MEET OUR TEAM
JENNA PELAEZ
Jenna is a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist who has a master’s degree in Special Education and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Jenna is also a certified Orton-Gillingham Teacher and has been using this approach in schools as well as in private tutoring. Jenna uses her Yoga Teacher certification to bring yoga and mindfulness techniques into her teaching. She also teaches children and family yoga classes across Bergen County.
ALYSSA LORA-LOCASCIO
Alyssa is a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist who has master’s degrees in Elementary Education and Educational Technology. She is a certified Orton-Gillingham Teacher who has been teaching for 23 years. Alyssa uses her Yoga Teacher certification to serve as a family yoga and community meditation teacher.
GINNY
Ginny is a one year old staffie poodle mix who was rescued from Memphis, Tennessee. When Ginny was a year old she became certified as a Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dog. Ginny volunteers at Paws for Reading events at local libraries in Bergen County. Her favorite activities include reading with children, playing a good game of fetch, and getting her neck scratched..
LUNA
Luna is a border collie mix who was rescued from South Carolina. When Luna was six months old, she became certified as a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) by the American Kennel Club. On her first birthday, she became certified as a Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dog. Luna volunteers at Valley Hospital and at Paws for Reading events at local libraries in Bergen County. Her favorite activities include reading with children, watching trees for signs of squirrels, and receiving belly rubs..
Christine Cook
Christine has a master’s degree in Special Education. She has taught in Collaborative and Resource Room settings for 14 years. Christine has been a certified Orton-Gillingham Teacher for 13 years. She enjoys engaging in various physical fitness activities which include running half-marathons and competing in triathlons. Christine likes to bring fitness activities and movement into the learning environment.
Stefanie Goncalves
Stefanie is a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist who has her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and has been teaching for 6 years in Bergen County. She is also a certified Orton-Gillingham Teacher and has been using this approach during private tutoring. Stefanie loves incorporating mindfulness techniques into her teaching to help children succeed. Stefanie is a treasured part of the Mindful Reading Center Team!
Kelly LaCorte
Kelly LaCorte received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Special Education and has been a Special Education teacher, teaching in the Resource Room setting, for nine years in Bergen County. Kelly has received her master’s degree in Learning Disabilities and is a certified Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant and a certified Orton-Gillingham Teacher. She enjoys using the Orton-Gillingham approach with her students, as well as incorporating her passion for mindfulness into each of her lessons at Mindful Reading Center!
Amber Albers
Amber is a second-grade special education teacher in Bergen County. She is certified in Orton-Gillingham and special education. Amber has been teaching for 9 years as a general education teacher and a resource room teacher.
Rebecca Hahn
Rebecca has a master’s degree in Special Education and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is a certified Orton-Gillingham teacher and has been using this approach in her classroom and during private tutoring. She has taught Resource Room for 5 years and is currently a Reading Interventionist. She enjoys using the Orton-Gillingham approach with her students as well as incorporating mindfulness techniques into her lessons at Mindful Reading Center.
Brianne Ahlborn
Brianne has a master’s degree in special education and is a certified Orton-Gillingham Teacher. She has taught special education for 8 years in grades 3-8. She currently teaches multisensory reading across grades 6-8. Brianne enjoys reading, hiking, and playing volleyball. Her passion is helping students discover a love for reading through the use of Orton-Gillingham and multisensory activities that engage their bodies and minds.
Dawn Gillies
Dawn is a Fairleigh Dickinson University Orton Gillingham Certified teacher. She is a graduate of The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a concentration in Sociology. She is currently a graduate student at FDU in the Literacy/Reading, Multisensory Reading dual degree program. Dawn has taught in the Bergen County public school system for sixteen years as a classroom teacher and literacy and math interventionist. She is the proud mother of three children: Katelyn, 23, Jack, 21, and Ryan, 19, and is an avid reader and gardener. Dawn incorporates mindfulness lessons into her daily teaching and tutoring, as well as in her own life.