Saturday, April 26, 2025, 8:00am-3:30pm in Littleton, Colorado

The Conference

We are so pleased to announce that Sarah Ward is our keynote speaker!

Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC/SLP

Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC/SLP, and Co-Director of Cognitive Connections, LLP, has over 25 years of experience in diagnostic evaluations, treatment and case management of children, adolescents and adults with a wide range of developmental and acquired brain-based learning difficulties and behavioral problems. Her particular interest is in the assessment and treatment of executive function deficits. She holds an adjunct faculty appointment at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions.

A popular speaker, Ward is an internationally recognized expert on executive function skills and regularly presents seminars and workshops on the programs and strategies she has developed with her Co-Director Kristen Jacobsen. Sarah has co-authored the 360 Thinking Executive program and co-developed the educational products the Academic Planner and Tracknets, as well as the Time Tracker Program and Get Ready *Do*Done instructional approach. Described as ‘revolutionary’ and ‘groundbreaking’ their 360 Thinking Program received the Innovative Promising Practices Award from the National Organization CHADD. She has presented to and consulted with over 1800 public and private schools worldwide.

Awards Received:

Bette Ann Harris Distinguished Professional, 2017
Innovative Promising Practices Award by CHADD, The National Resource on ADHD, November 2015
ACE awards (2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020) from American Speech and Language Hearing Association
MGH Expertise in Clinical Practice Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, May, 2005
The Faculty in Excellence Award from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, May, 2002 and 2011
The Partners in Excellence Award from the Massachusetts General Hospital, December, 1998
The Stephanie Macaluso Expertise in Clinical Practice Award for the Massachusetts General Hospital, June 1998

2025 Reading in the City Session Speakers

Melissa Ahlstrand, CDE	Melissa Ahlstrand has been the Literacy Program Supervisor in the Elementary Literacy and School Readiness Office at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) since 2019. Prior to working at CDE, Melissa spent many years working in Colorado school districts as a special education administrator, literacy coach and special education teacher.
Kristen Amos, M.Ed.	Kristen Amos, M.Ed., is an experienced educator with a passion for structured literacy and professional growth. She has taught Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades, fostering foundational skills and a love for learning in young students. Kristen holds a master’s degree in literacy from Regis University, which has deepened her expertise in teaching reading and writing. Kristen has also served as a literacy interventionist, where she supported 3rd- 6th grades. Currently, Kristen is a Professional Learning Specialist (PLS) in the Douglas County School District (DCSD), collaborating with educators to enhance instructional practices and elevate student achievement.
Kristen DeBeer	Kristen is a multisensory math tutor in the south metro area. She received her multisensory math instruction and training from Marilyn Zecher, M.A., CALT, a nationally known speaker, former classroom and demonstration teacher, and certified academic language therapist and specialist, at the Multisensory Training Institute of ASDEC in Rockville, MD. She also learned through her experience supporting her own dyslexic son, for whom multisensory methods were highly effective. She is passionate about advocating for and providing education about math instruction that is appropriate for all learners.
Dr. Ana Dodson, MA, PsyD	Dr. Ana Dodson, MA, PsyD, is a psychologist specializing in trauma-informed care and social-emotional learning (SEL). She is certified in EMDR therapy for adults and children and in the Neurosequential Model of Education, developed by Dr. Bruce Perry. With a background as a school psychologist, teacher, and reading specialist, Ana focuses on integrating SEL into professional development for educators. She created the Summer Mental Health Academy for Teachers and is working on a book with practical SEL activities. Ana also consults with schools and organizations on implementing trauma-informed practices.
Vicki Ferrari, M.Ed.	Ms. Ferrari is a seasoned educator that has been immersed in the reading science and implementation for 26 years. Her career in education spans 31 years where she has been a teacher, instructional coach, assistant director of assessment and research, a school principal and an educational leadership consultant. She has her BS from the University of Arizona in Child Development and Psychology and her M.Ed. from the University of Denver in Curriculum and Instruction. Her principal licensure was attained from the University of Colorado at Denver.
Dr. Marnie Ginsberg	Dr. Marnie Ginsberg is the founder of Reading Simplified, whose mission is to support busy, overwhelmed teachers learn a research-based system of effective and efficient instruction that accelerates all students’ reading achievement. Marnie’s surprise at finding so many of the middle school students in her classroom reading well below their grade, spurred a passion for finding and disseminating solutions. What followed included private tutoring, university research, the creation of an evidence-based reading program, and ultimately the development of Reading Simplified.
Melody Ilk, M.A.	Melody Ilk, M.A., is a national literacy consultant with years of successful experience in schools and districts around the country. Melody has a strong history of involvement in the implementation of scientifically based literacy practices, school improvement systems, and the infrastructures necessary for increased literacy performance. Melody is an approved consultant in numerous states and guides schools through the construction of scientifically based literacy systems and infrastructures through assessment, data analysis, differentiated tiers of instruction, and shared leadership. This work with educators, administrators, and superintendents has led to significant gains in literacy achievement and instructional effectiveness in all tiers of instruction. Melody has been a LETRS facilitator since the release of the first edition and is the lead author and facilitator for LETRS for Administrators. She is also a coauthor and facilitator for A Principal’s Primer for Raising Reading Achievement, both through Lexia Learning.
Cynthia Jacobsen, Ph.D CCC/SLP, Fellow, ASHA	Cynthia Jacobsen, Ph.D, has her doctorate in speech-language pathology, and is the retired Director of Hearing, Speech and Scottish Rite Clinics at Children’s Mercy-Kansas City. Dr. Jacobsen is a Wilson Language Certified Tutor and has over twenty-five years of experience with dyslexia. Cynthia is the author of Teaching Reading to Children with Dyslexia and Inspiring Stories of Children’s Journeys to Success. She is also the co-author of Rhyming to Reading, A Phonological Awareness and Early Literacy Program (childrens-mercy.org).
Craig Knippenberg, LCSW, M.Div.	Craig Knippenberg is a clinical social worker, school consultant, podcaster (Legit Parenting), keynote speaker, best-selling author of 2 brain-based parenting books (Wired and Connected and Shame-Free Parenting) and founder of one of Colorado’s largest multi-disciplinary private practices. The current Chair of The National Association of Social Workers’ (NASW) Children, Adolescents and Young Adults (CAYA) committee, he’s also served on numerous nonprofit boards and has received volunteer awards from the City of Denver and The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for his program supporting mental health consumers.
Kathy McCall	Kathy McCall serves as a Foundational Skills Reading Instructional Coach for the St. Vrain Valley School district. Ms. McCall is responsible for developing a district-wide Dyslexia Incubator Project and leading the District Dyslexia Task Force. She has been a member of the CDE Dyslexia Working Group and assisted with the initial study and development of state-level responses to dyslexia training and education. Professionally, she has developed and provided district-wide professional development related to core and supplemental evidence-based structured literacy reading instruction. In addition, she is a team developer and trainer for St. Vrain Valley School’s Evidence-Based Teacher training for Kindergarten – 12th-grade teachers. Ms. McCall holds a Master’s degree in Special Education and has been an adjunct professor for the University of Colorado at Denver, teaching coursework in the Graduate Program for Literacy. In addition, she is a DIBELS 8th trainer at the district level. She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach and has been recognized as a Lindamood-Bell Consultant and Instructional Leader.
BJ McDonald, M.Ed.	BJ McDonald holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver, an M.Ed. from Regis University, her Gifted and Talented Education Certificate from the University of Northern Colorado, and is currently obtaining her EdS and principal licensure from the University of Colorado at Denver. She has taught for 17 years in her career, specializing in reading remediation and supporting students with learning differences. She also is passionate about reaching students who are ready for a new challenge, whether it is leading a novel writing unit or a financial literacy research project. BJ McDonald is the Coordinator for St. Mary Academy’s Destination Imagination teams, many of whom go on to State and Global competitions. She served as a board director of the International Dyslexia Association–Rocky Mountain Branch for 7 years. Outside of school, BJ McDonald enjoys her life as a mom, soccer coach, professional artist, and a published illustrator for children’s books. She enjoys staying active and competing in triathlons and half marathons.
Lynni Nordheim	Lynni Nordheim is passionate about supporting teachers to implement evidence-based practices to dramatically improve literacy outcomes. She has worked in public education for 20 years and has served as an elementary school classroom teacher, reading interventionist, and literacy coach in major urban districts in Las Vegas, Boston, and Denver. She is a Wilson Certified Dyslexia Practitioner. Lynni’s recent work has now focused on system-wide literary change at the district level, both in Denver and in Douglas County. She currently serves as the District Dyslexia Specialist in the Douglas County School District, a large school district in Colorado, where she works relentlessly to build district structures and professional learning opportunities to ensure all striving readers get the support they need, and all teachers are equipped with the knowledge and skill to provide it. Lynni is also an adjunct instructor in the School of Education at Metropolitan State University (MSU) Denver, and a CORE Learning Literacy Consultant.
Mary Beth O’Hagan, Ph.D.	Dr. O’Hagan is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of Iowa). She established a clinical practice 28 years ago focusing on the assessment of children with learning and attentional disorders, and developed expertise in the identification and support of students with dyslexia. She introduced universal screenings at several private schools and has provided parent and teacher trainings focused on dyslexia and ADHD. She is a member of APA and IDA, and participated in the CDE Dyslexia Focus Group from 2017 to 2018. She has been a member of Learning Ally’s national board since 2018.
Jamie Olson, CDE	Jamie Olson had been a Senior Literacy Consultant with the Colorado Department of Education since 2018. Before her time at the CDE, Jamie’s career in education included work as a classroom teacher, a reading interventionist, a literacy instructional coach and Dean of Instruction in Colorado schools. Jamie’s extensive knowledge about the Science of Reading and commitment to the promise of the Colorado READ Act drives her work with teachers, schools and districts across the state.
Corey Pollard, M.S.	Corey Pollard has her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and is an educational consultant and the executive director of Ascend Learning & Educational Consulting. With a background in research at Johns Hopkins University, Kennedy Krieger Institute, and the University of Denver she is passionate about bringing cognitive neuroscience into education. With clinical experience diagnosing dyslexia at Children’s Hospital Colorado, she loves to connect evaluation data to evidence-based intervention to support students with specific learning disabilities including dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia as well as students with executive functioning difficulties and ADHD.
Sara Reeser	Sara Reeser is a dedicated educational leader and structured literacy consultant with extensive experience in fostering literacy and academic success. With a background as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and Assistant Principal, Sara has developed a passion for implementing structured literacy practices to support diverse learners, increase teacher and leader efficacy, and ensure literacy success.
Jennifer (Jen) Rowland, M.Ed., CALT-QI	Jennifer (Jen) Rowland, M.Ed., CALT-QI, is the owner of Crossroads Literacy, LLC. An adjunct professor and Qualified Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practitioners and Therapists (ALTA), Jen instructs graduate-level courses in Structured Literacy. She is also co-authoring a structured literacy program that provides a diagnostic approach to individualize Tier 3 literacy intervention. Leadership roles include former president of the ALTA Rocky Mountain Chapter and ALTA national board member. She continues to provide dyslexia intervention to private students using multiple curricula and techniques.
Mikayla Storey	Mikayla Storey is an Educational Therapist and Curriculum Designer at Ascend SMARTER Intervention. She has spent the last seven years working directly with students with learning difficulties using evidence-based reading and writing interventions. She provides consultation and training on topics related to the Science of Reading and evidence-based practices to educators and specialists at the school and district levels internationally.
Traci Thorstenson, M.Ed., CALT	Traci Thorstenson, M.Ed., CALT, is a Certified Academic Language Therapist with extensive experience in the field of education. Her career began as a first-grade teacher, working across Title I, parochial, and public school settings. She previously served as a reading interventionist and instructional coach, designing and delivering professional development workshops to empower educators to implement evidence-based best practices in literacy across all instructional tiers. Her leadership in literacy initiatives led to significant improvements in student literacy outcomes. Currently, she serves as Elementary Literacy Coordinator for Douglas County, CO, supporting elementary administrators, coaches, and educators in their efforts to implement evidence-based best practices that will improve student outcomes for all.
Elisabeth Vela	Elisabeth Vela serves as a Literacy Teacher, Reading Instructional Coach, and coordinator of a reading-intensive summer program in the St. Vrain Valley School District. She played a key role in pioneering the St. Vrain Dyslexia Incubator Project and continues to lead professional development initiatives focused on foundational reading skills, effective implementation of the READ Act, and data-driven strategies to address reading difficulties, including dyslexia. Within the St. Vrain community, Elisabeth develops dyslexia awareness training for diverse stakeholders. She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach and is a district trainer for DIBELS 8th. Elisabeth holds a Master’s degree in Literacy and is a Certified Academic Language Therapist, dedicated to supporting educators, students, and families in achieving literacy success.
YES! Ambassadors	YES! (Youth Examples of Self-Advocacy) Ambassadors from the St. Vrain Valley School District are a group of middle and high school volunteers with dyslexia who speak about their learning differences, self-advocacy and assistive technologies. They host and attend events to raise awareness about the needs of students with dyslexia so that they can build a community of support.