WIBIDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ~ 2013-2014

Officers:

President ~ Tammy Tillotson (Chippewa Falls, WI) Tammy is, first and foremost, a parent of a son who has dyslexia.  As a member of WIBIDA for only a year, she joined the Board of Directors in an effort to raise awareness of issues surrounding dyslexia.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising and Marketing, a Master’s Degree in Family Studies and Human Development, and an Advanced Education Specialist Degree in Career and Technical Professional Education.  Tammy became an Orton-Gillingham trained tutor to assist her son and other children who are challenged with dyslexia and is now the Center Director of the Masonic founded Children's Dyslexia Center of Upper Wisconsin.  Her background and experience in directing nonprofit organizations and coordinating advocacy campaigns lends itself to the goals and activities of WIBIDA.  Her primary objectives as President of WIBIDA are to continue the momentum in raising awareness about dyslexia, create opportunities to to expand training and education, and to build resources for parents and professionals in Wisconsin that can better support our children. 
 
Vice President ~ This position is currently vacant.

Treasurer ~ Michelle Vanderheyden (Green Bay, WI)

Directors:

Connie Day (Appleton, WI) Connie lives in Appleton, WI. She is a K-8 licensed Wisconsin Teacher. She graduated from U.W. Eau Claire with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education followed by 32 graduate credits focusing on writing. Connie has taught at the Middle School level and the lower Elementary level with 10 years total teaching experience in two different school districts. She has experience with on-line schooling and home schooling. Connie has also coached at the Middle School and High School levels. Her interest in being on the WIBIDA board stems from working with family members with dyslexia and a desire to influence change in reading instruction for those with dyslexia. At present she is working as an office manager.
 
Jan Evans (Milton and Boulder Junction, WI) Jan is a retired learning disabilities teacher. She has tutored many students privately and has taken the following classes: Orton Gillingham, Project Read, Lindamood Bell and the two day overview of Wilson Language.  Jan was a master teacher for two years in the Literacy Task Force class at Nicolet College.  She has served previously on the board of WIBIDA and has attended many IDA Annual Conferences.  Her dream is to have every elementary teacher trained

Darlene Larson (Wausau, WI) Darlene Larson has been a member of IDA for a number of years but has just recently joined the WIBIDA board of directors.  She is excited to be more involved with others at the state level that are passionate about improving reading instruction in Wisconsin and specifically helping dyslexic learners.  She has been trained as an Orton Gillingham tutor at the basic and advanced levels and is also a certified Barton Reading and Spelling System tutor.  She is certified by Handwriting Without Tears as a Handwriting Specialist and has training in the Lindamood Bell LiPS and Visualizing and Verbalizing programs. Darlene is the owner of The Reading Spelling Connection LLC in Wausau and has been providing individual tutoring to school age students since 2005.  She enjoys presenting workshops to teachers about dyslexia, teaching reading, phonics, spelling, handwriting, and how to meet the needs of all students in the regular classroom.  Darlene is also employed part time as the Reading Intervention Coordinator at Trinity Lutheran School in Wausau where she works closely with the kindergarten and first grade reading programs, provides small group and individual reading and spelling intervention for students in grades K-8, and acts as a mentor/coach for the other teachers in the subject areas of reading, phonics, and spelling.  Darlene holds a Master’s degree in education with a concentration in reading.

 

Carin Illig (Madison) Carin Illig, a long-time member of IDA, brings a rich background of experience in the field of education to the WIBIDA Board.  She currently works as the Supervisor of Clinical Affairs for the Children's Dyslexia Centers, Inc. and serves on ALTA Board.  A new resident of Wisconsin but seasoned advocate for those who struggle with language processing.

 

Ann Malone (Madison) Ann Malone works as the Center Director for the Children's Dyslexia Center of Madison and has worked to improve reading for children for more than ten years. 

 

Eileen Richardson (Wasusau)
 

General Membership on the Legislative Committee:
Pam Heyde (Verona, WI)
Julie Gocey (Verona, WI)
Leni Guzman (Verona, WI)
Cheryl Ward (Bayside, WI) - Past President

General Membership on the Communications Committee:
Howard Bell (Onalaska, WI)
Georgia Kiley (Madison, WI)
Sue Westbrook (Onalaska, WI)