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Tracy is a Huntsville native and a full time Madison County teacher.  Tracy is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher and has been teaching at the Elementary level for 16 years.  She graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in Elementary Education.  Tracy is Orton-Gillingham trained at the Associate Level through the OGA and LETRS Certified. Her son was diagnosed with dyslexia in 1st grade and began tutoring at The Loft. Tracy was so impressed with what The Loft was providing for the community, that she joined the team so she could reach even more kids. Tracy enjoys creating an environment where everyone feels safe and successful.

Lisa graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in Rehabilitation Services in 1998.  After graduation, she worked as a case manager with the Madison County 310 Board, working with adults with special needs and their families. In 2000 Lisa obtained a master's degree in Learning Disabilities from Alabama A&M. After graduation, she worked as a special education teacher in Madison City Schools for 9 years. In 2013 Lisa began work at Greengate School. While working at Greengate, Lisa was trained in the Orton-Gillingham Approach at the Associate Level, as well as Multisensory Math1 with Marilyn Zecher.  Lisa joined The Loft team in 2020. Lisa is married to her husband Jeremy Banks, and they have three wonderful children. Lisa developed a passion for working with struggling students, because she too struggled with reading, writing and math growing up.                                                                                                                             

Jana began her teaching career in Conroe, TX after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in Early Childhood.  During that first year of teaching Kindergarten, she realized she needed much more education in the area of reading to be a successful teacher.  Jana went on to earn her master’s degree in education with a Reading Specialist Certification and was also trained in an Orton-Gillingham Intervention program through regional support services in Texas.  That degree and training lead to over 16 years as reading specialist, dyslexia specialist and intervention coordinator in both Texas and California public schools.  A little over a year ago, Jana and her family relocated to Scottsboro, AL and found The Loft Literacy Center where she is excited to continue sharing her passion for learning and reading with all of her students.  Jana and her husband Micah stay busy with full time camp ministry and keeping up with their two college-aged children.

Julie Blauwkamp received her B.A. in Special Education from Clemson University in 1991.  After teaching at a therapeutic wilderness camp and in a High School Collaborative classroom for 2 1/2 years, she returned to graduate school at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign where she earned her MS in Leisure Studies Administration.  Upon completion of her graduate degree, she worked in academic publishing for two years followed by 12 years working with a parachurch student ministry in Illinois and Maryland.  After a 19 year hiatus from teaching, Julie received her Orton Gillingham Associate Level Training in 2013 at the JEMICY School in  Baltimore, Maryland.  Upon receiving her training, she was a reading and language tutor at her children's school, The Montessori School of Westminster for a year.  For the past ten years, Julie and her family have called Huntsville their home.  She homeschooled each of her children for a season, and is excited to be tutoring again.  Having struggled with ADHD, reading and writing as a child as well as having a daughter with an intellectual disability,  she understands the challenges and joys of teaching reading from both the student and parent perspectives.  She loves brainstorming creative ways to help students achieve their "A-Ha!" moments in reading.  Julie lives in Hampton Cove with her husband and four children. She enjoys volunteering at her church and with her children's activities, reading, cooking, and cheering on her Clemson and Auburn Tigers!

Janet grew up in Huntsville and returned here to raise her children after earning degrees from Auburn (English, BA), Wake Forest (English, MA) and the University of Georgia (Language Education, EdD). When her daughter was diagnosed with two learning disabilities, Janet was trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach in order to help her. Janet has a wide range of teaching experience, including 9th -12th grade English at Sea Pines Abroad in Faistenau bei Salzburg, Austria and 7th -10th grade English at Randolph School in Huntsville. She has also taught Juniors and Seniors majoring in English Education at the University of Georgia, in a variety of subjects including middle school literature, elementary literature, composition, and writing across the curriculum, as well as staff development for k-8 teachers.  At The Loft, Janet provides reading intervention using the Orton-Gillingham approach and preparation for the ACT exam in English, Reading and Writing.                                                                          

Susan graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor's degree in interior design in 1993.  She has been trained at the Associate Level through the OGA.  She completed training in 2018 and has been tutoring at The Loft since 2019.  Susan and her husband Hunter have two daughters, Tinsley and Julia.  Susan developed a passion for working with struggling readers after her daughter Julia was diagnosed with dyslexia in elementary school.  She has a unique understanding of learning differences from the parent perspective, as well as a strong desire to encourage young readers with the multisensory approach.

 Robyn has been teaching children for 35 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in Choral/Vocal Music Education in 1989 from Auburn. She has taught elementary general music both across the state and within our community.  She was hired, in 2011, by the founder of Greengate, for K-8 music, received training for Orton-Gillingham dyslexia intervention at the associate level. She quickly began dividing her day between the two disciplines, and eventually chose dyslexia intervention as her full-time mission. She has worked with students from kindergarten through 8th grade, and loves to add music, art, and humor to her lessons. She has always believed that hands-on learning is important for retention and the enjoyment of learning. She was born in Huntsville, but spent time in south Alabama and Germany, before making the Huntsville area her permanent home once again. Here she met her husband, and they have raised two daughters, while being active within their community and church.

Betsy is a mom of five who has called Huntsville home for the past ten years.  Her own children have taught her that educational needs are rarely ever one size fits all. Betsy graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a major in English Literature and a minor in Elementary Education.  She has spent the last twenty years employed as a private preschool teacher, online ESL teacher, and homeschooling her own children through different seasons.  Betsy was trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach at the Associate level in 2017 and again as a refresher in 2021.  She worked both as a private tutor, as well as on the Greengate summer school staff before joining the team at The Loft as they launched in 2020.  As a lover of literature, her greatest joy is watching the lightbulb come on for a struggling reader or sitting across the desk as a young teen finishes their first novel. Betsy seeks to consciously grow her understanding of the dyslexic student by attending conferences, workshops, trainings and of course reading!

Kelli graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 1990 with a degree in Vocal Music. She married her husband in 1992 and they spent the next 25 years traveling with the USAF, crisscrossing the country every few years. She worked as a veterinarian assistant, a high school secretary, a restaurant hostess and as a singer/musician with an entertainment group in Las Vegas during some of those years. They landed in Huntsville for her husband’s final assignment at MDA, and he retired in 2016. Kelli homeschooled her three kids at various times in their years of active-duty life and found that she enjoyed teaching her own kids to read and sharing her love of literature, music and art. When she became an empty nester, she discovered The Loft Literacy Center and knew this was something she needed to do. Kelli trained in OG at the Associate Level in 2023 and has been a part of The Loft since August 2023. She lives in Hampton Cove with her husband and her dog Frankie. She enjoys participating in various choral groups in the area as well as reading, traveling and letting her husband fly her to fun places in his airplane.

Elizabeth has taught and tutored students for over 15 years in public and private schools.  She has also supported students as a Family Readiness Group Leader while serving families of deployed soldiers.  Elizabeth earned a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Alabama and an M.A. in Elementary Education from the University of North Alabama.  Elizabeth holds an Associate Level Certification through the OGA. During her six years' experience at Greengate School, Elizabeth taught and tutored dyslexic students in reading, writing and math. Elizabeth enjoys tailoring instruction to each child's individual needs using a structured, multisensory approach.  She is committed to providing a positive environment where student growth is gained in both academic skills and confidence. 

Kim Kretz is originally from Lexington, Kentucky. She has a bachelor’s degree in

Elementary Education. She has been teaching in and out of the classroom for the last

10 years. Kim and her husband have three children and moved to Huntsville in 2018.

Kim ‘s desire to help struggling readers began when her youngest daughter was

diagnosed with dyslexia at an early age. She is trained in the Orton Gillingham

approach through the associate level. She is excited to be working at The Loft tutoring

one on one after years in the classroom. She enjoys working with each student to

provide the individual instruction they need to help them succeed.

Barbara graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor's degree in computer science.  Upon graduation she worked as an Embedded Software Engineer for Motorola Communications. Barbara decided to stay home when her daughters were born.  She homeschooled both of her girls, and directed a learning co-op where she taught Geography, History and Literature.  During this time, she discovered a passion for teaching children with learning challenges.  After observing the work of an Educational Therapist who used the Equipping Minds Cognitive Development Curriculum, Barbara completed the Equipping Minds Professional Development training.  This training reinforced her understanding of the foundational role that cognitive skills play in the learning process.  Barbara has also completed training at the Associate Level through the OGA.  She joined the team at The Loft in the spring of 2023.  Barbara considers it a blessing to work with students as an Orton-Gillingham tutor while also sharpening their executive function skills.    

Stephanie started her career in Education 25 years ago after graduating with a bachelor's degree in English and History from Athens State University.  She went on to earn her master's degrees in both Gifted Education from the University of South Alabama and Educational Leadership from The University of Alabama.  Over the years, she has spent time in the middle school classroom and as an instructional leader.  Through her Orton-Gillingham training, Stephanies has rediscovered her love for one-on-one, individualized instruction.  Stephanie strives to help students regain their confidence and master the skills they need to be strong and competent learners.  Stephanie and her husband Stewart (who is also in Education) stay busy with their two girls, family, and church activities.