Springfield Center for Dyslexia and Learning Team

Angie Jones, B.S.E., CALT – ICALP
Angie began working at the Center in 2019. She is married to her husband, Rob, and has three grown children and one granddaughter. Her favorite things include spending time with family, reading and shopping! Angie says “Working with my students at the Dyslexia Center is the best job ever! I love seeing my students grow in both skills and confidence!”

Bobbie Simmons, CALP
Bobbie is recently retired from Willard Public Schools where she taught 4th grade for 10 years and 5th grade math for 15 years. She received a bachelor of arts degree from Drury University and a masters degree in educational administration from William Woods University. Since retiring in 2016, she worked at OTC as a part time academic advisor. Education is her passion, and her greatest joy as a teacher is to witness a child’s success.

Bobbie has 4 grown children and 3 beautiful grandchildren. She is a home body and enjoys going to flea markets, estate sales and auctions looking for junk that can be repurpose into something unique for her home. She loves to read and wants that enjoyment of a good book for all of her students.

Breana Payne

Caressa Clark, CALT
Caressa has served the students of Southwest Missouri in the public school system for ten years.  She has taught students kindergarten through second grade.  She has a Bachelors of Science in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from College of the Ozarks.  She obtained her Masters in Educational Technology from the University of Central Missouri in 2016.  Caressa started her training at Springfield Center for Dyslexia and Learning in 2021 and will be working alongside SCDL to serve and advocate for their students.

Caressa loves helping kids! She is passionate about serving and advocating for students and families.  Caressa loves music, nature, and spending time with her family!

Cris Spinelli, CALT
Cris has a B.S. in Health Science from Truman State University and has recently trained in the Take Flight Program. She loves working at the Springfield Center for Dyslexia and Reading, helping students gain reading confidence and reaching their fullest potential. She has been married to Dr. Spinelli, a physician at CoxHealth, for 20 years. They have three busy children, two dogs, two fish and a lizard. She enjoys reading, running, family time and laughing as often as possible.

Dana Ledbetter

Jayna Bruns, Office Manager
Jayna has worked in the non-profit sector throughout her professional career in youth services and healthcare. She provides general administrative support for the organization, including acting as the point of reference for outside inquiries and managing marketing efforts, online presence, and scheduling. Jayna specializes in communications and marketing, and is thrilled to be part of the SCDL team.

Jayna graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication with a minor in Art History from the University of Missouri. She was born and raised in small town mid-Missouri, and is proud to call the Ozarks home. Jayna’s favorite place to be is spending time with her husband, Nathan, and two young sons.

Jenny Craig

Karen Collins, CALT
Karen just currently teaches in the Willard school district. She has taught Early Childhood Special Education Pre-school, Kindergarten, and First grade. She has been a Reading Recovery teacher for many years and most recently trained in the Take Flight program.

She is married with two adult children. Karen’s passion to help students realize their true potential and teach to how each student learns!

Kerry Bodenhausen
Kerry received Take Flight training after retiring from 10 years in special education with Springfield Public Schools. She enjoys helping students understand how to deal with their challenges and maximize their success. Kerry’s work at the Springfield Center for Dyslexia & Learning is a continuation of her career of providing information in various ways. She has a master’s degree in special education from Missouri State University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Univ. of Missouri-Columbia. She loves to be creative, read, write, watch movies, travel, and spend time with her husband, Brad, and son, Mike.

Leisa Hicks, M. Ed., CALT-QI
Leisa is a retired public school teacher. She taught in the Dallas County R-1 Schools for 25 years. While in the district, she taught third-grade, Reading Recovery, and served as a Title 1 Reading Specialist and Literacy Coach.

Leisa has a B.S. and M.Ed. in Elementary Education and is certified in Reading K-12. She holds CALT and QI certifications with the Academic Language Therapy Association. Leisa is married and has three grown children and two grandsons. She and her husband live on a farm in Buffalo and raise beef cattle.

Maria Monier, CALT
Maria has extensive experience teaching. She spent her first 8 years teaching first grade in Springfield and finished her classroom teaching career of 28 years in second grade at Willard Central.

During her last few years of teaching, she became interested in learning more about dyslexia and that is when she decided to pursue training at the Center. She has found the Take Flight Program to be very beneficial to students who struggle in reading and writing. Maria also recognizes how the Take Flight program has had a positive impact on each student’s self esteem and increased confidence in learning.

You may also find her volunteering at her grandsons school to help students with reading and writing activities in the classroom. She is married and has 2 grown children and 2 grandchildren. She loves spending time with her family!

Marla McKan, M. Ed., CALT-QI
Marla was a public school teacher for 19 years. She has taught K through 2nd grade, and Title 1 reading. She is certified Birth-6th grade and Special Education K-12. Marla began her Dyslexia journey in 2012. She is a Certified Academic Language Therapist and a Qualified Instructor in Take Flight. As the Center’s psychometrist, she also conducts all evaluations and screeners.

marla@scdlmo.com

Marsha Maroney, ALT in Training

Mary Swann, CALT
Mary taught for 27 years in the Willard School District. She was privileged to have been a classroom teacher for 15 years and a reading specialist for 12 years. She holds two degrees from Southwest Missouri State: a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Education.

She enjoys spending time with her family, quilting, gardening and reading. Teaching with the Take Flight comprehensive program is meaningful because students are developing the quality of self-confidence when taking on literacy learning.

mary@scdlmo.com

Melissa Tiller, CALT
Melissa went to (S)MSU and graduated in 1996 with a BS in Education. She’s taught/worked for First steps (ages 0-3) and Kindergarten all the way up to middle school. She is currently a Middle School Special Ed Teacher with Republic schools.

Melissa loves to be home and relax with a Hallmark movie, her puppy, and her son. She also likes to destress by refinishing furniture. She love teaching and helping students be successful and gain confidence in all they do.

Sabrina Mason, CALT

Sandy Hall
Sandy has been teaching for 30 years in the public school system. She taught preschool in the Kirkwood School District, 1st grade in the Camdenton School District and Savannah School District, and 3rd Grade in the Strafford School District.She served as a reading specialist in the Strafford School District for 14 years before retiring. Sandy is married, has 2 children and became a grandmother recently. Sandy began my dyslexia journey 2 years ago and is excited to have the opportunity to continue helping others overcome reading difficulties.

Shanna Clearwater

Tammy Phipps, CALT

Wendy Felton

Jeanne Manke
Therapists

Katie Williams
Therapists