Lisa Brooks is Principal Director of the Professional Training Institute. She holds a Doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership, a Master’s degree in Special Education, and licensure in several states in elementary education, reading, special education K-12, English as a second language, and adult education. Previously, she worked as a special educator in public schools in New Orleans and Tucson and served as Director of Commonwealth Learning Center’s Needham office from 1999 to 2008. Lisa trains, observes, and mentors teachers, serves as a district dyslexia consultant, and oversees the daily operations of the training department. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators, serving on the Academy’s national board of directors and chairing its accreditation committee.

Mary Briggs is the Director of the Orton-Gillingham Training Program. She is a Fellow and Board Member of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators and serves on its standards committee. She holds a Master’s degree in Special Education and licensure in elementary education, special education, and school administration. Mary previously worked as a special educator and staff developer in Cambridge Public Schools. She trains and supervises teachers in the Orton-Gillingham Approach and spearheaded the Center’s Orton-Gillingham accreditation process. She is the author of two workbooks that many reading teachers use in their classrooms.

Susan Palmer is an Orton-Gillingham Specialist at PTI. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators and serves on its Information, Outreach, and Communications committee. Susan worked at The Carroll School in Lincoln, Massachusetts where she received her training and became a Fellow of the Academy in 1998. She holds a Master’s degree in Education with certifications in middle school, special education, and English. Previously, Susan worked in private and public school systems as an O-G Trainer, special education teacher, tutor, and reading/literacy leader. Susan trains teachers and observes them in their schools.

Shadi Tayarani is the former Director of the Commonwealth Learning Center in Danvers, where in addition to her administrative and supervision duties she offered 1-to-1 tutoring to students of all ages, diagnostic evaluation, school consulting, and teacher training. She holds a Master’s degree in Administration and Social Policy, and licensure in special education K-12. Previously, Shadi worked as a special educator in Houston, TX.