2016 Board of Directors
Elaine Offstein, Regina Manning, Marsha Sanborn, Judy Reising, Sherri Marcinov, Natasha Owens, Regina Richards, Haya Sakadjian, Tina Hambleton, Caylin Wade, Christine Denison, Brian Owens

Board of Directors – Officers

Elaine Offstein
President
Educational Therapist, Offstein Educational Therapy

Teaching has been my passion all of my life.  As a professional, I have always worked in the field of special education.  I believe every child has the capacity to learn and thrive and the right to receive the appropriate instruction to meet their unique learning style.  I am a member of IDA because I believe in the vision of IDA to promote and support research in dyslexia and other language learning differences and the development of appropriate educational models that allow children with learning disabilities to thrive.

Caylin Wade
Vice President – Membership
Parent of dyslexics

I have 2 children that are dyslexic. I want everyone to understand what dyslexia really is.

Regina Richards
Vice President – Organization

Regina G. Richards, MA is Director of Richards Educational Therapy Center (RET Center) & former director of Big Springs School, specializing in multidisciplinary programs for language learning disabilities, especially dyslexia and dysgraphia.  Regina graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master’s in Education, specializing in bilingual education (teaching training and curriculum development). She established the RET Center in 1975, providing educational therapy and diagnostic services, and opened Big Springs School in 1980.

Regina teaches regularly at the University of California Extension Program in Riverside. She has authored a variety of journal articles and books on reading, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and visual development, including The Source for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia, The Source for Learning and Memory, Eli, The Boy Who Hated To Write and The Writing Dilemma. She is very active in her local IDA branch, having been President several times. She presents workshops and keynotes at school districts and conferences nationally.  Regina is the parent of an adult son who has struggled with dyslexia and dysgraphia all his life.  He is currently very successful in business, working with computers.

I’ve so enjoyed my many different roles with this branch and know I will continue to do so. I feel it is so important to share the wide range of very valid and professional information that exists to help children and adult who struggle with reading and writing. And, the wonderful feedback we receive from the folks who attend our event is so heartwarming! As a branch we have helped so many different people – I’m delighted to be a part of this powerful organization!

Monica Hodgson-Daniels
Treasurer

C.E.O. of Garnett & Gold, Financial Corporation, doing business and personal tax preparation and Accounting.  Also an enrolled agent to practice before IRS. I am an advocate for literacy. To improve the quality of life for others.

Christine Denison
Secretary
Parent of a dyslexic

I am a special education assistant at Riverside Unified School District.

My son has Dyslexia.  In 2013, I came across a video seminar by the Inland Empire branch of IDA (renamed as Tri-Counties Branch).  It really opened my eyes.  I recognized many of the signs and traits of dyslexia as my son’s.  My son was diagnosed in 2015. Since, I have gotten involved with the Tri-Counties Board of the IDA so that I may learn more to help my son and to help others understand what dyslexia is and how to get help.

Board of Directors – Members-at-Large

Elena Alvarez
Director

Lisa Cupolo
Director

Cathy Johnson
Director

Karen Lerner
Director
Educational Therapist

Karen received an undergraduate degree and master’s degree in dance education, worked as a modern dancer on the east coast, and then as  a teacher at both UC Irvine and Chapman University in their dance departments.

Karen then received a teaching credential and an administration credential at UC Irvine and a special education credential from Chapman University to focus on educating students with language differences.

She worked at The Prentice School for 21 years, 9 as a junior high school teacher and 12 as their principal.

This past year she completed an educational therapy certification from UC Riverside and currently works part-time at the UC Irvine Child Development School and The College Blueprint, both in case management.

I think that the IDA has the potential to not only support parents and students, but to also educate teachers who are tasked with teaching students with literacy deficits and do not find relevant and consistent support in their school districts or at their school sites.

Having worked in a school with the mission of educating students with specific language differences and being trained in a scientifically validated approach to this teaching, I have seen the power of addressing dyslexia and related learning difficulties when teachers are armed with strategic training and supervision.

Regina Manning
Director

Dyslexia tutor

Judy Reising
Director
Dyslexia Tutor

Former teacher. Private tutoring.

Elayne Roberts
Director

Denise Rountree
Director
Student

I am an adult with dyslexia and I also attend Moreno Valley College.  I am grateful to be a part of the Tri-Counties Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and I look forward to helping spread good information about dyslexia.

Haya Sakadjian
Director
Parent of child with dyslexia

As a parent of a bright child with dyslexia, I support IDA in its mission to advance dyslexia awareness, education, and best treatment practices.  In particular, my interest is forming parent communities of support where we can share knowledge and resources, and become empowered advocates for our children. I started the Dyslexia Parent Support Group of South Orange County, which is sponsored by our IDA chapter and DDCA (Decoding Dyslexia). So far, we’ve connected over 50 parents in our group.