Rocky Mountain Chapter

Lisa Crellin, M.A.T., CALT is a private therapist at the LIT Lab in Heber City, Utah. She divides her time between Salt Lake City and Heber each week and sees students in both locations. Lisa graduated from Colorado College with her Masters of Teaching. She was a Reading Interventionist for Ben Franklin Academy and a Learning Specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado both in Highlands Ranch. Lisa moved to Salt Lake City in 2018 where she has continued her private practice. Lisa has been a guest speaker at the University of Utah, for the Wasatch Reading Summit, and at a variety of community outreach events. She is in her second year of training to become a Qualified Instructor. Lisa is currently realizing one of her goals of assisting her grandchildren capture and love the written word. She cherishes the time when her grandchildren rest their heads on her shoulders as she reads to them. Lisa also enjoys interior design, cooking for family and friends, walking, and reading.

Monica Peeler, MA, MAT, CALP has been a member of ALTA since 2018. She earned her Master of Arts in Literacy Intervention in 2020 from Colorado College. Monica also earned a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Instructional Technology from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs in 2018. She began serving on the ALTA-RMC board as secretary in 2021. Monica currently works in public education as a reading interventionist at the elementary level. Prior to becoming a reading interventionist, she taught many grade levels in public education for 14 years. In addition to working in public education, Monica also works with students in private practice, where she provides one-on-one therapy for children and adolescents. Monica has also obtained a Reading Specialist endorsement from the Colorado Department of Education. When she has downtime, she enjoys spending time with her son, Quentin, and almost any type of physical fitness activity.

Angela Williams, MAT, CALT has been a member of ALTA since 2017 as a Certified Academic Language Therapist. She received her MAT in Literacy Intervention at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Angela is originally from Toronto, Ontario, Canada where she taught elementary grade levels for over ten years. Since moving to Colorado in 2009, she has taught for five years with a focus on Literacy Intervention. Angela holds a teaching license in Elementary Education and has obtained a Reading Specialist endorsement from the Colorado Department of Education. Presently, Angela has opened her own dyslexia and learning center, Away with Words. She is passionate about helping dyslexic students succeed through small group intervention, and online. In her free time, Angela loves spending time with her husband, Jason, and her three wonderful children: Abigail, Dean, and Blake.

Faith Dincler, MAT, CALT has been a member of ALTA since 2018. After serving as a classroom teacher for several years, she earned her master’s degree in Literacy Intervention through Colorado College. Faith is now the Literacy Specialist at The Classical Academy North Elementary in Colorado Springs, and LOVES her job. She is excited to work with the ALTA-RMC board, as they strive to raise awareness regarding dyslexia and provide helpful resources to families in our communities. Faith also enjoys hiking, reading, baking, and doing pretty much anything with her 3 awesome kids.

Martha has been a resident of Black Forest, CO, for 30 years. She received a BS in Rehabilitation Services and an MA in special education from the University of Connecticut, and an MAT in literacy from Colorado College. Martha has been a special education teacher and literacy specialist in the Colorado Springs area school districts. She currently is a Learning Specialist II with Children’s Hospital Colorado, primarily doing dyslexia therapy remotely with children at various locations around and outside of the state of Colorado. Martha is currently co-chair of the Diversity Health Equity and Inclusion Committee for Therapies at Children’s Hospital. Martha is passionate about encouraging early literacy skills and sharing information on literacy and dyslexia with the public and area organizations, including Pikes Peak Library District and school districts.

Martha decided to pursue a MAT and certification as a CALT because she firmly believes that improved, research-based reading instruction is the future of education and the only way to appropriately serve our folks with reading difficulties who are receiving special education services as well as those who are not.

Martha enjoys hiking, horseback riding, and spending time with her three (adult/nearly adult) children, whom she homeschooled, and her dogs and horses.

Elizabeth M Barnes, MAT, CALP, lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has been a member of ALTA since 2014. Along with earning her Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) through Colorado College, she attended the Literacy Interventionist Specialist Certification Program (LISCP) and became a Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP). She started her private practice Connecting the Dots Education, LLC in 2014. Since 2016, she has also been working part-time as the literacy interventionist at one of Fountain-Fort Carson’s elementary schools.

Elizabeth became passionate about learning more in-depth about dyslexia due to working with her dyslexic son throughout his childhood and young adult years. Seeing him grow as a reader and carry out his academic goals, including graduating from college, gave her the continued drive to help others with a learning difference thrive academically and socially.

For fun, Elizabeth loves going to the park with her husband and dog, Willow, baking, traveling to the ocean, and spending time with family and friends.