Marilyn Mathis, M.Ed.,CALT-QI
Marilyn Mathis graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BA in Speech Pathology and a M. Ed in Special Education. She worked in public schools as both a Speech Therapist and Learning Support teacher. Realizing that her son was experiencing difficulty learning to read, she had him privately evaluated by a school psychologist who diagnosed him with reading disability/dyslexia. Soon thereafter, she went on a fact-finding mission to discover the latest, state-of-the-art approach to teaching reading to children with dyslexia. This led her to the Texas Scottish Hospital in Dallas and the Southwest Academy where a highly specialized Orton-Gillingham approach was being used to teach reading, writing and spelling to children or adults with dyslexia. After three years of studying and undergoing an intensive practicum, she obtained national certification from the Academic Language Therapy Association and earned the title of Academic Language Therapist (CALT) from Southwest Academy. Later, she gained additional certification as a Qualified Instructor (QI) that enables her to train others.
In addition to the working in public schools, Marilyn taught at the Lewis School in Princeton, NJ, a private school for children diagnosed with dyslexia. In 1998, Marilyn took the position as Director for the 32º Masonic Learning Centers for Children in Allentown, PA, later renamed Children’s Dyslexia Center for Children of the Lehigh Valley. Additionally, she served as the trainer for five other Masonic Learning Centers in PA and has presented workshops around the country.
Marilyn has served on the board of the Philadelphia Branch of the International Dyslexia Association as Public Relations Chair. In 2004, she received the Innovator Award for Outstanding MSLE (Multisensory Structured Language Education) Professional from the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council, an organization that accredits quality professional preparation in dyslexia. She is past President of the Academic Language Therapy Association and past President of the Alliance for Accreditation and Certification, two national organizations that are recognized by the International Dyslexia Association and other professionals in the field of dyslexia as the gold standard in the remediation of children with dyslexia. She was a member of the advisory committee for the PA Dyslexia Law Pilot for the K-2 and oversaw teacher training in eight school districts in PA.
Marilyn retired as Director at the Children’s Dyslexia Center in 2020 and is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Dyslexia Center of the Lehigh Valley. She is currently the Instructor of Record at King’s College for the MSLE (Multisensory Structured Language Education) Master’s degree in Reading and Master’s degree in Special Education. Marilyn also serves as president of the ALTA PA Chapter.