Meet the Team

Allison is a board certified speech-language pathologist who specializes in the assessment and diagnosis of language and reading-based disorders in school-aged children. Allison has over fifteen years of experience in both clinical and educational settings. During her work in the schools, it became apparent that the CSRA was in desperate need of a literacy clinic with state certified teachers and service professionals to help bridge the gaps between language acquisition and reading fluency. As a lifelong reader, Allison takes a special interest in the early identification of reading and spelling concerns and uses her background in language development to holistically evaluate each student.

She loves reading mysteries, speculative fiction, and comedic "chick lit." Her favorite authors are Beatriz Williams, Leigh Bardugo, and Elin Hilderbrand. She has too many favorite books to count.

Crystal is a certified educator and leader with endorsements in reading, dyslexia, and gifted education. She has completed LETRS for Leaders and is currently pursuing Barton Certification to further enhance her expertise in structured literacy interventions. She is also pursuing her Doctor of Rural Education degree which she will complete in 2026.

Passionate about solving the literacy crisis, Crystal believes that reading is a fundamental right that empowers individuals and opens doors to lifelong opportunities. She is dedicated to ensuring that all learners have access to the support they need to become confident, capable readers.

Crystal enjoys reading historical fiction, fantasy, and compelling memoirs. Her favorite author is Barbara Kingsolver and favorite book is The Poinsonwood Bible.

Jenna is certified teacher with over 15 years of experience in the public school system. Her years of experience are a combination of teaching in FL and GA, ranging in grades PreK to 5th. She recently completed the Georgia Literacy Program, focusing on science of reading, structured literacy, and foundational literacy skills. With a Masters in Early Childhood Education, she has seen the impact of early intervention. She is committed to empowering families to be active participants in their child's development and creating life long learners. 

Brandi is a certified educator with over 18 years in the public school system. Her years of experience are in Columbia County and range from Kindergarten to fifth grade. Brandi is also a product of the Columbia County school system having grown up in this area. With a Masters in Early Childhood Education, she can see the value and benefit of early intervention. She has a passion for teaching mathematics and wants to accelerate academic achievement and engage students to build their confidence in math.  Brandi enjoys spending time with her husband and twins, Liam and Izzy. They love to be outdoors enjoying the sun and spending time as a family.

Derek is entering his 19th year in public education and has known since high school that teaching was his life’s calling. With experience in both middle and high school mathematics, he has a unique gift for making complex math concepts accessible to older students. Throughout his career, Derek has served in Valdosta City, McDuffie County, Warren County, and Columbia County schools. He has also contributed at the district and state levels on mathematics curriculum and assessment teams. Outside the classroom, he enjoys playing golf, spending time with his family, and singing. His favorite book series is The Lord of the Rings.

Meredith is a board-certified and licensed occupational therapist with almost 20 years of experience, and has spent the last 8 years specializing in working with children with dysgraphia and other fine motor and developmental disabilities in the public school system. She works with children of all ages, but spends the majority of her time in elementary schools, where early intervention is a key component of success in targeting dysgraphia. As an occupational therapist, she loves using a multisensory approach to enhance the learning and retention of skills while developing the foundations of handwriting and literacy. 

Meredith loves spending time with her husband and two daughters, Olivia and Violet, and volunteers in the  special needs ministry at her church. In her free time she loves to read and play games. 

Adaleigh is a rising freshman at Harlem High School. Adaleigh is highly creative and enjoys cooking, crocheting, singing, playing piano, drawing, and reading. She sings with the school chorus, the Young Voices of Augusta (VOCE) and the New Thomson United Methodist Church choir. Her favorite book series is A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. She also loves teen romance novels. 

ELA students have the opportunity to incorporate a therapy dog into treatment sessions. Children may interact with a certified therapy dog under the supervision of her handler. Finlea is a 4-year-old mini Goldendoodle. She has been certified as a therapy dog through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs since March 2022. She holds the Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog Excellent titles through the American Kennel Club. She has completed over 240 visits in various settings, including schools, libraries, military installations, and assisted living facilities.

Therapy dogs provide many benefits. They help children learn compassion, empathy, and responsibility. Trained therapy dogs offer comfort and non-judgmental love, with studies to prove that even a short time with a dog can decrease anxiety levels and increase emotional security. Research shows that the presence of a therapy dog can increase motivation during therapy sessions and reading tasks.