Governance
The Council
The Council is comprised of one designated representative from each accredited training course. Representatives from training courses in the process of accreditation (Formal Candidates) are not members of the Council but are encouraged to attend meetings of the Council to become familiar with the work of IMSLEC.
The Board of Directors
The Board determines the policies and procedures of IMSLEC and directs and supervises its affairs. There are 15 Board members elected from the Council membership. The immediate past president and representatives from IDA and ALTA sit on the Board as non-voting members. One public member for every six Board members is elected by the Board from nominees submitted by accredited training courses.
The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of the Board is elected by the Board from its members. The committee includes the President, the Vice President / President-Elect, the Vice President / Accreditation, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. The President, assisted by the officers, manages the day-to-day business of IMSLEC, advises, and presents recommendations to the Board.
The Executive Director
The Executive Director is employed to administer and manage the affairs of the Council under the direction of the Executive Committee.
2024-2025 Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Sandra Donah, CALP, CDP
Board Position: PresidentTerm: 2024 - 2027
Organization: Western Massachusetts Learning Centers for Children
What IMSLEC Means to Me: IMSLEC upholds the highest standards in the field and has been instrumental in ensuring that WMLCC's training program aligns with the latest reading research. Their support strengthens the quality of our program, fostering excellence in educator preparation. Our partnership with IMSLEC elevates WMLCC, enhancing the quality and effectiveness of our training program.
Carin Illig, Ed.D, M.Ed., CIT, C-SLDS, CALT-QI
Board Position: Vice President / President-ElectTerm: 2024 - 2027
Organization: Children's Dyslexia Centers, Inc.
What IMSLEC Means to Me: IMSLEC provides a set of training standards and core content that ensure the quality of the training provided by the accredited courses. IMSLEC supports its members through a professional community. Together, we work on a shared goal by providing the highest quality training to educators and interventionists so they can effectively support children and adults who struggle with reading and writing skills.
Kay F. Peterson, M.S., LDT, CALT-QI
Board Position: Vice President / AccreditationTerm: 2020 - 2099
Organization: LEAD/Literacy Education & Academic Development, Inc.
What IMSLEC Means to Me: IMSLEC has been valuable to me because its membership includes course directors who value quality training. All IMSLEC courses are led by highly trained staff who provide intensive course instruction and supervise a practicum experience for each course participant.
Christine K. Bedenbaugh, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI
Board Position: TreasurerTerm: 2023 - 2026
Organization: Shelton School-SALA
Nancy Cushen White, Ed.D., BCET, CALT-QI, CDT, LDT
Board Position: SecretaryTerm: 2021 - 2025
Organization: Slingerland Institute for Literacy
Directors
Karen J Avrit, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI
Term: 2023 - 2026Organization: Scottish Rite for Children
What IMSLEC Means to Me: IMSLEC is important because it is the gold standard for accreditation. An accreditation from IMSLEC tells everyone that your organization has and maintains the highest standards in the field of dyslexia. It acknowledges that your organization will uphold the highest level of professionalism and knowledge when instructing individuals to serve students with dyslexia.
Deb A. Dwyer, M.Ed., OG-CTT, CDP
Term: 2024 - 2027Organization: Orton Gillingham of Minnesota
What IMSLEC Means to Me: IMSLEC supports the teaching of reading by setting high standards and creating a community of like-minded people and organizations worldwide. It promotes the best practices of explicit instruction when students need us to elevate our teacher's knowledge and practice while providing a place for collaboration.
Mary L. Farrell, Ph.D., OG-THT
Term: 2024 - 2027Organization: Fairleigh Dickinson University
What IMSLEC Means to Me: We have been accredited by IMSLEC since 1999! I like IMSLEC because its accreditation criteria are the gold standard for effective structured literacy training. Also, our IMSLEC accreditation provides assurance about the value of our program to the University, school districts with whom we work, teachers that we train, and parents.
Olive M. Hester, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI
Term: 2022 - 2025Organization: Scottish Rite Learning Center of West Texas
What IMSLEC Means to Me: Since 1997, the Scottish Rite Learning Center of West Texas Dyslexia Therapist Training Course has had the distinction of being an IMSLEC accredited training center. IMSLEC upholds the integrity of the profession by maintaining rigorous standards for multisensory structured language education training programs. Accreditation through IMSLEC ensures that therapists receive instruction grounded in the latest research, equipping them to deliver quality, evidence-based interventions for students with dyslexia. It is an honor to serve on the IMSLEC Board of Directors and contribute to the advancement of excellence in dyslexia therapy.
Deborah Lynam
Term: 2025 - 2028Organization: Public Member
Jamie Nettles, M.Ed, LDT, CALT-QI
Term: 2019 - 2025Organization: Rawson Saunders Institute
What IMSLEC Means to Me: IMSLEC remains the gold standard of structured literacy training for educators. The commitment to maintaining high expectations for top-tier content and instructional delivery is unshakable. Regardless of shifts and changes in the field, IMSLEC stands as a guiding beacon.
Jeanine L. Phillips, MSEd, CALT-QI
Term: 2019 - 2025Organization: Phillips Fundamental Learning Center, Inc.
Kathleen N. Rose, M.A.
Term: 2024 - 2027Organization: Public Member
What IMSLEC Means to Me: Teacher training programs that have earned IMSLEC accreditation yield the most effective teachers and therapists, fully equipping them with not only the science of reading, but with the practical aspects of teaching/improving reading skills from square one through adulthood. I consider IMSLEC accreditation to be the "Cadillac".
Laurie Wagner, CDP
Term: 2019 - 2025Organization: Brainspring Orton-Gillingham Phonics First and Structures I, II, III
What IMSLEC Means to Me: Since Brainspring was first accredited in 2003, I have been actively involved on both the IMSLEC Council and Board. IMSLEC accreditation is vital to our reputation as a company that trains teachers to teach specialized reading lessons to individuals struggling with dyslexia and other reading differences. IMSLEC holds accredited courses to the highest standards in our industry, making IMSLEC-accredited courses recognized as leaders in multisensory structured language education. When educators select Brainspring as an educational partner, they know our accreditation ensures they can trust our programs. As a result of our IMSLEC accreditation, Brainspring ensures responsiveness to the needs of teachers and students, and brings a highly sought-after program to the profession of teaching reading.