Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Region 1

• Callie Luker

Callie serves with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in the Office of
Early Learning as an Early Literacy Specialist. She holds licensure in both General and Adaptive Special Education and has taught learners of all ages in North Carolina Public Schools for 20 years. Callie is an active member of the Council for the Exceptional Children and has delivered multiple workshops focused on improving instructional
practices. While employed by Edenton-Chowan Public Schools, she was recognized as a Teacher
of Excellence and named Teacher of the Year. She was also honored as Mattamuskeet
Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2019 while serving as a Special Education Teacher.
Callie is passionate about empowering administrators and teachers and believes in the
importance of using a multisensory approach when teaching reading. She firmly
believes that every person, given the right strategy and consistent instruction, can learn
to read. Above all else, Callie believes that learning to read should be fun, engaging,
and accessible to all.

Region 2

• Kristen Averell, Treasurer

Kristin Averell is a passionate middle school teacher at The Hill School of Wilmington (HSW), Wilmington, NC. She received her M.A. in Communicative Disorders from West Chester University in 2001 and holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Rutgers University in 1995. Kristin is a licensed Speech and Language Pathologist and certified CALP. She has experience working with children and adults in therapeutic and rehabilitative settings, and working with individuals who have experienced traumatic brain injuries. She delivers speech/language and reading interventions using OG methodology in therapeutic and classroom settings. She has served in roles at regional hospitals, Carolina Day School, Key Learning Center, The University of Akron, Lawrence School, and The Hill School of Wilmington, as well as offering a homeschool literacy club. Kristin is a strong parent advocate providing services to families needing counseling and representation through the evaluation and IEP process. She has leadership experience serving as the Associate Director of Enrollment Management at Lawrence School, Sagamore Hills, OH, and on the leadership team at HSW. Kristin also serves as an Assistant Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor at the University of Akron, OH. Kristin enjoys sharing her passion for literacy and actively mentors other reading instructors. When Kristin isn’t working with clients or students, you will find her spending time with her children, Owen, a student at the University of Miami’s Herbert Business School, and Anna, a student at Rice University. She is frequently spotted around town strolling with the family’s Golden Retriever, Mose. Kristin serves on the Executive Board for NCIDA and is the current Treasurer-elect.  

• Lynne W. Loeser, Secretary

Lynne has a Master’s degree in Learning and Behavior Disorders and has worked in public education in various capacities for over forty years. In 2019, she retired from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as the Statewide Consultant for Specific Learning Disabilities and ADHD where she led statewide initiatives on specially designed instruction and progress monitoring, dyslexia and revisions of state policy for the evaluation and identification of Specific Learning Disabilities. She currently works part-time for Lexia Learning where she is a Professional Learning Facilitator for Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS). She is passionate about ensuring teachers have access to the scientific evidence base to deliver effective reading instruction for all and that students with learning differences receive instruction that closes achievement gaps. Lynne is a member of the IDA Orton Oaks and was recognized as the recipient of the IDA NC’s June Lyday Orton award in 2024.

Region 3

• Audrey Tancini

Audrey Tancini is currently the Lower School Division Director at Hill Learning Center, where she has been dedicated to K-5 instruction for over six years. With 16 years of experience as a public-school classroom teacher, Audrey is passionate about supporting students facing academic challenges. She applies individualized, research-backed teaching strategies to help each child succeed. With expertise in educational leadership, vision therapy, and cognitive coaching, she has previously held roles with educational therapy centers and a developmental vision practice. Audrey combines academic instruction with holistic development, integrating physical fitness and cognitive strategies to empower students to reach their full potential in and out of the classroom.

• Ann Cozzocrea

Ann Cozzocrea has a Master’s Degree in Special Education and is certified in K-12 Cross Categorical Special Education, K-12 English as a Second Language, and K-12 Reading. She retired from public education after serving in various roles, including elementary and middle school special education teacher, literacy coach, and district curriculum specialist. She was involved with the North Carolina State Improvement Project for many years as a Reading Research to Classroom Practice Instructor, Dyslexia Delegate, and Regional Literacy Coach. Ann is a SIM Learning Strategies Professional Developer, an Explicit Instruction Trainer, and a National Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) Facilitator. Ann is a lifelong learner, and she strives to support educators in providing effective literacy instruction for all students because she believes profoundly that every child would read if it were in his or her power to do so, reading is the epicenter of equity, and reading saves lives.

Region 4

• Laura Britt

Laura is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She has her BS in Special Education and a Master’s as a Literacy Specialist. From January 2010 – September 2016, she served as Instructional Strategies and Literacy Consultant for NCDPI in the Exceptional Children’s PIPD department for the Sandhills region. Previously, she was an EC Resource teacher for 12 years and an EC Program Specialist for Scotland County Schools. She has been a National Board Certified Teacher since 2001, renewed in 2010, and maintained her certificate in 2021. She serves as an NB mentor to current candidates and renewals. She has been an NCSIP-Reading Research to Classroom Practice (Reading Foundations) Instructor since 2003. She was a certified trainer/coach for Keys to Literacy: Comprehension Routine (K-12) by Joan Sedita. She retired from NC in 2016, but currently works as a Reading Coach in South Carolina. Laura currently serves IDA NC on the Executive Board as Treasurer. 

• Dr. Gretchen Robinson

Dr. Gretchen G. Robinson is the Spangler Distinguished Professor of Early Child Literacy at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she leads efforts to advance early literacy, teacher preparation, and evidence-based reading practices. She received her B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from UNCG, her M.S. in Communication Sciences & Disorders from WCU, and her Ph.D. in Special Education from UNCG. With over 25 years of experience in public schools and higher education, she brings deep expertise in literacy instruction, inclusive education and systems-level reform. Her work focuses on the science of reading, curriculum development, and teaching strategies that support young children who are at-risk or who have disabilities. A strong advocate for educator development, Dr. Robinson integrates high-leverage practices (HLPs), evidence-based instruction and experiential learning to promote engagement and effectiveness in teacher preparation. Dr. Robinson is widely recognized for her service, scholarship and leadership across the state.

• Laura Dendy

Laura retired in 2021 after spending 38 years in public education. From 2016 to 2021, she was the Sandhills Regional Literacy Consultant for the Exceptional Children’s Program Improvement and Professional Development Department with NCDPI. She is a graduate of Clemson University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She has her BS in Elementary Education and a Master’s in both School Administration and Curriculum and Instruction. She taught children with learning disabilities in grades K-12 for 18 years before becoming an EC Program Specialist for Moore County Schools. She has been an NCSIP Reading Research to Classroom Practice Instructor since 2003. She is a certified trainer for Keys to Literacy, S.P.I.R.E., Corrective Reading, and Reading Mastery. She has coached the 95% Groups PAIR program and Phonics Lesson Library. She has trained in the KU CRL Strategic Instruction Model and is a Certified Adolescent Literacy Overview Instructor. She is also a Certified NC Dyslexia Delegate. While a part of PIPD at NCDI, she helped our state become the first in the nation to be recognized by IDA as having a professional development program for teachers that is rooted in the Science of Reading. This included successful completion of the KPEERI. Laura received the Kansas University Center for Research and Learning Strategic Instruction Model Initiative Award. Currently, she has a private consulting company that works with families and schools to improve literacy learning.

• LeaAnna Fernandez, Ed.D.

Dr. LeaAnna Fernandez is from New York but has lived in Raeford, NC, for over 20 years. After graduating from SUNY Cortland in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Dr. Fernandez ventured into the realm of teaching, equipped with a deep understanding of pedagogy. Her journey continued as she pursued a Master of Arts in Teaching from Grand Canyon University in 2001, further refining her skills and knowledge. Driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence, Dr. Fernandez achieved her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a focus on Special Education from Grand Canyon University in 2023, solidifying her expertise in the field. Her contributions extend beyond the classroom. She served as the EC Academic/Autism/Extended Content Coordinator at Hoke County Schools, providing support, professional development, and coaching for teachers, ensuring the delivery of quality education to all students. As an Adjunct, then Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina, Pembroke, Dr. Fernandez shares her wealth of knowledge with aspiring educators, shaping the next generation of inclusive education advocates. Dr. Fernandez’s commitment to professional development is evident through her role as a Regional Coach for Literacy and her involvement in various training programs, including Reading Research to Classroom Practice and Dyslexia Instruction. She served as a Dyslexia Delegate for NC DPI, providing Dyslexia related training and support to counties in the Sandhills Region.

Region 5

Information Coming Soon!

Region 6

• Anne Bowman

Anne Bowman is deeply committed to advancing equity in education, with a firm belief that every child deserves the right to read. Over the past five years, she has pursued specialized training to better support students with dyslexia and other reading challenges. In 2019, she completed her Associate Level Orton-Gillingham certification, and in 2022, she earned an Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Reading Education. Anne’s experience spans roles as a classroom teacher, private literacy tutor, reading interventionist in a local public school, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Most recently, she worked at Augustine Literacy Project-Charlotte, where she developed curriculum for volunteer reading tutors, helping to expand access to effective literacy instruction.

• Kristin Sinclair, President

Kristin Sinclair graduated from West Virginia University with a B.A. in Psychology and a Master’s Degree from East Carolina University in Special Education with a Graduate Certificate in Assistive Technology. She has spent her career in the service of others and seeking ways to have the greatest impact on students. Kristin believes that it is our duty as educators to see to it that every student learns to read, including students with disabilities. Over the course of the last 23 years, that goal has led to her supporting schools in a variety of roles, from teacher to coach to district leader to adult educator. In addition, Kristin has supported the education of teachers and administrators across the nation through Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) training while building and expanding their capacities as teachers of language. Kristin is very passionate in her desire to impact pre-service teachers and ensure they have the skills and tools to provide the best educational opportunities for all students within their classrooms.  She continues to strive to further cultivate her skills to support and prepare our educators entering the field as ’game changers’ for exceptional learners and the families that they will support.

• Michael Kay Mabe, Vice President

As a graduate of the University of Virginia and the Emory University School of Law, Michael Kay understands the value of educational opportunities. She has been an attorney for over 20 years. After her child was diagnosed with dyslexia, Michael Kay found herself on a journey to find out about dyslexia and how this would impact her child in the classroom now and in the future. Michael Kay understands the challenges that parents can face when navigating the educational system for their children who have learning differences. She strives to help parents learn about resources that are available to educate and support them as they advocate for their children with dyslexia. She is passionate that every child be afforded the opportunity to reach their full learning potential.

Region 7

Information coming soon!

Region 8

• Candi Sellers

Candi Sellers received her undergraduate in Elementary Education and her Master’s degree in Special Education: Mild to Moderate Disabilities. She has taught in public, private, and homeschool settings. Candi is an Accredited Training Fellow with OGA, CALT-QI with ALTA, SLDS with CERI, and a North Carolina-licensed teacher. She currently trains individuals in the Orton-Gillingham Approach, tutors individuals with learning differences, and consults with educators and families. Candi enjoys working with learners of all ages, providing support to families through their journey, and creating resources that can be easily implemented to support the success of students. As a lifelong learner herself, serving with IDANC allows her to grow, lead, and spread awareness.

• Anna Hall

After 20 years of teaching in the classroom, Anna Hall moved into leading Professional Development and Curriculum for Key School at Carolina Day School in Asheville, NC. She is a Fellow-in-Training for the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA) as well as an Instructor of Teaching for the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA). She has a master’s degree from King’s College in Reading, Multisensory Structured Language Education, and holds a North Carolina teaching certificate for K-12 in Reading. She also works as a Clinical Supervisor for Key Learning Center. Anna is a lifelong learner and professional in dyslexia education and is dedicated to helping educators learn best teaching practices as well as supporting students in building a strong foundation of literacy skills. 

• Carrie Erb

Carrie Erb received her undergraduate in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Montreat College. She taught for 21 years in public school as a first, second, and third grade teacher and as a Reading Specialist. Carrie is a Fellow in Training with OGA, CALT with ALTA, NBCT, and a NC-licensed teacher. She is currently the Director of the Key Learning Center and Tutoring Connection at Carolina Day School in Asheville, NC. Carrie is an active member of the KLC training team and loves to share her passion for improving structured literacy instruction and practices with all teachers and students. She believes strongly in the Orton-Gillingham approach and the life-changing effects it can have on the life of a child and their family.