Born out of a passion to assist those who struggle with literacy, LTR Tutoring Associates was founded in 2004. Today, in addition to providing instruction to struggling readers, we have broadened our mission to include literacy and dyslexia awareness through community service.
We are experienced, trained, and certified instructors and trainers in a number of research-based multisensory literacy programs, including the Wilson Reading System®, Just Words®, Fundations®, LANGUAGE! and Project Read strands. These programs fulfill the recommendations published by the National Reading Panel and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s (NICHD) research and findings.
Cheri McManus, Ed.D.
Co-Founder & Co-Director
Wilson® Credentialed Trainer
Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist
CERI Certified Dyslexia Specialist
CERI Certified Dyslexia Interventionist
Cheri McManus, Ed.D. is certified by Wilson Language Training® as both a Wilson Credentialed Trainer and a Wilson Dyslexia Therapist. The Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI) has also certified Cheri as a Dyslexia Specialist and Dyslexia Interventionist. She worked for more than 25 years in both the public and private educations settings.
Cheri has trained hundreds of teachers in all of the Wilson® programs, including Fundations®, Just Words® and the Wilson Reading System®. She has worked with dozens of school systems as a trainer, both in the US and abroad. It is her hope that through her work with teachers that she can positively impact even more struggling readers.
Cheri served as a faculty member at Rivier University, in Nashua, NH and Fitchburg State University, in Fitchburg, MA. and Drexel University in Philadelphia PA.
Cheri earned the degree of Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) from New England College, in Henniker, NH. in 2018. She currently serves on the Founding Board of Directors for The Reading League New Hampshire as its’ secretary. She is a former Board Member of the NH Branch of IDA, and Board of Governors, for the 32° Masonic Learning Center in Nashua, NH. Cheri retains membership in the Learning Disabilities Association and the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).
Dianne Melim, M.A.
Co-Founder & Co-Director
Wilson® Credentialed Trainer
Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist
Dianne Melim, M.A. has worked in the field of education since 1980. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education and Special Education, an M.A. in Counseling Psychology, and a Graduate Certificate in Dyslexia and Language-Based Learning Disabilities. She is NH state certified as an Experienced Educator and General Special Educator and was licensed as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor. She is also a Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist certified by the International Dyslexia Association, along with being a certified Wilson® Dyslexia Trainer.
Dianne is a Wilson® Credentialed Trainer and is able to provide WRS Level I and Level II Certification courses as well as Just Words® and Fundations® Launch workshops. Dianne has provided reading instruction to students of all ages including primary, elementary, middle school, high school and adults, and has provided professional learning to hundreds of teachers. She has worked in public and private settings as a tutor, Special Education teacher, case manager, and multisensory reading teacher.
Dianne also has many years of experience as a psychometrist, evaluator, and therapist in both inpatient and outpatient settings, and has worked for Northeast Psychiatric Associates, Brookside Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Nashua for the Office of Neuropsychology, Learning and Behavioral Medicine.
Dianne is a member of the Learning Disabilities Association and the International Dyslexia Association. She has worked in public and private settings as a counselor, tutor, consultant, Special Education teacher, case manager and Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist. She also served on the Board of Governors for the Masonic Learning Center for Children in Nashua, NH.
LTR PROFESSIONALS
Our tutors maintain the highest levels of integrity, ethics and professionalism, including protecting and respecting client confidentiality.
Nicole Cotnoir, MS, SLP CCC
Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist
Nicole Cotnoir is an American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) certified and New Hampshire licensed Speech Language Pathologist. Nicole received a bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from the University of New Hampshire in 1996 and a master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professionals in 1998. With a desire to earn higher education in the field of literacy and dyslexia, she earned a master’s degree in Special Education/Guided Dyslexia Studies from Fitchburg State University in 2022. Nicole has worked in New Hampshire public schools for 23+ years with students ranging from kindergarten to high school. She spent five years in the Londonderry School District, eighteen years in the Allenstown School District and is currently employed with the Concord School District. In her position as a speech language pathologist, she comprehensively evaluates students and plans treatment, therapy, and intervention for students with communication disorders, academic challenges, and language learning disorders.
Nicole is a Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist and Wilson® Credentialed Trainer. Nicole has been providing private tutoring services through LTR using the Wilson Reading System® for several years to students with dyslexia and other reading challenges. Nicole is passionate about delivering phonics-based instruction in a systematic, explicit, multisensory fashion using diagnostic data to drive instruction in a prescriptive and individualized manner to her students. She is also passionate about supportively guiding teachers through their journey of quality professional development in the Wilson Reading System® so that they may best serve the educational needs of children and support literacy development in a sound and expert manner.
Evelyn DeRosa BS, NBPTS
Wilson® Credentialed Trainer
Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist
Evelyn holds a BS degree in Elementary Education. She received her National Board Certification as an Early Childhood Generalist in 2002 and earned her recertification in 2012. Evelyn worked in the Arlington Public School System in MA for 28 years as a classroom teacher, reading coach, Wilson® Credentialed Trainer, in-district for Arlington Public Schools, and coordinator of English Language Arts for grades K-5.
Evelyn attended the Coaches Institute and the Reading and Writing Institute at Columbia University. She is a Wilson® Credentialed Trainer for Wilson Reading System® Level I and Level II, a Wilson® Credentialed Presenter for Fundations® Levels K, 1, 2 and 3, and a Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist.
Jean DeRosa, M.Ed. W.D.T
Wilson® Credentialed Trainer
Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist
Jean recently relocated to Chattanooga after living and teaching in the Atlanta area for many years. She
has an undergraduate and graduate degree in Special Education from Georgia State University. She earned a BS in Visual Arts from Florida State University. She has been working full and part time for Wilson Language Training® for the past 20 years while gaining her Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist credentials.
In the past she has also helped to establish academic support centers at three different private schools (Whitfield Academy, The Epstein School and Mt. Bethel Christian Academy). She has taught Special Education in Resource, Self-Contained and Inclusion in public schools and private. As an educational therapist, she has tutored and tested individuals privately. Jean’s most recent experience with Wilson Language Training® has been to coach teachers in Fundations® and Just Words® and to teach workshops and certify teachers for both levels of the Wilson Reading System®. She has also worked to certify teachers and administrators as facilitators, so they are able to carry on the coaching and support in their prospective schools. Her time spent working closely with parents, students and colleagues, training and coaching teachers and administrators, qualifies her to be an educational leader in Reading and Literacy instruction.
Terri Janiak, M.Ed.
Wilson® Credentialed Trainer
Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist
Terri Janiak has worked in education for over 34 years. She began her teaching career in 1986 as a Special Educator in the Baltimore County Public School District, where she educated students with learning, physical and emotional disabilities. In 1995, she began working in the Office of Language Arts where her primary role was teacher training and supporting schools in providing instruction for students that had challenges learning to read. Terri became an In-District Wilson® Credentialed Trainer and delivered Wilson® professional learning for the Wilson Reading System®, Just Words® and Fundations®. She is also trained in Orton-Gillingham; Project Read’s Phonology, Framing Your Thoughts and Story Form programs; and Lindamood Bell’s LiPS and Visualizing and Verbalizing Programs and has been a district trainer for LETRS and LANGUAGE!. Terri has provided reading instruction to students of all ages including elementary, middle school, high school and adults, and and has provided professional learning workshops and courses to hundreds of teachers in her own district. In addition, she has been an adjunct professor at and written curriculum for Towson University in Towson, MD and Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.
Terri retired from Baltimore County Public Schools in 2019 and is currently a National LETRS and Wilson® Credentialed Trainer, as well as provides consultation services and professional development to school districts across the country. She believes that we cannot leave reading to chance and hopes to provide training in the Science of Reading and multisensory structured literacy practices to as many teachers as possible.
Terri holds an M.Ed. as a Reading Specialist and recently received a certificate in Supervision and Leadership from Goucher College in Towson, MD. Terri retains membership in the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) and The Reading League (TRL). She is a Board Member of The Reading League MD and Woodberry Crossing a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for inner-city children to experience learning and collaborative activities in a rural farm setting.
Jeanne Rutgers, B.A. B.S., M.A.
Wilson® Credentialed Trainer
Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist
Certified Academic Language Practitioner
Jeanne Rutgers began her career in education as a middle school counselor. After a few years in that position she learned that many of her students were impacted with dyslexia. Their mental health concerns, particularly anxiety, were directly related to their dyslexia. A friend had recommended Wilson Reading System® Level I and Level II Certification. Jeanne went back to school to get her certification and another bachelors degree in Communications Science Disorders and Deaf Education. After completing her second bachelor’s degree, the plan was to be a reading interventionist for just a year or two before pursuing a graduate degree in speech pathology. Jeanne ended up loving her work as a reading interventionist and went on to get her Wilson Reading System® Level II Certification instead of her SLP. She worked as an elementary reading interventionist teaching Fundations® whole group and pull out in K, 1, 2. She also taught WRS groups for 3-5th grade students.
In 2010 Jeanne worked for Wilson Language Training® as a Literacy Specialist providing Wilson® professional learning around the country. Currently, Jeanne has a private tutoring practice in Colorado and conducts professional learning for LTR.
Rhoda Silverberg, BS, M.Ed.
Wilson® Credentialed Trainer
Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist
Rhoda has taught elementary and middle school students in Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire, and Texas.
Rhoda is certified as a Wilson® Credentialed Trainer and Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist. She has conducted trainings from Montana to Texas to New England in the Wilson Reading System®, Fundations® and Just Words®.
Rhoda is a graduate of Bates College and has a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Texas at Austin.
Judy Storer
Wilson® Credentialed Trainer
Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist
Judy Storer began her teaching career in 1971 at a progressive, non-graded elementary school in Portland, Maine. In 1983 her focus switched from elementary education to adult education and she became certified in reading instructing high school dropouts and adults both native and nonnative as as adult educator for Portland Adult Education. From 1990 to her retirement she taught reading, writing, and spelling to language disabled students and English language learners one on one, and in groups. She incorporated multisensory structured language strategies and techniques using the Wilson Reading System® into her reading curriculum and developed courses for non-native speakers based on structured language and phonology. In 1998, after four years of intensive training and course work, Judy became an In-District, Wilson® Credentialed Trainer for Portland Public Schools and provided professional learning to teachers, tutors, and educational technicians. She also began presenting WRS workshops both locally and nationally.
Upon her retirement from Portland Public Schools in 2009 Judy began working as a Literacy Specialist for Wilson Language Training®. She is a Wilson® Credentialed Trainer and a Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist. Currently Judy presents Wilson® workshops for Just Words® and the Wilson® Reading System® nationally, and provides professional learning in the WRS Level I Certification course.
Kim Fischer, BS
Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner
Kim Fischer (Carbonneau) is an educator certified in Elementary Education K-6 and General Special Education K-12. She earned her degree from Notre Dame College and worked in New Hampshire in the field of education for 29 years. She taught in gradesK-3 and 5-6 for 18 years as a classroom teacher before transitioning to special education. She then worked for 8 years as a special educator, initially with students in a Resource Room setting and then more specifically with students with emotional disabilities.
Kim has been a Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner since 2016. Kim recently retired from teaching and is currently working on her Level II certification with Wilson and participating in the LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) professional learning course of study with the NH Dept. of Education. She enjoys being a lifelong learner and finds great fulfillment in helping students reach their potential. She provides tutoring for students of various ages in the area of reading through LTR.
Amy Desiderio
Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner
I have been teaching in public school for 27 years and an additional 10 years in day care and early intervention.
In 2009 I was Introduced to Wilson Reading System® and Wilson® Fundations, and right from the start I was in love with the programs! I continued that school year with my WRS Level I certification. Then in 2012 I was sent by my school district to
MA to become a Fundations® Presenter/Facilitator. I thoroughly enjoy providing professional learning because I truly believe in the effectiveness of the Wilson® Reading System and Fundations® and I am so happy to share my experiences and expertise with teachers all over.
Kristy Wysong
Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner
Kristy Wysong has a bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Auburn University. She began her teaching career in Elementary Education in 1989 and now works for the district office in the Exceptional Student Education Department in the School District of Palm Beach County,
Florida. She has taught 1st -4th grade and reading classes for struggling readers. As a member of the ESE Reading Intervention Team, Kristy trains and supports district teachers with programs for struggling readers. She began her interest in programs for dyslexic students in 2005 after her son’s diagnosis of dyslexia. She has been trained in the Orton-Gillingham method by the Michigan Dyslexia Institute and the Institute for Multisensory Education. After using the Orton-Gillingham method with struggling readers, she was offered the opportunity to receive training in the Wilson Reading System®. She earned her Wilson® trainer credential in 2016. Now Kristy trains the Wilson Reading System®, Just Words® and Fundations® programs as an on-call trainer for the Wilson Language Training® for her school district. She also works as a Literacy Matrix Navigator with the University of Florida Literacy Institute helping other teachers earn their reading endorsement. Kristy’s passion is to help dyslexic students of all ages learn to read. She hopes to train others so they can use their knowledge to help students and adults around the country.
Annette Williams
Wilson® Dyslexia Therapist
Wilson® Credentialed Trainer
Annette Williams was trained as a Wilson Language Training® Literacy Specialist using the Wilson Language Training® programs. She has had the good fortune to work with many different school districts throughout the US to help them successfully implement Fundations®, Just Words® and Wilson Reading System®. This has included conducting professional learning workshops and providing ongoing coaching and support for teachers implementing the programs.
Prior to her work as a Literacy Specialist, Annette was employed in the Public Schools as a Speech/Language Pathologist, for over 35 years. As a Program Support Teacher and Diagnostician, Annette became aware that many students, who were thought to have language comprehension delays, were demonstrating difficulties decoding text. It was, at that time, she began her training with the reading programs available through Wilson Language Training®. After her career in public schools, it was Annette’s goal to continue helping students develop effective literacy skills.
Maureen Burts
Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner
Maureen has a bachelor’s degree in both elementary education and exceptional student education from SUNY Geneseo. She has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Nova University. She has been teaching in the Palm Beach County School System for over 29 years, focusing the last 9 years on teaching reading to struggling students and students with dyslexia. She currently works for the Exceptional Student Education Department, supporting teachers in various reading programs. She has been trained in the Orton-Gillingham method as well as the Wilson Reading System®. She is an in-district trainer for Fundations® and Just Words®. Maureen has done extensive tutoring with students with dyslexia and takes joy in watching her students become avid readers.
Carrie Perry
Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner
Carrie has a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies with a minor in Special Education from James Madison University. She is currently seeking a master’s degree in Special Education and a Dyslexia Certificate from the University of Florida. Carrie began her career as an exceptional student education teacher and transitioned to the ESE Coordinator until she pursued a position in the Exceptional Student Education Department supporting teachers in various reading programs in the School District of Palm Beach County. Carrie currently works for the University of Florida Literacy Institute and provides support and professional development to district and school administrators, literacy coaches, and teachers in various school districts in Florida. She is trained in the Orton Gillingham method by the Institute for Multisensory Education and is a Fundations® Facilitator and Presenter in levels PK-2. Carrie is excited to share her personal experiences teaching and supporting teachers implementing Fundations® and her love for the program with others.