Our Team

 

Rachel Moore MD

In her work as a tutor for struggling readers, Rachel blends her strong scientific background from her time as a family physician with her decades of experience working creatively with children of all ages as an artist musician and teacher. She is well known amongst her students and peers as a highly creative and innovative instructor who seeks out unique solutions. In addition to her broad range of professional experiences, she is privileged to live with and advocate for a daughter and husband with dyslexia. She is a Certified Dyslexia Practitioner (Children’s Dyslexia Centers/IMSLEC).

 

Lauren Maffett M.Ed

Lauren knows dyslexia from the inside - she herself struggled with reading and spelling throughout her school years. This makes her an ideal guide for her students. Lauren has dedicated her entire career to education. She is a Pennsylvania certified public school teacher with a master’s degree as a Reading Specialist. Additionally, she is currently employed as a preschool director, giving her an inside view to the importance of early learning and early remediation for readers who learn differently. Lauren loves two amazing kids with amazing neurodivergent brains! She is a Certified Dyslexia Practitioner (Children’s Dyslexia Centers/IMSLEC).

Jay Barnica, M.A.


Jay is an adjunct professor of English at Millersville University and an experienced tutor working with struggling students at H.A.C.C., Central Penn College and Millersville University. Jay is also a published poet and a kind, approachable person. In addition to his work as a tutor, Jay has taught our Elementary Poetry class and Middle School Learning Enrichment Across Disciplines (LEAD) class at the microSchool to the delight of little kids and teens alike. He is expert in assisting students with executive functioning skills and is additionally trained and very competent in our LRS Orton-Gillingham/Structured Word Inquiry approach to dyslexic learners.

 

Tara Orzech, M.A.

Tara is our “go to” tutor for all things math, especially our upper level students.  She is a PA certified (grades 7 to 12) math teacher with a Masters degree in special education, so she is really adept at helping kids who struggle or who just need a different approach.  Additionally, Tara is an experienced Learning Support teacher who knows how to help students organize their work across many different subject areas - English, science, history, humanities classes and so on.  She knows how to help kids find their path as they grow.  Tara is additionally cross trained in our OG-based, SWI reading curriculum which just expands her wide array of tools to help students of any age.  She is a patient and positive tutor.

Kelly Jo Shelly, B.S.Ed

Kelly is a PA certified K-6 educator with a focus on science. Her  experience as a Program Specialist in teaching English as a second language gives her valuable insight into the world of kids who learn language differently and she is trained and experienced in our LRS Orton Gillingham/Structured Word Inquiry approach to dyslexic learners.   As a bonus, she also brings along her many creative experiences in outdoor adventuring as a leader in the amazing Tinkergarten program here in Lancaster.   Kelly is a kind and patient teacher that can work with any child.

Peggy Caputo, M.S.

Peggy Caputo wanted to become a teacher ever since she was in the first grade. Her dedication and devotion to children has led her to develop into a successful educator. She comes to us with 33 years of teaching experience from preschool to sixth grade. Peggy is a dual certified teacher in general and special education with a masters degree in special education. She is also a certified dyslexia practitioner and has tutored all subjects in person and remotely. After living and teaching in New York and New Jersey she now enjoys living in Pennsylvania and appreciates the sense of community she has found here. When not working with children she enjoys hiking, cooking, baking, reading, completing puzzles and spending time with her husband and children. She loves reading mysteries and enjoys meeting up with her book club monthly. She is part of the microSchool community as well.

Nanci Cullinane, M.S.

Nanci is an experienced elementary classroom teacher (grades 1, 2, 3 and 5), certified in PA, who most recently taught for seven years in the Lebanon School District.  Her Masters degree is in Teaching, Learning and Curriculum.  She holds additional certification in ESL, grades K-12.  She only just retired in June 2022  and, happily for us, wants to keep on teaching!  We are so pleased to have a teacher of her stature and experience working with our students.  In addition to tutoring, Nanci also spent a year teaching reading and math in our microSchool program in Lancaster.  Despite all her experience, Nanci told us that her favorite thing is to “keep learning something new” which is such a refreshing approach and a great example for the kids. 

Iris Lehman, M. Ed.

Iris has been teaching since she graduated in 1995. She worked for 6 years for Hempfield School District at the 4th grade level.  In 2001 she earned her Master’s Degree in Education along with her Reading Specialist Certification.  She went on to homeschool her 3 children, is a homeschool evaluator, and has been teaching classes at Cornerstone Co-op for over 20 years where she teaches writing, history, and literature.  She has also taught Developmental Reading Courses at Harrisburg Community College. Not only does Iris enjoy reading, she is an avid tennis player.  She has been coaching tennis for 23 years!  All of these experiences with young people help her to understand that we all learn differently and approaches and methods need to be uniquely tailored to meet the needs of each individual.


Margaret Poplar, M.Ed.


Peg is a retired Special Education teacher with over 30 years of experience as a learning support teacher. She also holds Reading Specialist and ESL certificates. Peg is additionally trained in the Wilson Reading System (an Orton Gillingham based approach) alongside our OG and Structured Word Inquiry curriculum and is highly skilled at working with struggling readers. She is also approachable, kind and patient. Her favorite thing right now is spending time with her grandbaby.


 

Rebecca Shoener, M.Ed.,M.S.

Becka has over two decades of experience in the field of education including time as a public school Middle School Language Arts teacher, STEM designer and teacher at Snapology of Lancaster, Reading and York (which she owns) and as a professor and Program Director at HACC in the health sciences division. She is also the parent of a dyslexic son and has had a lifelong and profound interest in serving children who learn differently, which is what brought her to our doorstep at this juncture in her impressive career. She is experienced and skilled in making learning experiences available to kids with different learning needs including ASD and ADHD through her Snapology programs. And she taught her own son to read using the Orton Gillingham method in a time when services for dyslexia were few and far between. Becka is fully trained in our particular Orton Gillingham and Structured Word Inquiry curriculum and she is also a reading and math teacher in our microSchool program.  She is great at engaging kids who are struggling in school.

Bethany Alfonso, M Ed.

Bethany spent the past 15 years teaching in public and private schools. She has experience with Kindergarten through 6th grade students and has served as a special education teacher and librarian in addition to teaching in the regular education classroom. She is an adjunct professor in addition to tutoring and working at the microSchool. Bethany has taught using the Wilson Fundations and Just Words programs. She loves to teach students how to read! Bethany enjoys spending time with her husband, daughters, and dog in her spare time. 

Kori Wise, M Ed.

Kori is a certified classroom teacher and Reading Specialist that is loving teaching at the MicroSchool and looking forward to tutoring on an even more personal, individualized level. She earned her Master’s Degree in Education, with a concentration in Teaching & Curriculum plus K-12 Reading Specialist Certification from Penn State in 2007, as well as a dual Bachelors’ in Education & Behavioral Sciences from Wittenberg University in 2001.  The majority of Kori’s teaching experience lies within at-risk and/or high-needs’ populations, such as Prince George’s County, Maryland (Washington, DC), Philadelphia, Wilmington, Delaware, and Columbia Borough, here in Lancaster County.  When she is not teaching, Kori loves to travel and spend time with family and friends, namely her husband, Matt, her daughter, Finnea, and their Boxer, Fraya. If Kori happens to be MIA, it’s usually a safe bet that she is at the beach! 

Abigail Kolmer, B.S.

Abbey holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is passionate about working with children who learn differently. As a registered behavior technician with experience supporting children on the autism spectrum through early intervention, she brings both academic knowledge and hands-on expertise to her tutoring practice. Abigail understands the emotional challenges students face when they struggle academically and approaches each child with genuine empathy and patience. Her kind, supportive teaching style creates a safe environment where students can build confidence alongside academic skills, helping them discover their unique strengths and develop effective learning strategies that work for them.


Arianna Sindelar, B.S.

Arianna holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and currently works as a naturalist for Lancaster County Parks and Recreation, where she discovered her love for the educational aspect of her role. Her genuine passion for science and math shines through in her teaching, making complex concepts accessible and engaging for students. Arianna is now fully training in our specific Orton Gillingham and Structured Word Inquiry curriculum, combining her strong STEM background with evidence-based literacy instruction methods. Her unique blend of scientific expertise and dedication to structured learning approaches allows her to support students across multiple subject areas while fostering both academic growth and a love of learning.

Rachel Summers BA in English and Music, PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education)

Originally from the UK, Rachel worked as an elementary school teacher for 13 years across grades K-5 before making the move to Pennsylvania with her family two years ago. Since then she has been homeschooling her three children, teaching in a homeschool co-op and also enjoying learning lots of things along the way! During her public school teaching years, she took on subject leadership roles in Science, reading and music, worked with school leaders to improve learning support across the school, and took on a mentorship role for trainee teachers.  She loves to make learning practical and accessible to all. 

Rochelle Dietz, M.Ed.

Rochelle is a dedicated Waldorf educator with over 25 years of teaching experience. She holds an M.Ed. in Healing Education and has spent her career cultivating deep, meaningful relationships with learners through a holistic, child-centered approach. In addition to her classroom work, she has led a Waldorf-inspired homeschool group and facilitated hands-on, nature-based learning experiences for youth and families. Rochelle is passionate about meeting each student where they are and supporting their growth with patience, skill, and genuine care. 

Jen Connell, M.Ed.

Jennifer Minder, M.Ed.

Jen is a PA certified teacher with over two decades of experience in addition to being a certified Reading Specialist.  She has worked as an elementary school teacher in Cumberland Valley and Manheim Central School Districts and is currently a second grade teacher at Mainstay Christian Academy.  She was the Reading Specialist at Stiegel Elementary School for three years and is trained in LETRS, Wilson Fundations as well as our specialized mix of Orton Gillingham and Structured Word Inquiry techniques.

Cathy Kudyba, MBA

Teaching isn’t just my career — it’s my passion. Over the years, I’ve taught everyone from first graders in Manheim Township to college students at York College of PA. I’ve also coached youth basketball and Girls on the Run,which deepened my love for working with children and inspired me to earn my Bachelor’s in Education and my Pennsylvania teaching certification at both the Elementary and Secondary levels (English).

With experience teaching elementary through high school students, I bring patience, encouragement, and proven teaching strategies to every tutoring session. My goal is to make learning fun, accessible, and confidence-building so that every student can succeed. I’ve also had the privilege of leading the education department at Milagro House, where I designed academic and life skills programming, giving students practical tools for success. I have always focused on developing strong, supportive relationships with my students, making each session engaging, accessible, and tailored to their needs.

In addition to her extensive teaching experience, Cathy is well trained in our Orton-Gillingham/Structured Word Inquiry approach to reading and spelling.  She is a creative and kind tutor who can help any student succeed. 


Sydney Shuba, BA

Sydney has an undergraduate degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. Syd is passionate about fiber arts and has taken great care in designing an interesting course for both our elementary and middle school students this year.  We hope this will be the start of a productive collaboration!