We are excited to introduce a new Literacy Love partnership called Moms In Community. This is a support system where we will highlight and share the information of professional moms in our community who offer services that we believe are important and helpful to our students.
Dr. Emily Bisignano is a compassionate Psychologist specializing in teens and young adults with mood disorders, working with both individuals and their families. She creates a safe, non-judgmental space where young people feel truly heard while navigating depression, anxiety, and other emotional challenges.
Dr. Emily's positive energy and authentic connection style help clients develop essential coping strategies and move from struggle to strength. She adapts her approach to meet each individual where they are, understanding the unique pressures facing today's youth and families.
Driven by the opportunity to make lasting impact during formative years, Dr. Emily believes young people can overcome their challenges and emerge more resilient with the right support and intervention.
Ms. Siegel is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has a heart for supporting women through life’s ups and downs. She works with adult women on challenges like anxiety, mood changes, postpartum struggles, parenting, self-esteem, relationships, health concerns, and the many transitions life throws our way. Her style is supportive, down-to-earth, and collaborative—she believes therapy works best when it feels like a true partnership.
With advanced training across all stages of life—from infancy to adulthood—Ms. Siegel brings both expertise and compassion to her work. She earned her Master’s degrees in Psychology and Counseling from Tulane University and the University of North Texas and has trained in settings ranging from play therapy with little ones to counseling adults and families. She also holds a specialty certificate in Maternal Mental Health from Postpartum Support International, making her especially attuned to the unique challenges moms face.
Over the years, Ms. Siegel has worked in private practices and non-profits, helping children, teens, adults, and families. She has also led groups focused on parenting, strengthening the parent-child bond, and building social skills. Today, her passion is walking alongside women in our community—helping them feel seen, supported, and equipped to thrive.
Lydia Wright is a Licensed School Counselor who had a career as a Special Education teacher and School Counselor for DISD for 15 years serving schools in East Dallas. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from McMurry University and a Masters of Education in Counseling Education from North Texas University.
In Lydia’s spare time, she stays involved in her children’s schools. She is a founding board member of the Pre-Geneva Association for her neighborhood school and helped get the Geneva Heights Peace Pantry established to support school families with food insecurity at home. Lydia is now leading a three-year grant at St. Patrick Catholic School for Smart Families. The program supports the school and families in ways to engage with technology in a healthy, intentional way.
In 2015, she stepped back from full-time work to raise her two children and help with her family business. She was only out of public education for a few months before parents started reaching out for consultations about various issues with former students and in particular the Human Growth and Development class (aka Sex Ed) she had taught at Lakewood. This brought on a surprising career pivot and for the last ten years, Lydia has been teaching small group courses for 5th and 6th grade boys and girls (separately) regarding puberty, decision making and the human reproductive system. The class covers quite a bit in one afternoon session – signs of puberty, female and male reproductive systems, abstinence (with a brief intro to contraception terminology), STD/HIV, sexual orientation/gender terms, sexual harassment, consent, sexting and technology safety. It’s a lot to cover in three hours but families seek her out by word-of-mouth from various schools in East Dallas but especially her previous campus, Lakewood Elementary.
The opportunity to work with families on an important topic also guided Lydia to start a shorter class for 4th grade girls this fall that is focused on signs of puberty in girls. It is already turning into a needed resource for girls and parents as they start the walk into puberty.
She explains her goal as simply having a real impact on students and striving for everyone attending to feel accepted and more prepared for the future.
If you would like to receive information about her spring 2026 classes, please complete the google form link.
Bright Minds Assessment Center of Dallas
Bright Minds Assessment Center of Dallas is a group of independent, like-minded clinicians dedicated to providing comprehensive psycho-educational evaluations for children and adolescents ages 5–19. The practice specializes in assessments for Dyslexia and other learning disorders, ADHD, and executive functioning challenges, with additional screening for anxiety, depression, and re-evaluations for high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Bright Minds is known for its thoughtful, individualized approach. Each evaluation includes a thorough assessment, a customized written report, and clear, practical recommendations tailored to the child and family. By taking the time to truly understand each student, the team provides meaningful guidance and referrals that support academic success and emotional well-being.
Located within Pediatricians of Dallas, Bright Minds collaborates closely with pediatricians and nurse practitioners to ensure continuity of care and coordinated support for families.
Meet the Team
Lee Ann Hamm, MS, LPA (With Independent Practice) , LPC
Lee Ann has over 25 years of experience providing psycho-educational evaluations for children and adolescents ages 5–19. She specializes in identifying learning differences in reading, writing, and math, as well as ADHD, with additional screening for autism, anxiety, and depression. Lee Ann is passionate about helping families understand how their child learns best and equipping parents with the tools and insight needed to advocate for appropriate educational services and accommodations.
Katie Shaffer, M.Ed., ADHD-CE
Katie is an Educational Diagnostician with more than 22 years of experience evaluating children with learning differences. Her expertise includes assessments for developmental delays, ADHD, dyslexia, learning disabilities, executive functioning challenges, and mood or behavioral concerns. With experience in both school districts and pediatric medical settings, Katie brings a comprehensive, practical approach to assessment. As a former special education teacher and a parent herself, she is deeply committed to helping families understand their child’s learning profile and strengths.
Abbie Douglas, MS, LPC, ADHD-CCSP
Abbie is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in comprehensive psycho-educational assessments for children and adolescents with learning disabilities, ADHD, and mood or behavioral concerns, including anxiety and depression. She conducts full-battery evaluations that assess cognitive, academic, language, attention, and emotional functioning. Known for her warm and compassionate approach, Abbie helps families gain clarity around their child’s strengths, challenges, and learning needs, while creating a supportive and comfortable evaluation experience.
Please review their website (brightmindsdallas.com) and reach out if they can support you and your student in meeting their learning potential.
If you are interested in being featured on our Moms In Community page, please fill out this form.