Every child deserves to love reading and writing.

Our instructional specialists are passionate about making this happen.

 

Education

  • M.Ed. from SMU

  • Undergraduate from UT Austin

  • Early Literacy Certification - SMU

  • Certified Academic Language Practitioner

  • Licensed Dyslexia Practitioner

  • Teaching licenses in K-6th and ELAR 4th-8th

Christine Duffy
M.Ed. CALP LDP

Christine began her career in the corporate world, but her passion for teaching and literacy sent her back to school to get her M.Ed. from SMU. She found herself becoming more interested in the science behind how children learn to read and decided to become a dyslexia and early literacy specialist.

Previously, Christine worked at Lakewood Elementary before deciding to open Literacy Love in Lakewood. Now she’s made it her goal to help children in East Dallas become rockstar readers and writers.

When she isn’t reading, Christine enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, and just hanging with her family. She has two young children, a wonderful husband and lives in Lake Highlands.

Other Affiliations

  • Board Member of the Dallas IDA

 

Ms. Allers - Instruction Specialist

Meet Susan Allers! She grew up in Long Island, New York. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish at Molloy College. She then went on to CW Post University (Now LIU) to earn her master’s degree in Bilingual Education.

Susan taught in Queens, New York in second grade for 9 years and then taught reading and social studies in 5th and 6th grade for 5 years. She then moved to NYC Public Schools and continued teaching 2nd and 5th grade. Next, she taught in a Dual Language Program. She ended her teaching career as an Attendance Coordinator before retiring.

She has a son and a daughter and two granddaughters and two grandsons.

Susan now tutors part time for Dallas ISD in reading and math. She volunteers at the Dallas Arboretum once a week in the gift shop. She is also an usher for the ATTPAC and occasionally volunteers at the Dallas Zoo. Susan loves yoga, especially restorative yoga and traveling!

Ms. Washington - Instruction Specialist

Meet Alexis Washington! She grew up in Dallas, Texas. She graduated from Texas Tech University where she majored in Mathematics and minored in art. She’s currently the art teachers at The King’s Academy, a math tutor, and a hip hop dancer/instructor.

Alexis started tutoring in college and found her spark! She tutors in grade 1 through 8 math, algebra 1 and 2, geometry, calculus 1, 2 and 3, and some college curriculum.

In August 2023, Alexis decided to join the Literacy Love team! When she is not busy at work, she loves being creative, journaling, dancing, painting, and spending time with friends and family.

Fun fact, Alexis has a slight hearing loss in both of her ears (more so in her left) and she sometimes wear hearing aids!

Ms. Cortes - Instruction Specialist

Meet Laila Cortes! She was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She moved to Austin, Texas where she earned a bachelor of science degree in Radio-Television and Film from UT Austin. Before coming to Dallas, she lived in San Francisco and in Boston.

In 1991 Laila moved to Dallas. She became a teacher in 1996 and was employed by Dallas ISD for 27 years. Most of her teaching experience took place at Lakewood Elementary, a school that holds near and dear to her heart.

Laila made the decision to retire from full time teaching at the end of the 2022-2023 school year, but she knew she was not ready to give up teaching entirely. She is honored to be a part of the Literacy Love team where she can do what she loves, pouring into students and helping them to hone their literacy skills.

She has two grown children who live on opposite ends of the United States. Her daughter Michaela is an RN at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland and her son Christian, a mechanical engineer, lives in San Jose and works for Apple. She lives with her beloved 10-year-old pug, Dorito.

Some things Laila loves to do when she is not teaching are traveling, reading, game nights, going to the movies, walking Dorito and spending time with her friends and family.

Ms. Young - Instruction Specialist

Jan Young was born and raised in Old Town, Maine. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in child development with a certification in teacher education in grades K-8 at the University of Maine, Orono. She completed her work for certification in gifted and talented education at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.

She taught  kindergarten for five years in Maine and then moved to Texas where she taught pre-k, kindergarten,first grade, and second grade in Grand Prairie ISD. H.E.B ISD, and Dallas ISD for a total of many (38) years in education, Most recently, she answered the call from Dallas Retired Teacher Association to tutor struggling students as a result of learning gaps suffered during the pandemic. She has been tutoring 4th and 5th graders in math and reading for DISD for three years.

Jan enjoys all water sports, the beach, the outdoors, biking, connecting with friends, reading, and traveling. She is very active in her church serving on several committees, as well as the board, and of course, teaching.

Ms. Wooley - Instruction Specialist

Meet Velma Wooley, a native of Dallas, TX. She graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelors in Early Childhood Development. She then received her Masters from Texas Woman’s in Communication Disorders.

Velma’s teaching career includes working at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, Lewisville ISD, Sudie Williams Elementary and 20 years at Lakewood Elementary. She retired after 44 years in education.

She loves working with students and helping them grow and is excited to be a part of the Literacy Love family.

Her hobbies include traveling, reading, cooking, and singing (especially in the woman’s chorus at her church).

Ms. Martha - Instruction Specialist/Dyslexia Therapist

Ms. Martha was born and raised in Colombia but has proudly called Dallas, Texas home since 2005. With over 15 years of experience in education, she earned her master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Academic Language Therapy from SMU in May 2024. Ms. Martha is a Licensed Dyslexia Therapist (LDT), Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT), Certified Wilson Therapist (WT), and holds a Texas Teaching Certification for EC-4 Generalist and Bilingual.

Her teaching career includes five years as a Bilingual Dyslexia Interventionist with Dallas ISD, six years as a K-3 Spanish teacher at the Dallas International School, and four years as a Pre-K bilingual teacher at Dallas ISD. Ms. Martha is passionate about supporting struggling readers by focusing on their strengths and empowering them to reach their full potential to become independent readers.

Ms. Martha is married to Alberto Pastor, a professor of Spanish Linguistics at SMU. They have one son, Alejandro, who is a first-year student at SMU. Ms. Martha and her family love traveling to Spain and Thailand during the summer.ion that is short, sweet, and to the point.

Ms. Bellamy - Instruction Specialist

Meet Lindsey Bellamy! She grew up in Dallas, Texas. Lindsey graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Centenary College of Louisiana. Upon graduation, she volunteered with Mission to the World to teach English as a Second Language in Mexico.

Lindsey then received her Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Certificate through Southern Methodist University and began her teaching career as a Reading Interventionist at Uplift Williams Primary. She spent four years as a first-grade teacher in Dallas ISD and 2016 participated in a Dallas ISD –SMU cohort to study Learning Therapy. As someone who struggled with learning difficulties, Lindsey jumped at the opportunity to participate in this program. She graduated with her Master’s in Education and specialization in Learning therapy from Southern Methodist University in May 2022.

Lindsey is also a Certified Academic Language Therapist, and this is her fifth year as a Dyslexia Interventionist with Dallas ISD.

Lindsey enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, and going on adventures with her beloved dog Elinor.

Mrs. Elson - Curriculum Writer/Social Media Creator

Meet Julianne Elson! She grew up in Arlington, Texas. She followed her dream to become a teacher and went to Oklahoma Christian, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education.


She met her husband, Matt in college and they got married in 2014. They moved back to Dallas for Matt to attend medical school at UTSW.

Julianne taught first grade for four years in Arlington, two years at Uplift Peak and then joined the Lakewood Elementary family, teaching first grade for another two years. In her eight years as a first grade teacher she continued to grow in her passion teaching literacy skills.

In January 2022 they welcomed baby Jack into their family and Julianne decided to join the Literacy Love team. When she is not at work she loves being creative, going on walks, and spending time with friends and family.

Julianne recently relocated to Boston for her husband, Matt, to complete his trauma surgery fellowship at MGH. She is continuing to help with K/2 curriculum and is behind the scenes on all of Literacy Love’s social media content.