Academic Associates

Last year I received my certification as a Reading Instruction Specialist with Academic Associates. This is a program that was developed over the past 20+ years by Cliff Ponder, a wise and gentle man. After many years as a school principal, Cliff was discouraged by the growing rate of students graduating with less than adequate reading skills. He developed a comprehensive, step-by-step protocol, using very simple rules to help students enhance their reading (and consequently, spelling) level. As students are introduced to each new concept, they automatically begin to read. Most students read at their appropriate level in only 30-60 hours. It is being used successfully in schools and centers around the world. Story upon story, life upon life—changed for the better.

It was not until I completed this training, that it became clear that the foundation for many of my successes can be traced back to my early elementary years - where a Catholic nun (with ruler in hand) helped ensure all of her students fully grasped these same principles. This was of course only bolstered by the love of reading shared by my parents and fostered in our home. (To this day, all of our homes host a tsunami of books in one corner or another.)

As I settle into my new, “non-corporate” life, I am excited to begin investing in our community. I am invigorated by the thought of helping adults and children to master the “gift” of reading. It opens up so many doors! It is an honor to be a part of an amazing group of people who are encouraging others to be, to do and to become MORE than they dared to hope or imagine.