Bio:   Mercedez passion for helping students began during her six years of teaching across a variety of classrooms and grade levels. Driven by the belief that there must be a better way to support those who face academic challenges, she pursued further training in educational therapy. She earned her Professional Certification in Educational Therapy from NILD and completed her master’s degree at Southeastern University. Mercedez is dedicated to helping students who feel mentally trapped discover their potential as capable and confident learners. She believes there is hope for every student and that every brain can change and grow with the right encouragement. Website: learninginsightfully.wixsite.com/home

Bio:   Beginning my teaching career in 1981, I transitioned to educational therapy in 1995. I grew the program at Lincoln Christian from me being the first therapist with 9 students to eventually having 6 teachers and 40 kids per year. So many connections and so much success achieved by these students. Currently, I have a private practice with experience in person or with teletherapy. I have also evaluated well over 100 students and excel at recommendations and effective therapy. My super power is building relationships.

Bio:   I attended Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana, and earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. I taught elementary school for 11 years and simultaneously completed graduate work at Shippensburg University in the field of Special Education. During that time, I was convinced that educators could do something more for students with learning disabilities; I believed there had to be a way of helping weaknesses get stronger, rather than just accommodating and modifying materials and their environment. In 2006, I attended the NILD Conference with a friend, and I was hooked! I completed Level I Training the next summer, and I have never considered any other approach to the field of Special Education. My husband and I live in Hagerstown, MD, and enjoy biking the Rail Trail and C&O Canal tow path and traveling. We also enjoy our nieces and nephews and the "grand" nieces and nephews they so graciously share with us. My whole career has been in Christian Education where I am blessed to be able to share the love of our Lord Jesus with all of my students. I believe it is by inviting Him into each educational therapy session that real transformation happens.

Bio:   Colleen is a NILD Educational Therapist, and an Equipping Minds Cognitive facilitator with over 20 years of experience in the field of Education. She has a B.A. degree in Child Development and a M.Ed. in Special Education. She is credentialed in general education, learning disabilities, reading/language arts specialist( K-12, )and math (6-9). In addition she received training in Orton-Gillingham when she worked at a learning center in CT, and was a part-time Education Instructor at Central Piedmont Community College in NC.