Speakers

Papae Wymore

The Reading League Iowa

Papae Wymore is a lecturer at Central College in Pella, Iowa where she teaches a range of courses including literacy classes. She holds a master’s degree in Elementary Education along with endorsements in K-8 Reading, 5-12 Reading and a 5-8 Middle School Generalist. Additionally she earned an Administrator License and is authorized to serve in PK-12 Principal and PK-12 Special Education Supervisor. With over twenty plus years in education, Papae has served in preparing pre-service teachers, as a kindergarten teacher and a middle school at-risk coordinator and exploratory teacher. 

Papae’s passion for literacy extends beyond the classroom; she is a founding member and President of The Reading League Iowa.  She serves on the Literacy Leadership Team and Model Code of Ethics for Educators Team for the Iowa Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the Iowa Reading Research Center Advisory Council.   Additionally, Papae is a consultant and advisory member for Reading Horizons.  She is committed to advancing the awareness, understanding, and use of evidence-aligned instruction throughout the state of Iowa and beyond.

Megan Hunemuller

Right to Read Advocacy

Megan Hunemuller is a parent advocate and mom of four who became passionate about special education after navigating the IEP and 504 process with her own children. What began as a personal journey has grown into a mission to help other families understand their rights and work collaboratively with schools. Megan has completed the Dyslexia Training Institute’s Advocate Certification and serves on several state and local education committees. She is a co-founder of a community support group and an active member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). Megan believes that every student deserves a meaningful education and that informed families are a powerful force for change.

Lydia Collison

Decoding Dyslexia Iowa

Lydia Collison is a private reading tutor who has been working with children with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and other learning differences for over a decade. Her passion is giving children the tools to succeed in reading! She is certified in the Barton Reading and Spelling System at the Advanced Level. She is a board member of Decoding Dyslexia Iowa and is excited to be starting a dyslexia parent support group in the Quad Cities in September of this year. Lydia is also active as a volunteer in her church’s youth and outreach programs.

Stephanie Edgren

The Reading League Iowa

Stephanie Edgren is a passionate literacy advocate and educator with over 30 years of experience in education, spanning early childhood to middle school, instructional coaching, and teacher preparation. As Vice-President and co-founder of The Reading League Iowa, Stephanie works to advance evidence-based reading practices across the state. She holds endorsements as a K–12 Dyslexia Specialist and Reading Specialist and has delivered professional development to educators and parents alike. Stephanie is dedicated to equipping families with practical, research-based tools—like the P.O.S.S.U.M. strategy—to support children’s reading success at home and in school.

Shawn Datchuk

Director, Iowa Reading Research Center

Shawn Datchuk is the Director of the Iowa Reading Research Center and an Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Iowa. Datchuk is a former K-12 special education teacher, elementary teacher, director of special education, and academic performance director. He received his Doctor of Philosophy in special education from Pennsylvania State University. He researches literacy instruction and assessment, specifically ways to support the concurrent writing and reading development of students with or at risk for disabilities.

Mindy VanZuiden

Owner, Tutorburg

Mindy VanZuiden is a wife and mother. She owns Tutorburg, a private dyslexia center which provides Professional Development, Advocacy, Educational Consultations, and tutoring, she servers the Mid-Prairie Homeschool Assistance Program as the Dyslexia Specialist and is an adjunct professor at Grand View University teaching and supervising students in the Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement Program. Mindy is on the board for Decoding Dyslexia Iowa and serves as chair for the Advisory Council for the Iowa Reading Research Center. Mindy has taught in public schools for over 20 years. She holds an undergraduate degree in K-12 Physical Education, a master’s degree in Education Leadership, is a Certified Dyslexia Specialist through the University of Florida, holds the Iowa Dyslexia Specialist teaching endorsement, and is a Certified Dyslexia Advocate through the Dyslexia Training Institute. Mindy’s discovery that her youngest son had dyslexia led to the eye-opening realization that she and many of her family members are likely also dyslexic. Mindy’s mission is to raise dyslexia awareness not only in her community but for everyone, everywhere. Mindy and her husband Dustin live in Williamsburg with their two youngest children while their oldest child lives just down the road and owns and operates a spa named Sage + Saffron Beauty Co.

Angie Baughman

Tutor, Tutorburg

Angie began working for Tutorburg in 2023. She worked in at-risk and special education for 26 years. Angie struggled in school with reading and spelling. Her son also struggled with reading and spelling. He completed the Barton Reading and Spelling System through Tutorburg in 2023! After Angie saw how much progress he made she decided she wanted to be part of a team that makes a difference. Her goal has always been to help others, who may learn differently, find the tools that enable them to learn best.

Kati Spore

Tutor, Tutorburg

Kati began working for Tutorburg in 2021. Kati’s delight in reading began as a toddler and her enthusiasm for teaching was kindled in kindergarten. She has instructed children in some capacity since an early age, beginning with babysitting, tutoring elementary students when she was in high school, and daycare classroom teaching. She earned an Associate degree in Day Care Supervision and has worked since as a nanny and currently, in her home, teaching her three children for the last eleven years. Kati believes in nurturing the whole child, encouraging their strengths, developing their interests, and helping improve their areas of weakness through faithful instruction and practical application.

Molly Bishop

Owner, Navigation Play

Molly Bishop is the founder and director of Navigation Play, a nonprofit business dedicated to putting children back in charge of their own play. She is also a former camp administrator, mom of three, board certified music therapist, and a trained playworker. Molly is passionate about child development, supporting other parents, bringing people together, and learning from play experts young and old.

Briana White

Director, Williamsburg Public Library

Briana White is the Director of the Williamsburg Public Library, where she blends her passion for education, community, and lifelong learning. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education and later completed a Master’s in Teacher Librarian Studies. After a decade of teaching high school English, Briana was thrilled to return to her hometown and lead one of her favorite places—her local library. Her favorite part of the job is seeing the library serve as a vibrant community hub, offering resources, connection, and inspiration to people of all ages.

Sheila Raim

Sheila Raim is a veteran music educator, violinist, and vocalist with 35+ years of experience teaching students of all ages in a variety of settings. She holds a BA in music education from Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and an MA in Spanish:Teaching from the University of Northern Iowa in addition to certifications in Mental Health Coaching, Youth Mental Health Coaching, Trauma, and Brain Health Coaching from the American Association of Christian Counselors. Her current position as Music and Strings Program Director and Supervising Teacher with the Mid-Prairie Home School Assistance Program in rural Kalona,  provides her with the unique opportunity to continue to explore creative ways to reach students of multiple learning styles and music backgrounds in the general music classroom and in choral and string ensembles. Her experience as a home school educator of a dyslexic child and a supervising teacher of students with diverse learning styles and needs has been the launching pad for researching and finding effective tools to maximize learning potential, decrease anxiety and stress, and use music as a tool for self-regulation, focus, brain integration, and self-actualization. She is passionate about helping every person reach their full potential. When she isn’t teaching, she enjoys making music and living life with her husband, adult children, and granddaughter on the family farm in rural Johnson County.

Grace Atkinson

Tutorburg

Grace is a right-brained thinker, using creativity and harmony in every area of her life as a photographer, musician, tattoo artist, and former art teacher. As a tutor at Tutorburg, she loves to help students unlock a love for language by helping them build a foundation using the Barton Reading and Spelling System.