Biographies


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Virginia Branch of the International Dyslexia Officers and Directors (2021-2022)

Biographies


Mary Murray Stowe
President

Mary Murray Stowe works with teachers, administrators, instructional coaches, directors and coordinators of Special Education through the Training and Technical Assistance Center at the College of William and the Virginia Department of Education as an educational specialist, and with William & Mary as an adjunct professor.  Currently, Mary serves as the Virginia Coordinator of Specialized Reading Instruction.  Mary is certified as a SIM™ Certified Learning Strategy Professional Developer, and Certified Local LETRS Classic Trainer and LETRS Third Edition Facilitator.


Angela Taylor
Vice President

Angela Taylor received a degree in Chemistry from Rutgers University.  She worked for Ortho Biotech before becoming alternate route certified through the critical needs program.  She is a licensed teacher in Virginia and South Carolina and is National Board Certified in Early Adolescence Science. She has worked with public and private school students from levels 5 through 12. She has worked with children with learning differences throughout her 21 years of teaching. She has been an upper school science teacher at The New Community School in Richmond, Virginia for 8 years.  Prior to moving to Richmond, she taught in South Carolina.  She is a South Carolina Master Naturalist and volunteers with Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Angela loves to share her passion for science with her students and feels it is a great subject to teach to students with learning differences because it is hands-on and can build on their strengths and help them find their passion.


Amanda Fawkes
Treasurer     


Jennifer Appleton
Director


Jeanette Brown
Director


Dwana T. Cooper
Director
Most recently Dwana has taken a position as a Coordinator with VDOE Special Education in
Specially Designed Instruction. Prior to taking this position she was a Special Education
Supervisor at Newport News Public Schools where she provided professional learning and
training in instructional best practices for students with disabilities.  As a 30- year veteran in
special education, she has assumed the roles of teacher, teacher leader, Transition Coordinator
and District Level Administrator.  Read More


Janet Covington-Sykes
Director


Terri Cozart
Director


Mary Addeo-Dodson
Director

Mary Addeo is a Secondary Program Specialist at the Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) at VCU.  Mary received her undergraduate degree at Columbia College in Columbia SC, and a Master’s in Special Education at the University of Texas, El Paso. As a career special educator and department chair, she has extensive experience in providing multisensory reading instruction to students of all ages. Mary is a Wilson certified instructor and taught Wilson’s Just Words for several years at the high school level.

Currently, she provides support for teachers in Regions 1 and 8 in the Orton-Gillingham approach, Fusion Reading, and inclusive practices


Megan Duke
Professional Development Committee Chair

Megan Duke received her undergraduate degree from The University of North Carolina at Wilmington and master’s in Special Education from The College of William and Mary. Megan Is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Special Educator, Learning Disabilities, K-12.  She began teaching at Chesapeake Bay Academy in Virginia Beach and is currently a Teacher for Virginia Beach City Public Schools.  She works as the special education committee chairperson and department chair for her school.  She has been on various committees throughout the city for continued improvement in the area of special education in the public school system.  She loves teaching her students with varying disabilities including dyslexia and educating families about school and community resources.


Jennifer Floyd
Director/Membership Committee Chair


Shannon Kuschel
Director/Strategic Planning Chair

Shannon Kuschel is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Psychology & Counseling at Regent University and the former Research & Development Coordinator for the National Institute for Learning Development. She has earned a Master of Science degree in Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University, is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Virginia, and a Certified Educational Therapist.  She is currently a Ph. D. Candidate in Education with concentrations in Educational Psychology & Special Education. She has spent more than twenty years working with children, their families, and schools specializing in child development, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences, as well as trauma and grief recovery. She has worked as a private practice therapist, school counselor, director of academic support, head of school, and researcher in Florida and Virginia.  Her work utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating roles of clinician, educational therapist, educator and researcher. Research interests include cognitive development, learning development and disorders, cognitive and learning interventions with diverse populations, neuropsychology and its practical application to education. She is pleased to serve on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Branch of the IDA.


Marguerite Matics
Director


Jennifer Miller
Director


Vicki Myers
Director/Branch Administrator


Beth Petzer
Director


Rebecca Simmons
Director


Harley Tomey
Director


Natalee Tuck
Director

Natalee Tuck has spent the last 17 years serving as a public-school educator. After earning her associates degree from J. Sargeant Reynolds, Natalee went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and her master’s degree from Grand Canyon University. She holds degrees in Special Education, Sociology, and Liberal Arts. As a professional, she has experience in leadership roles including as a coordinator, department chairperson and special education teacher. She is currently a division wide special education coordinator in Caroline County Public Schools, where she provides instructional support in multiple schools, K-12, with a focus on structured literacy. Natalee’s vision and beliefs can be described as “passionate about bringing evidence-based practices to general and special education classrooms in the public-school setting to support all students in achieving reading success. For this reason, participating on the VBIDA board will allow access to the latest research and a team of like-minded individuals who are working to move research into practice.” She currently resides in Central Virginia with her husband and two daughters.