The Science & Joy of Reading

Judith Talesnick, Managing Director, Professional Learning and Growth, has been collaborating with Jewish educators since helping her mother teach Israeli dancing in her early teens. As an adult, her focus shifted to leadership, educational visioning and learner-centered instruction in day schools and yeshivot. She partners with educators to listen carefully; notice patterns, and create engaging learning experiences that spark learners’ curiosity.

Hollis Dannaham, M.Ed., has been empowering complex learners for 40 years as a learning specialist, special educator, reading specialist, administrator, and consultant in public, private, and charter schools. Hollis also worked as a learning specialist at the Student Success Center of All Kinds of Minds where she was deeply trained in the Neurodevelopment of Learning. Currently Hollis is the Learning Support Coordinator at The Middle Way School and a Senior Coach, Mentor, and Workshop Facilitator for Hidden Sparks. Hollis is passionate about supporting students and teachers in the art of learning to read. She recently taught a graduate course, The Foundations of Literacy for Students with Disabilities, at SUNY New Paltz.