Board of Directors

	Rachel Libick – Past President Rachel Libick is the Owner and Executive Director of Applied Learning Processes. She purchased Applied Learning Processes in 2017, when founder Billie Calvery officially retired. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a minor in history. She joined the ALP staff in 2009 and has worked as a clinician, tester, and supervising clinician. During her tenure at ALP, Rachel has helped develop new clinical strategies, create training programs, and recently developed a long-distance program tailored to the intensive treatments ALP provides. She regularly consults with parents and other professionals and writes individualized treatment plans for clients as well as overseeing the clinical staff.
	Allison Winters – President Allison has been a nationally certified speech-language pathologist for nearly 25 years. She is the owner of Speech Ability, LLC, a private practice that specializes in evaluating and treating various reading disorders. In 2017 Allison gained certification as a structured literacy teacher through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction and had completed a Master Class through the Auditory Processing Institute of Specialists. Memberships include ASHA, Kansas State Speech-Language and Hearing Association (KSHA), International Guild of Auditory Processing Institute (IGAP), American Academy of Private Practice in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, and the International Dyslexia Association. When not working, Allison enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends, baking, and playing with her two dogs, Sassy and Sydney.
	Kristi Ripley – Vice President Kristi has been an active board member of the KSMO IDA branch since 2016. She has consecutively held an executive board role for the past 3 years. During the last 6 years she has been an integral role and chair of our multistate conferences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and Family Studies and has maintained a career for over 25 years in healthcare. Currently Kristi is the Director of Operations within the dental industry. She is a professional member of COPAA, The American Tourette Association, IDA, and Decoding Dyslexia MO. She is a passionate, qualified leader in advocacy with 20 years of accomplished work in advocacy for children and adults spanning a variety of unique needs such as crime victims, foster children, patients in healthcare, and special education. All of this work in advocacy has led her to become a Certified Special Education and Dyslexia Advocate. In conjunction with this certification she has completed specialized training through an IDA-approved Orton Gillingham training program. She is married with two grown children, one grandson, 2 granddaughters, and stays extremely busy with her active, athletic, and brilliant 14-year-old son, that has both Tourette and Dyslexia.
	Jennifer Kidd – Secretary Jennifer Kidd has 17 years of experience in elementary education as a general education classroom teacher, special education teacher, literacy instructional coach, literacy interventionist, and math interventionist. Jennifer graduated from Baylor University with BS in Elementary Education with reading specialization. She earned a master’s degree in Special Education from the University of North Texas with certification as an educational diagnostician. Jennifer currently serves as an intervention teacher at Jay Shideler Elementary School in Auburn Washburn USD 437 in Topeka, KS. She teaches multiple students with dyslexia utilizing a Structured Literacy approach. When not teaching, her two young children, husband, extended family, and dog bring much joy to her life.
	Rachel Hancock – Treasurer Rachel is a CPA from Olathe, KS, who works as an auditor in a bank. Her interest and passion for contributing to the IDA community have come about since her daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia. Rachel’s skills lie in finances, and she would like to use those skills to help our IDA board achieve our goals. Rachel is passionate and eager to do what she can to help children and adults with dyslexia.
	Mary Howard – Board Member Mary Howard is an Instructional Facilitator for the Pauline South Intermediate School in Topeka, Kansas. She is responsible for facilitating continuous improvement in classroom instruction by providing instructional support to teachers by demonstrating the alignment of research-based instruction with curriculum standards and assessment tools. Her role also includes the development and implementation of professional development at the building and district levels. Mary is responsible for providing teachers with an understanding of current research along with how to integrate technology into instruction. Mary is currently a LETRS facilitator for her district and a Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner. Mary has over 20+ years of experience in the education field as a classroom teacher, interventionist, tutor and literacy coach. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Kansas State University, and later a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas.
	Stephen Schwartz – Board Member Stephen Schwartz, Ed.D. is certified in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, and Special Reading. He received his doctoral degree from Lindenwood University where he studied the best practices for teaching reading to students that are considered at risk for dyslexia. His experience includes teaching 1st grade and Kindergarten over the past 15 years. Dr. Schwartz was the Valley Park Teacher of the Year in 2012 and a top 6 finalist for the Missouri Teacher of the Year program as well. He has three children and a beautiful wife. His wife, Sara, is also an educator and she teaches remedial reading.
	Patti Haberberger – Board Member Patti Haberberger holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from The University of Missouri – Columbia, a Masters of Arts in Teaching with an Emphasis in Reading from Webster University, and a Dyslexia Therapist Certification from The University of Arkansas. Patti has experience teaching as a general classroom teacher in the St. Louis area. She has been a Reading Specialist for 17 years. This experience includes teaching at the elementary level (kindergarten – fifth grade), as well as at an alternative high school (ninth – twelfth grade). Patti is working towards her CALT (Certification Academic Language Therapist), and is currently teaching at Crestwood Elementary School using a variety of Structured Literacy approaches such as Take Flight, IMSE, Barton, and LETRS. When she is not teaching, her husband Kevin and 4 children – Sam, Joey, Ben and Annie – keep her happy, fulfilled and busy.
	Crystal Woodin – Board Member Crystal Woodin is currently a Kindergarten teacher in a local school district. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology. She is currently working towards her Orton-Gillingham Dyslexia Certification through Brainspring. She received a scholarship from KS/MO IDA as a classroom teacher and it transformed her approach to teaching children how to read. She works to educate teachers about dyslexia and support them as they are supporting students. Dyslexia is a passion for her and she works as a dyslexia advocate for students and support for parents who are on this path with their child. She knows the path well since her own son has dyslexia. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Vernon and they share two sons; Benjamin and Jackson. She enjoys spending time with them, movie nights, travel, baking and football.
	Stacy Nyp – Board Member Stacey Nyp is starting her 15th year in elementary education. Stacey has been a general education classroom teacher, teaching grades K-3rd. At the start of the 2015-2016 school year Stacey transitioned from the general education classroom into a resource classroom. This is where she became familiar with a Structured Literacy approach. Stacey graduated from Washburn University with her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She then graduated from Baker University with her Master’s in School Leadership and later pursued a Master’s in High Incidence Special Education from Fort Hays University. This year Stacey has taken on a new role as a special education consulting teacher. She is now able to share her knowledge of dyslexia and Structured Literacy with the teachers she works directly with. When not working, her children’s activities keep her busy. She and her husband are avid Chiefs’ fans who also love to travel, whenever they can squeeze a trip into their busy schedules.
	Colleen Zink – Board Member Colleen Zink has over 20 years of experience in education. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s in curriculum and instruction, both earned at the University of Kansas. She taught for 16 years in the general education classroom before completing her reading specialist program at Fort Hays State University. While working for 5 years as the reading specialist, she completed her Orton-Gillingham training through Orton-Gillingham Academy and is now a Fellow-in-Training with the Academy. Currently, Colleen works as the Dyslexia Coordinator for the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, KS.
	Aubrey Sydow – Board Member Aubrey Sydow is a Dyslexia Therapist and Advocate, providing intervention, support and advocacy to families in the private setting. She is currently completing Orton-Gillingham training through Fundamental Learning Center to become a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT). Given that dyslexia runs in her family, she has witnessed first-hand the lasting impact of quality, evidence-based instruction in the hands of passionate, equipped educators. She is committed to expanding access to structured literacy intervention through advancing comprehensive teacher training, raising community awareness, and facilitating difficult conversations to dismantle misconceptions regarding literacy outcomes and learning disabilities.
	Laci Reamer-Board Member Laci is the Community Activities Program Coordinator for TARC Inc. She also operates a nonprofit organization called You’ve Got a Friend. She enjoys helping her son give to children and families in need within their community. Laci is a trained Education Advocate for the state of Kansas and enjoys guiding parents in their child’s IEP journeys. Her commitment to the IDA came to mind when her son was diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia. Laci’s skills lie in grant writing, advocacy, and community outreach. She looks forward to the collaboration with the board to help achieve our IDA goals. She is honored to be a part of the team and stands by our mission. She is very passionate about connecting with parents, children, and adults who are navigating life with dyslexia. When not working, Laci enjoys doing anything and everything with her two boys and family. She loves supporting her husband who is a firefighter, and she is a huge dog lover.
	Brent Moore-Board Member Brent Moore is a licensed professional counselor in Missouri and a licensed clinical professional counselor in Kansas. He holds a PhD in health psychology, MA in clinical psychology, and MBA. Dr. Moore is director and associate professor of clinical mental health counseling at Indiana Wesleyan University. He is also founder of Neural Pathways Learning Center, a clinic that specializes in helping treat anxiety, attention, and focus issues, particularly in academic settings. Dr. Moore is a registered play therapist and specializes in assessments. He is married to Nikki and has two children.
	Lisa Howell-Board Member Lisa is an Education Advocate and Family Resource Specialist for Families Together Inc., Kansas’ federally designated Parent Training & Information Center and Family-to Family Health Information Center. Through Families Together, Lisa provides individualized assistance and training to support the academic, behavioral, social, emotional and mental well being of children, youth and families. Lisa has also found a passion in the Education Advocate program where she trains, appoints, and oversees advocates to be special education decision makers for eligible children. She has a high school aged son who has Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, and an auditory processing disorder. Learning about and advocating for the challenges that he faces every day has led Lisa to encourage, educate and empower families across Kansas to effectively advocate for their own children.