Christine Duffy- Founder & Dyslexia Specialist
Christine Duffy began her career in the corporate world, but her passion for teaching and literacy sent her back to school to get her Master in Education from SMU. She found herself becoming very interested in the science behind how children learn to read and decided to become a dyslexia and early literacy specialist.
Christine worked at Lakewood Elementary before deciding to open Literacy Love in Lakewood. She has made it her goal to help children in East Dallas become rockstar readers and writers.
When she isn’t reading, Christine enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, and just hanging with her family. She has two young children, a wonderful husband and lives in Lake Highlands.
Education
Undergraduate from University of Texas at Austin
Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Early Literacy Certification from Southern Methodist University
Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP) in Take Flight and Multisensory Teaching Approach (MTA)
Licensed Dyslexia Practitioner (LDP)
Teaching licenses in K-6th and ELAR 4th-8th
Other Affiliations: Previous Member of the Dallas IDA
Ms. Allers - Instructional Specialist
Meet Susan Allers! Susan grew up in Long Island, New York. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish at Molloy College. She then went on to CW Post University (Now LIU) to earn her master’s degree in Bilingual Education.
Susan taught in Queens, New York in second grade for 9 years and then taught reading and social studies in 5th and 6th grade for 5 years. She then moved to NYC Public Schools and continued teaching 2nd and 5th grade. Next, she taught in a Dual Language Program. She ended her teaching career as an Attendance Coordinator before retiring.
She has a son and a daughter and two granddaughters and two grandsons.
Susan now tutors part time for Dallas ISD in reading and math. She volunteers at the Dallas Arboretum once a week in the gift shop. She is also an usher for the ATTPAC and occasionally volunteers at the Dallas Zoo. Susan loves yoga, especially restorative yoga and traveling!
Ms. Washington - Instructional Specialist
Meet Alexis Washington! Alexis grew up in Dallas, Texas. She graduated from Texas Tech University where she majored in Mathematics and minored in art. She is currently the art teacher at The King’s Academy, a math tutor, and a hip hop dancer/instructor.
Alexis started tutoring in college and found her spark! She currently tutors K-12th grade math. This includes algebra 1 and 2, geometry, calculus 1, 2 and 3, and some college curriculum.
In August 2023, Alexis decided to join the Literacy Love team! When she is not busy at work, she loves being creative, journaling, dancing, painting, and spending time with friends and family.
Fun fact, Alexis has a slight hearing loss in both of her ears (more so in her left) and she sometimes wear hearing aids!
Ms. Cortes - Instructional Specialist
Meet Laila Cortes! Laila was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She moved to Austin, Texas where she earned a bachelor of science degree in Radio-Television and Film from UT Austin. Before coming to Dallas, she lived in San Francisco and in Boston.
In 1991 Laila moved to Dallas. She became a teacher in 1996 and was employed by Dallas ISD for 27 years. Most of her teaching experience took place at Lakewood Elementary, a school that holds near and dear to her heart.
Laila made the decision to retire from full time teaching at the end of the 2022-2023 school year, but she knew she was not ready to give up teaching entirely. She is honored to be a part of the Literacy Love team where she can do what she loves, pouring into students and helping them to hone their literacy skills.
She has two grown children who live on opposite ends of the United States. Her daughter Michaela is an RN at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland and her son Christian, a mechanical engineer, lives in San Jose and works for Apple. She lives with her beloved 10-year-old pug, Dorito.
Some things Laila loves to do when she is not teaching are traveling, reading, game nights, going to the movies, walking Dorito and spending time with her friends and family.
Ms. Young - Instructional Specialist
Meet Jan Young! Jan was born and raised in Old Town, Maine. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in child development with a certification in teacher education in grades K-8 at the University of Maine, Orono. She completed her work for certification in gifted and talented education at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.
She taught kindergarten for five years in Maine and then moved to Texas where she taught pre-k, kindergarten,first grade, and second grade in Grand Prairie ISD. H.E.B ISD, and Dallas ISD for a total of many (38) years in education, Most recently, she answered the call from Dallas Retired Teacher Association to tutor struggling students as a result of learning gaps suffered during the pandemic. She has been tutoring 4th and 5th graders in math and reading for DISD for three years.
Jan enjoys all water sports, the beach, the outdoors, biking, connecting with friends, reading, and traveling. She is very active in her church serving on several committees, as well as the board, and of course, teaching.
Ms. Wooley - Instructional Specialist
Meet Velma Wooley! Velma is a native of Dallas, TX. She graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelors in Early Childhood Development. She then received her Masters from Texas Woman’s in Communication Disorders.
Velma’s teaching career includes working at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, Lewisville ISD, Sudie Williams Elementary and 20 years at Lakewood Elementary. She retired after 44 years in education.
She loves working with students and helping them grow and is excited to be a part of the Literacy Love family.
Her hobbies include traveling, reading, cooking, and singing (especially in the woman’s chorus at her church).
Mrs. Roberson - Instructional Specialist
Meet Tina Roberson! Tina is a dedicated educator with a diverse background in teaching and learning. During her 35-year career with Dallas Independent School District, she taught Pre-Kindergarten through sixth grade. The Last eight years of her career were focused on dyslexia instruction. Tina is a Certified Academic Language Practitioner, a Wilson-certified Language Therapist, and a Wilson-certified Trainer. She is known for her patience and ability to inspire students to achieve their academic and personal goals. Tina lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, daughter, and dog. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, hiking, and baking.
Mrs. Thompson - Social Media Manager
Meet Emily Thompson! Emily fell in love with reading long before it became her career. She grew up in Arlington, Texas, and studied International Politics and Sociology at Texas A&M University before earning her teaching certification through Teach for America. Her career took her from a 9th grade reading classroom in Itta Bena, Mississippi, to 6th and 8th grade reading in 3rd Ward, Houston — always anchored by the same belief: every child deserves the chance to become a confident, capable reader.
In 2019, Emily and her husband made Dallas home, where she worked with a nonprofit supporting literacy for refugee students and welcomed two children into their family. An avid reader herself, she believes reading is the cornerstone of a successful student, opening the door to new people, places, and ideas.
Today, Emily brings that same passion to Literacy Love, sharing her love of learning through the stories and resources she creates to support every family on their child's reading journey.