About Us

Meet Audrey

Audrey earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, and went on to earn a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. A classroom teacher for 13 years in the Chicago suburbs, Audrey began to notice the growing gaps struggling readers had and classroom instruction simply wasn’t cutting it. She felt that some schools weren’t properly training or equipping their teachers with the knowledge to support students with literacy deficits and continued to watch them be left behind. Wanting to make an impact for those students who needed it most, Audrey began immersing herself in Structured Literacy and the Science of Reading.

She’s currently being mentored by Dr. Maggie Block and looks forward to partnering with her to continue to gain more knowledge. Audrey’s goal is to close the gaps and give all children the confidence of a good reader with the skills to succeed. She’s eager to learn and share her expertise with the Chicagoland area.

Starting at a young age Audrey found her passion for reading following the silly tales of Junie B. Jones and finding she was somewhat like Junie B. – a little sweet and a little spice. As she grew older, she realized books led her to great conversations and a sense of community with others. Talking, sharing, and passing along recommendations for great reads, Audrey loves to get lost in a good book!

In her spare time, Audrey enjoys spending time going on adventures with her three children and husband, Mark, and is always up for a coffee and carwash run.


About Maggie

Dr. Maggie Block is a certified speech-language pathologist through the American Speech and Hearing Association, a certified Orton-Gillingham teacher, and has completed her clinical doctorate with an emphasis in dyslexia through Kansas University. She has provided in-services for several districts on topics like phonological awareness, dyslexia in the classroom, and the relationship between language development and learning to read. She has presented for the International Dyslexia Association on how to diagnose dyslexia, presented in webinars on the role of phonological awareness in learning to read, and has been published by the ASHA Leader on the role of speech-language pathologists treating dyslexiaMaggie has also taught at the undergraduate and graduate level regarding the role of language in learning to read and assessment of phonological speech sound disorders.

Maggie is currently being mentored by Dr. Mindy Bridges and has completed coursework related to implementation science, assessing research, writing and spelling development, and coursework in the educational psychology department related to cognition, memory, and motivation to learn. In addition to her time with Dyslexia Specialists of Central Illinois, she also has a private practice in Edwardsville, Illinois called Metro East Therapy, Inc. and provides the diagnostic testing for Dyslexia St. Louis Learning and Advocacy Center.

In her spare time, she is a busy mommy to three young children, loves to be outside, and go to Target!