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San Diego Branch of the
International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Board
Megan Cohen, M.Ed., President
Elena Mendoza Vice President
Steven Mayo, Treasurer
Christine Constantinou, M.A. L.E.P.,Secretary
Tracy Block-Zaretsky, Immediate Past-President
Spencer Wetter, Ph.D. Membership Chair
Debra Cohen, M.Ed.
DaLaura Kader
Kathleen Kubota
Stacey Layle M.D.
Barbara Stein Cureton, Ph.D.
Dale Webster, M.A.
Heather Williams
Cheryl A. Young, Ph.D.
 Megan
Cohen, President
Megan V. Cohen, M.Ed., Educational Therapist, is the owner and director of La Jolla LearningWorks, a private learning center that provides tutoring, test preparation, and educational therapy services. With over eight years of experience in one-on-one education, Megan specializes in reading intervention for dyslexia, study skills and metacognitive strategies, and standardized test preparation. Megan's professional background also includes teaching first grade in inner city Los Angeles through Teach for America and presenting teacher-training workshops on Dyslexia, Executive Functions, and Effective Teaching Methods across California.
A San Diego native, Megan received her B.A. from UC Berkeley in International Political Economy (2001) and her Master's degree in Elementary Education and California Teaching Credential from Loyola Marymount University (2004). Megan pursued her Certificate in Educational Therapy through UC Riverside Extension and has completed training on Lindamood-Bell's language processing programs, LiPS, Seeing Stars, and Visualizing and Verbalizing. She is also an active member of the Association for Educational Therapists (www.aetonline.com). Megan is excited to be working with a dynamic group of parents and professionals on the SD-IDA Board of Directors to promote literacy for all.
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 Elena
Mendoza Vice President
Elena Mendoza is an Educational Therapist and an expert in the remediation of language based
learning disabilities like dyslexia. As a former Consultant for Lindamood-Bell Centers, Elena
has over fifteen years experience with proven, process-based programs that address dyslexia,
non-verbal learning, central auditory processing, executive function, study skills, and time
management. In her spare time, Elena enjoys training for triathlons and spending time with
family and friends. She currently serves on the board at the San Diego branch of the International
Dyslexia Association.
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 Steven Mayo, Treasurer
Steven Mayo is the Owner/Director of NewBridge School, a K-8 program for children with
language-based learning differences, including dyslexia. Steven holds an Education Specialist
Credential and completed his Master's Degree program at San Diego State University. He has
extensive training in methodology, including advanced training in Slingerland, and experience
with Orton-Gillingham. He has directed private schools for children with learning differences
since 1989, and helped hundreds of young adults transition into successful academic careers at
high schools and universities across the country.
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 Christine Constantinou, M.A. L.E.P., Secretary
Christine Constantinou, M.A. L.E.P. is a Licensed Educational Psychologist, LEP#3173. She is the co-owner of Kids In
Harmony, a business that provides assessments in the areas of Intellectual, Educational, Social-
emotional, Behavioral, & Adaptive functioning. KIH also provides support to families for
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, parent training workshops, and individual/group,
education related counseling. Christine is especially passionate about the early identification of
reading disabilities and other learning disabilities impacting the lives of children and their
families. Christine received a BA in Psychology in 1999 and a dual Masters Degree in School Psychology
and Community and Counseling Psychology from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY in 2001. She has been
a practicing School Psychologist for more than 10 years in school districts around the country
including NY, HI, and CA. She has experience working with children ranging from Pre-school to High
School with varying levels of need.
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 Tracy Block, Immediate Past-President
Tracy Block is a Tutor/Learner Coordinator for READ/San Diego, the
adult literacy program of the San Diego Public Library. She has
been a tutor trainer for 10 years; has revised and updated the tutor
training modules; select materials, teaching techniques and strategies
for individual tutor/learner pairs; developed curriculum; conducted
assessments and trained volunteer assessors; coordinated workplace
literacy programs; conducted workshops in a variety of adult literacy
topics; tutored children and adults with learning disabilities;
developed the Families For Literacy Program at READ/San Diego; and
worked on a national initiative with the National Institute for
Literacy.
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Spencer Wetter, Ph.D., Membership Chair
Dr. Spencer Wetter, Ph.D. received his PhD at the University of California, San Diego
and San Diego State. He has worked extensively with children and adults providing
neuropsychological assessment. His experience includes several clinical populations,
such as Autism, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyslexia, Learning
Disabilities, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Dementia. His career has been dedicated
to understanding how these disorders affect the brain, how they impact people's lives,
and what are the most effective methods of intervention. Dr. Wetter currently continues
his work at The Applied Neuropsychological Institute in La Jolla, CA, and at Rady Children's
Hospital in San Diego, where he is also a contributing member of Pediatric Neuropsychology
Rounds.
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 Debra Cohen, M.Ed.
Debra Cohen, M.Ed. is an Educational Therapist and a credentialed special education teacher. Since 2005 Debra has been the director of the Learning Center at the San Diego Jewish Academy. Debra has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education, a Master's Degree in Special Education, and a Certificate in Educational Therapy. She also holds Resource Specialization Teaching Credential from the State of California. Debra has her Cross-cultural, Language and Academic Development (CLAD) certificate as well. Debra knows how to over come the struggles of having unique learning challenges. She was diagnosed with Dyslexia in the first grade and utilized resource assistance to guide her through her school career. Debra has taught as both a classroom teacher and as a Resource Specialist in the public and private school setting since 1996. She has taught in special day classrooms with children who had mild to moderate learning disabilities. Debra's private Educational Therapy practice has been operational since 2003. Debra is successful working with a range of students from diverse backgrounds and with diverse needs. She is currently co-facilitator of the San Diego AET Study Group.
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 DaLaura Louise Simonelli Kader
DaLaura Louise Simonelli Kader graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Calgary in 1991 and an LLB from the University of Alberta in 1993. She was called to the Bar in Alberta, Canada in 1994 and the Bar in British Columbia, Canada in 1998. She started her legal career with the National law firm Blake Cassels & Graydon as an Associate in the Corporate Law Department. She went on to serve as in- house legal counsel for many different companies, including Pembina Corporation, Canadian Airlines and Agrifoods International. After moving to the United States, DaLaura moved into the not for profit sector and worked part time for a Regenerative Medicine Foundation. She currently works for a privately held family corporation. DaLaura coached the Canadian Provincial Special Olympics Figure Skating team and sat on the Board of the Alberta Special Olympics. She presently sits on the Board of the International Dyslexia Association- San Diego Branch. DaLaura lives in San Diego, California with her husband and 3 kids.
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Stacey Layle, M.D.
Stacey received her B.S. from Alma College, and her M.D. from Wayne State University School
of Medicine. She is a veteran of the US Navy, where she served as a Family Physician in
multiple regions of the United States and Japan. Stacey has developed an interest for
dyslexia, as she is the parent of a dyslexic child. Her perspective is unique in that
she is also a military spouse, so has had to endure the challenges of dyslexia in multiple
school settings including private and public schools in the US, and Department of Defense
Schools in Europe. Stacey and her family have recently moved to the San Diego area where
the San Diego Branch of IDA has been an invaluable resource in assisting in diagnosing and
providing guidance and interventions for her child. Stacey feels she can contribute to the
board through her past and ongoing experiences of raising a child with dyslexia.
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 Barbara Stein Cureton, Ph.D.
Barbara Stein Cureton, Ph.D. is a licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY19680) and Marriage and Family
Therapist (MFC28348) working in a private practice setting. She has 20 years of counseling and
assessment experience working with children, adolescents and adults addressing learning,
developmental, and attention disorders as well as issues with anxiety and depression. Her
expertise includes providing appropriate assessments for adults seeking accommodations for
college or standardized assessments, such as the LSAT. She strives to assist individuals
and families with understanding the cognitive and emotional issues interfering with their
lives and to provide a plan to meet their needs. Prior to developing her private practice,
she worked with Developmental Specialists, a collaborative group addressing attention, learning,
and affective issues. She taught classes at UCSD Extension on learning disabilities, assessment,
and twice-exceptional students from 2005 to 2010. She earned a B.A. degree in Elementary Education
in 1978 and taught school as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Micronesia. Upon returning to the U.S.,
she taught different age groups, including special education, prior to beginning her doctoral program.
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Dale Webster, M.A.
Bio coming soon.
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 Heather Williams
Heather Noel Williams is owner and designer at Maple Glen Design and a parent of two sons - her oldest a dyslexic teenager who was first diagnosed at the age of eight years old. Finding just the right interventions and education needed for her son to begin his path towards success was not easy. She has worked with numerous professionals through the years, from reading specialists to psychologists, in order to better understand her sons struggles and needs. She has served as PTA Vice-President, School Site Council President and Secretary, as well as being a board member of the School Governance Council at her youngest sons public elementary school. In 2011, Heather designed the Spring Conference program for the San Diego Branch IDA and is looking forward to creating future SD-IDA materials for parents and professionals.
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 Cheryl A. Young, Ph.D.
Dr. Cheryl A. Young earned her doctorate in Special Education from the University of Texas at Austin and has taught students with dyslexia and learning disabilities for over fifteen years. She is trained in multiple evidence-based literacy programs including Orton-Gillingham. She has presented at national and international conferences and has published articles on the topic of literacy. As a university professor and the K-12 Reading Coordinator for the Washington State education agency, she has provided professional development to pre-service teachers, master teachers, administrators, and state leaders. She is currently the CEO of aVowәl Education, a learning center that specializes in instructional services for children with dyslexia.
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Our Mission:
Dedicated to the study and treatment of individuals with
specific language disability.
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