MEET OUR TEACHERS

Michelle is a lifelong lover of reading education, with 10 years of Elementary Education classroom experience. She graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Early Childhood Education. After years of teaching students to fall in love with reading in Highland Park ISD, she couldn’t ignore the tugging at her heart to do more for the children who needed more. Michelle got her Masters of Education in Reading & Writing from SMU and is a licensed Dyslexia Therapist (LDT), Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) and a Reading Specialist (K-12). For Michelle, teaching isn't just about imparting knowledge—it's about touching hearts. Guided by this belief, she approaches each student with genuine care and compassion. Michelle's home in Dallas, TX, is filled with love, laughter, and the pitter-patter of tiny feet belonging to her adorable baby girl, Addison, her handsome baby boy, Jackson, and their beloved fur-baby, Bo. When she's not busy teaching, Michelle loves embarking on spontaneous road trips and discovering the wonders of the world around us.

Ask Michelle about her favorite book, and she'll enthusiastically share "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch. It's a tale that never fails to tug at the heartstrings and bring on the waterworks, reminding her of the incredible power words hold.

Michelle can't wait to welcome you with open arms and share her dream of igniting a passion for reading in students everywhere!

Meet Diana, a Texan at heart with a worldly upbringing, courtesy of her Air Force family background. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Texas A&M University and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction in Literacy from the University of Texas at Arlington, Diana is passionate about teaching reading. She's also ESL certified and a Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist. Starting as a first-grade teacher, Diana later became an Instructional Coach for kindergarten through 2nd-grade teachers in Mesquite ISD before finding her niche at I Heart Learning as a Curriculum and Instruction Development Specialist and Dyslexia specialist. Outside of work, she's a devoted mom to her two daughters and their fur-baby, Maggie. Diana enjoys teaching Pilates and unwinding with movie nights. Her favorite book, "Ruby the Copycat" by Peggy Rathman, inspires Diana to embrace authenticity. Motivated by her love for reading and her experiences as the "new kid," she's also ventured into writing her own children’s book, "Benny’s Moving Buddy," to comfort relocating children. With endless enthusiasm and empathy, Diana spreads the joy of learning in both her professional and creative pursuits

From a young age, Brooke knew she was destined to be a teacher. She fondly recalls reading Magic Tree House stories to her stuffed animals and giving grammar lessons to her Barbie dolls—teaching was always in her heart. Brooke turned that childhood dream into reality by earning her Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State University.

Returning to her hometown of Plano, Brooke now inspires young minds as a 5th grade teacher. With five years of experience in the district, she has taught first, second, and fifth grade, developing a passion for helping students transform reading from a task into a true love of learning. She lives by the words of Dr. Seuss: “The more you read, the more you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go!”

Dani is a dedicated educator whose mission is to help every student learn, grow at their own pace, and develop confidence in themselves. Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Dani moved to Dallas in 2021, where she earned her teacher certification in Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading, along with a Bilingual Education Supplemental certification (Spanish, Grades EC-6).

She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Educational Sciences from the University of Monterrey and brings nearly seven years of classroom experience to her role. Throughout her career, Dani has served as a Teacher’s Assistant, Inclusion Assistant, and Elementary Bilingual Teacher—always fostering an environment where students feel valued and supported.

Outside the classroom, Dani loves traveling and exploring the outdoors with her husband, Beto, as well as spending quality time with family and friends. She enjoys reading, dancing, walking, yoga, and pilates. One of her favorite books to share with students is We’re All Wonders by R.J. Palacio, a story close to her heart that celebrates uniqueness, friendship, inclusion, and belonging.

Originally from Visalia, California, Alexis recently made Irving, Texas her new home. She is currently completing her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and has a strong passion for working with children. Alexis began her journey in education as a behavior technician, providing one-on-one therapy sessions to children with autism. This rewarding experience inspired her commitment to giving back and supporting those in need within her community.

Eager to continue growing professionally, Alexis plans to pursue a Master’s degree after gaining further experience in the field to help guide her career path.

In her free time, she enjoys playing with her pet cat, catching up on her favorite shows, and exploring new restaurants around the city. Alexis discovered her love for reading in sixth grade with the Divergent series by Veronica Roth—she was so captivated by the dystopian world that she couldn’t put the books down, often finishing one a day!

Originally from New York, Joy brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for education to her classroom. She holds a B.S. in Education and Psychology from Smith College and a Master’s in Education as a Reading Specialist from Columbia University Teachers College.

Throughout her career, Joy has had the privilege of working with students and teachers across diverse K-12 settings. She spent five years inspiring young learners as a Kindergarten and First Grade teacher, and later supported middle and high school students as a Reading Specialist. Joy discovered her love for teaching reading during her student teaching days and has been dedicated ever since to helping students develop a lifelong love of reading—just as she did.

Joy is committed to creating academically engaging experiences in a classroom environment that nurtures creativity, curiosity, and kindness. Outside of teaching, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, exploring Dallas' vibrant restaurant scene, and staying active on the tennis court.

With a lifelong passion for learning and teaching, Sarah discovered her love for education early on—playing school was her favorite childhood pastime. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Education from Southern Methodist University and holds teaching certifications in Early Childhood through Fourth Grade, as well as ESL.

Sarah began her teaching career with Arlington ISD, where she spent over eight wonderful years nurturing young minds in third grade, PreK 3, and Kindergarten. Currently, she is furthering her expertise by pursuing a Master’s in Education at SMU.

A dedicated educator and proud mother of three, Sarah balances her professional life with family time, cheering on her two boys and daughter in their extracurricular activities. Outside the classroom, she enjoys playing pickleball, walking her dog, reading, and sharing Mahjong games with friends. Inspired by the teachers who never gave up on her, Sarah's favorite book, Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, reflects her belief in the power of perseverance and encouragement in every child’s learning journey.

A proud 5th-generation Texan, Sharilyn brings over 29 years of dedicated experience in Texas Public Schools before retiring in 2019. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration (1992) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (1990) from the University of North Texas in Denton. Sharilyn’s extensive certifications include Mid-Management Administrator (PK-12), Elementary Reading and Self-Contained (1-8), Early Childhood Education (PK-K), Special Education (PK-12), and ESL (PK-12). She is also trained in the Dyslexia Intervention Program and Take Flight.

Throughout her career, Sharilyn has worn many hats—serving as a Dyslexia Teacher, Reading Interventionist, Master Teacher, and classroom teacher across multiple districts, including Mount Vernon ISD, Sulphur Springs ISD, and Mesquite ISD. Her passion lies in helping students discover their potential and fostering a love of learning in those who need it most. She considers it a true privilege to be part of each child’s educational journey.

Sharilyn is married to her high school sweetheart, Paul, who is also a teacher, and they have two adult children, Hank and Hayley. Outside of education, she enjoys playing keyboard in a band, volunteering in her community, and traveling. One of her favorite books is Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, as it reminds her of embracing the uniqueness of her own name—something she learned from an inspiring teacher during her school days.

Lisa brings a unique blend of creativity and life experience to the classroom. Before becoming a teacher, she built a successful career as a newspaper journalist and public relations consultant. Her love for education began while volunteering at local schools and teaching with organizations like Big Thought, Junior Players, and Writer’s Garret. She also taught Sunday school to African refugee children and participated in Leadership DISD as a Principal-for-the-Day.

After earning her Alternative Teaching Certification, Lisa joined Raul Quintanilla Middle School in her Oak Cliff neighborhood. Over ten years, she taught English and later served as an ELL teacher and reading specialist. Passionate about student engagement, she also launched the school’s UIL Academic Team and led a variety of after-school clubs—from piano and gardening to poetry and chess—bringing enrichment and creativity to her campus.

Lisa is certified in English (EC–8), TEFL, ESL, Gifted and Talented, and Special Education. She holds a BFA in Journalism, a BA in Foreign Languages, and an MLA in Liberal Arts from SMU. A lifelong fan of Winnie the Pooh, Lisa enjoys attending theater, writing plays, and spending time in her cozy yellow house with her husband, two dogs, and a cat.