from Kent State University and received a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Montessori Education from Barry University. In addition, she earned a Certified Academic Language Practitioner certification through the Academic Language Therapy Association. Ashley has teaching experience in Florida, Ohio, and with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Okinawa, Japan. She has led and served on numerous committees both professionally and personally. She is passionate about and driven to bring her knowledge and expertise of literacy to her students, colleagues, and community. Ashley is dedicated to being a lifelong learner and is furthering her certifications to become an Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practitioners.