Board of Directors

Jane Cooper – President

Jane’s interest in learning disabilities and dyslexia began during her first teaching assignment as a second grade teacher in Cape Town, South Africa. She earned  a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of South Africa, her teaching credentials from the Cape Town College of Education, and a postgraduate diploma in Remedial Education from the University of Stellenbosch.  Jane has taught in a variety of school settings over the years – from a large inner-city community school in London, England to a small private remedial school in Johannesburg, South Africa.  She currently works as a dyslexia intervention specialist.

The IDA’s mission statement reads, ‘… that all individuals have the right to achieve their potential.’  This is extremely dear to Jane’s heart.  During her tenure as president she hopes that the Oregon Branch will grow and continue its 40-year tradition of excellence in advocating for those who experience dyslexia as well as for their families.

Jane has lived in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two teenage children since 2010. She loves traveling, the arts and the great outdoors.  With all its natural beauty, she considers being able to call the Pacific Northwest her home, a privilege.   Please email directly:  orbidajane@gmail.com

Danielle Thompson – President Elect

Danielle’s journey into dyslexia began when people she cared about found out they were dyslexic and she realized she needed to learn more.  The more she learned of the science of dyslexia and the science of reading, the more she began to understand why many of her high school students continued to struggle with reading, writing, and spelling despite their best efforts over the years.

A public high school teacher for over 20 years, and a dyslexia screener and tutor, Danielle joined the Board of Directors of IDA-Oregon Branch out of a desire to improve the life of the next struggling student in her classroom, as well as all students and adults with dyslexia, and to share best practices with the educators, parents, and professionals who want to learn more.  Please email directly:  orbidadanielle@gmail.com

Elizabeth Dove – Vice President

Elizabeth (Liz) Dove is a native Portlander, growing up in East County. Liz has a degree in Political Science, with a focus on minority studies, from Portland State University.  Liz is the Development Director at Park Academy.  Park Academy is the only school in Oregon with an articulated elementary through high school curriculum specifically designed for students with dyslexia and other language learning differences.  Through her work at Park Academy, and as the Development Chair on the ORBIDA board, Liz believes that everyone can make a difference in their own way. She enjoys helping individuals and organizations discover how their time, talent and treasures can impact the dyslexic community.  Liz lives in Washington County with her wife and their dog Benny. Liz loves to read, cook and visit the Oregon Coast. She is a season ticket holder for the Portland Thorns and enjoys cheering on the US Women’s National Soccer Team.  Please email directly:  orbidaelizabeth@gmail.com

Dr. Jim Snyder – Treasurer

Jim Snyder has spent the last 16 years in the education field as a marketer and researcher working with educators around the world.  He has a BA in physics and mathematics from Kenyon College, an MS in Physics from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from Portland State University.  He earned an Ed.D. in 2010 from George Fox University and his dissertation was on the use of audio in computerized adaptive assessments.  In August 2013 he joined Quality Matters working to market quality assurance in online education to Higher Ed and K12 institutions.  His focus is on expanding Quality Matters presence in K-16 education space.  In addition, since 2003, Dr. Snyder has been the director of the NW Education Cluster (collection of more than three dozen Portland area companies networking to learn about each other’s businesses, discover synergies, and explore the potential of the education/training industry as an economic driver for Portland and its metro area).  Jim is married with 2 kids (17 and 15) and enjoys running and playing soccer in his free time.  Please email directly:  orbidajims@gmail.com

Christy Coss – Secretary

Christy Coss is originally from Memphis, Tennessee, but moved to Portland permanently in 2010.  Christy finished her training in Pediatric Medicine at Dorenbecher Childrens’ Hospital in 2003.  After that, she worked in small town Arkansas for 7 years doing pediatric clinic and hospital medicine.  Since 2010, she has focused on newborn care at Kaiser Permanente.  She discovered that her son had learning differences in 2012.  This provided her with an opportunity to realize she loves teaching.  Through homeschooling she has enjoyed helping her children develop their independence, self esteem, and love of learning.  She believes everyone has talents that are waiting to be discovered.  She is excited to help ORBIDA continue to improve our dyslexic community.  She lives in Washington County with her husband, 2 kids and 5 cats.  You can find her out and about all over Portland looking for fun ways to keep learning.  Please email directly:  orbidachristy@gmail.com

Directors

Michele Barnett – Director

Michele is passionate about supporting dyslexic students to reach their full potential, and raising awareness of dyslexia in our community. Her work is inspired by the discovery of dyslexia in her own family tree, and the experience of  advocating for children with learning differences. Her skills are grounded in a long career devoted to assessing challenges, building partnerships, and working together to solve complex problems in the field of healthcare. Michele is driven to help families and schools understand both the advantages and challenges that dyslexia creates, and to implement practical plans that empower dyslexic students to excel.  Michele is Certified as a Dyslexia Screener and Consultant through the University of San Diego (USD) Extension graduate-level course provided by Susan Barton, one of the world’s leading dyslexia experts. Michele also completed the USD graduate-level Dyslexia Advocate Certificate Program provided by Dr. Kelli Sandman-Hurley of the Dyslexia Training Institute. Michele is a Certified Barton Tutor, and actively uses the Barton Reading & Spelling System for specialized one-to-one student tutoring. Michele is a Decoding Dyslexia Ambassador, and she is also the Co-Founder of the Lake Oswego Parent Dyslexia Community, creating connections and support for parents of dyslexic students.  Michele’s background includes over 20 years in consultative sales and client management in the healthcare industry. She holds an MBA With Honors from St. Mary’s College, a B.A. from Cornell University with a major in Psychology, and completed recent undergraduate coursework in Education for Children’s Literature and Foundations in Elementary Mathematics at Portland Community College.

Jared Blank – Director

In January 2018 I ran the World Marathon Challenge (7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days) to raise awareness and $50,000 for the International Dyslexia Foundation. Why? Because at the age of five I was diagnosed with Dyslexia and Sensory Processing Disorder, and with the support of my incredible family and community, I beat the odds.  I graduated from USC and then went on to earn two Masters degrees.  I kept this part of my life secret for a very long time, afraid that the stigma of a Learning Challenge would alter how people saw me and the opportunities that I’d have.  Now, I’m sharing my story and your support means the world to me; dyslexia is not a limiting factor, it’s a superpower.  For more information, let’s talk!   jaredsblank@gmail.com

Kate Franken – Director

Kate Franken, MAT, started her professional life as an adolescent counselor, but soon learned that helping students with literacy issues brought out her love of both teaching and language.  She began her training in Orton-Gillingham with Dorothy Whitehead in 1994, and has been supporting students with dyslexia and their families, teachers, and communities ever since.   She is now a Special Education teacher in the Parkrose District, and is certified by IDA as a Dyslexia Therapist and AOGPE as a Certified Orton-Gillingham Practitioner and Educator.  A Colorado native, Kate has lived in southeast Portland since 1985, raising two (currently) teenage sons and, over the years, a small herd of dogs and cats.  She feeds birds, and is learning at a remedial pace to identify them.  Kate is always curious, and appreciates good books, good friends, good food (cooking less than eating), a good laugh, and living in this fine community in the Pacific Northwest.

Tanya Dix Haas – Director

It is an honor to serve on the IDA – Oregon Branch Board of Directors.  As a mother of two dyslexic boys, I started on this reading journey over 8 years ago when my eldest son started to struggle with reading in Kindergarten. I was confused, frustrated and felt helpless, but then met our dyslexia tutor and everything changed. She mentored, educated, supported and guided me to be a better parent to a child with dyslexia.  And most importantly she is teaching my son how to read, write and express himself.  She has given him the gift of confidence. That is why I want to serve on this board. It took one person to change our world and I want to support all of you out there that may be that “one person” for the next family. Because reading changes lives!

Rachel Hansen – Director

Rachel Hansen is a graduate of the University of Oregon, and after working for 3 years post- grad, returned to graduate school to obtain a MAT at Pacific University with a focus on Secondary Education in Biology and Health. She took a hiatus from teaching to raise her three children, and became an avid volunteer in schools and youth ministry. During this time Rachel became a passionate advocate for students with dyslexia and ADHD. She has first-hand experience with the diversity of learning differences from her experiences with her own 3 children, two of whom have dyslexia and/or ADHD. Rachel is passionate about advocating for dyslexia-related issues by educating parents and teachers about dyslexia and real life application for students.  Outside of teaching and dyslexia advocacy, Rachel loves traveling, playing and coaching soccer, running, hiking, reading, doing art projects, and watching and rooting for the Oregon Ducks during football season!

Shelbe Park – Director

Andrew Peterson – Director

Andrew Peterson moved from NYC to Portland in 2014.  He grew up in the Midwest and earned his B.A. in Spanish, International Relations, and Latin American Studies at UW-Madison.  He later earned his M.S. Ed in Childhood Education from Hunter College in Manhattan.  Andrew taught 4th grade in the NYC area, was Director of Education at an elite test-prep company in NYC, and founded NW Budding Scholars in 2014.  He is trained in the NOW! Foundations for Speech, Language, Reading, and Spelling, a multi-sensory program designed to increase phonological awareness and processing which improves reading and spelling.  He is an avid reader of the latest research in the field of dyslexia, and empowers students intellectually and emotionally by teaching them how dyslexia “works”.  Andrew currently lives in Vancouver, WA with his wife and son, and counts Cannon Beach as his favorite Oregon getaway.

Betsy Ramsey – Director

Betsy Ramsey is retired as a Research Associate from the Knight Cancer Institute of Oregon Health & Sciences University. She joined IDA in 1991 where she found help in dealing with her son’s dyslexia diagnosis in the form of the Reversals Support Groups. The IDA activated her passion as an advocate for improving public understanding of learning disabilities, bringing scientific methods to education research, and translating research to practice in the classroom. In 2006 she co-author with Lee Sherman The Reading Glitch, How the Culture Wars Have Hijacked Reading Instruction and What we can Do About It. Betsy currently serves IDA-OR as Information and Referral Specialist, representative to the Oregon Dyslexia Advisory Council, and as a presenter for teacher training activities.

Connie Rice – Director

Connie Rice was born in Southern California and relocated to Oregon in 2004.  She earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in English Literature from California State University, Long Beach, where she also completed her teaching license in Secondary English and Social Studies.  In 2006, Connie was awarded her Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Technology from Grand Canyon University. In 2009, Connie secured her ESOL endorsement after working with migrant students and completing over 60 hours of training in SIOP strategies. Finally, in 2011 she began learning about ways to support dyslexic students by completing courses, including the Dyslexia Advocate program, through the Dyslexia Training Institute.  Currently, Connie is studying the Orton-Gillingham Program and expects to complete her Associate’s level of training in 2018.  Connie has taught in the public sector for 19 years at both the middle and high school levels.  She works diligently to address specific concerns seen in the mastery of reading, writing, and speaking during these critical years.  Developing clear language and teaching strategies to help the weakest of students master high level concepts is a mainstay in her teaching philosophies.  Connie currently works with middle school and high school students at Catalyst High School in Newberg.  This alternative learning program allows her the opportunity to put all her training into practice on a daily bases.

 Katie Vincent – Director