Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Region 1

• Callie Luker

Callie is an elementary special education teacher with licensure in both General and Adaptive Special Education. She has taught learners of all ages in the NC Public Schools for 16 years. Callie is an active member of the Council for the Exceptional Children and has delivered multiple workshops.  While employed by the Edenton Chowan Public Schools, she was recognized as a Teacher of Excellence and named Teacher of the Year.  She was also recognized 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 also believes that every person given the right strategy on a consistent basis can learn to read. Above all Callie believes that learning to read should be fun and accessible to all.              

Region 2

• Nikki Snow, Vice President

As an educator and parent, Nikki has a passion for promoting the understanding of the best practices in education that support the needs of all learners, but specifically those learners with dyslexia. In her 21 years in education, Nikki has worked as a literacy coach, reading specialist, tutor, mentor, and classroom teacher. She is currently the Associate Director of The Hill School of Wilmington where she also serves as the Tutoring Program Coordinator and a classroom teacher.  Nikki and her husband Matt reside in Calabash, NC.  She has three children, a step-daughter Kara (23), son Tanner (19), and daughter Jadelyn (16).

• Kristen Averell, Treasurer- Elect

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 HiIl 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.  

Region 3

• Wendy Goings

• Anna Britt Harty

Anna Britt Harty received her B.S. in Special Education (General Curriculum) from Appalachian State University and her M.Ed. in Reading Education from UNC Charlotte. Anna Britt was an Exceptional Children’s Resource Teacher at the elementary level for five years before transitioning to the General Education setting. She currently teaches Second Grade in Durham Public Schools. Anna Britt is currently on the tutoring staff for Hill Learning Center and is a 95RAP (previously HillRAP) Level II Instructor. Anna Britt is passionate about empowering students with learning differences and advocating for them and their families. 

• 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.

Region 4

• Laura Britt, Treasurer

Laura is a graduate of University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She has her BS in Special Education and a Masters 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 a 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

• Laura Dendy

Laura retired in 2021 after spending 38 years in public education. From 2016 – 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 Masters 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 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.

Region 5

• Aimee Gandee, Secretary

Aimee Gandee holds her B.A. in Special Education and M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education both earned from the University of Florida. She has taught in public and private schools, in both general education and special education settings. In her current role as Director of Educational Outreach and Wilson® Credentialed Trainer at Noble Academy in Greensboro, NC she supports teachers in their instruction of students with Dyslexia and provides training in The Wilson Reading System® nationally. She is passionate about working with children with special needs and their families She brings 24 years of experience as an educator and parent in the special needs community to IDANC.

Region 6

• Kyla Crews 

As the reading specialist for my school, I believe that it is part of my role to consistently obtain/expand on any knowledge as it relates to literacy/language instruction. This supports my instruction/interventions for my students as well supports the knowledge I deliver to other educators. I believe becoming a candidate for board membership will deepen my knowledge on dyslexia. This will then help me in spreading awareness, educating, and supporting teachers, colleagues, and students.

• Trina O’ Connor

Trina O’Connor received both her B.A. in Elementary Education and her M.Ed. in Reading Education from UNC Charlotte. Trina has worked in public, private, and independent schools in Ohio and North Carolina for over 20 years. Currently, Trina is the Lower School Division Head at the Fletcher School in Charlotte. Trina’s passion for educating and supporting diverse learners stems from personal experiences watching family members struggle with learning to read, write, and spell. She saw their struggles and wanted to be someone who could make a difference in the lives of those types of learners.

• Debbie Broxterman

 Debbie Broxterman has taught children with special needs in Early Childhood classrooms for 13 years and has provided language awareness workshops for teachers during that time. She has also worked as a tutor and consultant for families of children who are struggling with reading and became a Certified Member of the Orton  Gillingham Academy in August.  She currently teaches at The Fletcher School and is passionate about helping every child reach their full potential.  

• Chandler McIntyre

Chandler McIntyre received her BA in English from Columbia College, Columbia, SC. She has tutored privately for 9.5 years and is a Certified Level Member of the Orton-Gillingham Academy.  She also worked as a volunteer tutor with the Augustine Literacy Project in Charlotte, NC.  Currently, she teaches First and Second Grade Orton-Gillingham-based Language Arts classes at The Fletcher School in Charlotte, NC.  She believes deeply in the Orton-Gillingham Approach to Literacy and the positive impact that structured literacy has on all children and families.

• Laura Freeman

After graduating from NC State, Laura Freeman worked for 13 years as a corporate banker. She discovered the Orton-Gillingham (O-G) approach while serving as a volunteer tutor with Augustine Literacy Project. She switched her career to education in 2011. She is certified as an Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA) Associate and is pursuing the next level of OGA certification. She is also certified as a CERI Structured Literacy Dyslexia Practitioner. Laura is a private literacy coach and advocate for children of all ages. She also works for Key Learning Center as a Language Coach for OGA practicum trainees. Laura lives in her hometown of Charlotte. She is the founding Vice President of The Reading League North Carolina.

• 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

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 for 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 desires 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

Region 7

Information coming soon!

Region 8

• Candi Sellers, President

Candi Sellers received her undergraduate in Elementary Education and 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 in the life of a child and their family.