Our Vision
The vision of the Children's Choice Initiative is to Unlock Children's Unlimited Potential Through Reading. Our goal is to accomplish this in all 587 school districts in Michigan, utilizing Multi-Sensory Structured Reading Techniques. Classroom teachers can expect that through effective adult training sessions, personal onsite and video observations, and effective learning tools, that they will be fully equipped to teach reading. Thereby Unlocking Children's Unlimited Potential Through Reading.
Our Story
Our story began more than 17 years ago, where many of our staff began their journey to teach reading to children diagnosed with dyslexia, a program sponsored by The Scottish Rite Masons. This journey has provided extensive training in the Orton-Gillingham method of structured reading, and resulted in thousands of combined hours of training Reading Teachers and Students. The results include students leaving the program reading at grade reading level or higher 92.4 percent of the time. Our passion is to reverse declining literacy rates in Michigan, moving our State from 48th in the Nation to Number One! The success of our story is told through the lives of children. Children that now have a much greater chance of succeeding in life, because of increased reading skills. But this story is far from completion. With every new Michigan school district that we connect with, we are adding another successful chapter to this epic tale of Michigan's rising literacy rates.
Your Story
Let us help your District raise their numbers and move closer to achieving Blue Ribbon Status! Higher reading scores are good for everyone. At the student level, the school level, the district level, and eventually the State level. Increased scores = increased funding = increased programs = increased students achieving and exceeding their reading grade level.
Meet the Team
At Children's Choice Initiative, we are confident that we have some of the very best Trainers in The Orton-Gillingham Structured Reading Method. Our Trainers are knowledgeable and passionate about training teachers to successfully teach structured reading.
Nancy Williams
Director / Head Trainer
Nancy Williams is Lead Trainer and Director of Children's Choice Initiative. She has also been very involved in Curriculum Development, and has been the Director of the Great Lakes Bay Region Children's Dyslexia Center for the past 5 years. She has completed over 1800 hours of tutoring, and is an advanced certified trainer in the Orton-Gillingham Multi-Sensory Training Model. She earned her Masters Degree as a Reading Specialist at Mary Grove College, and her Bachelors Degree in Special Education at Michigan State.
Mary Trogan
Trainer
Mary Trogan is a Trainer at Children's Choice Initiative, and also works for the Great Lakes Bay Region Children's Dyslexia Center, where she has worked as a Tutor, and a Trainer, since 2001. Mary also worked as a public school teacher for the Bay City Public School System as a Special Education Teacher and as an Adjunct Professor for Saginaw Valley State University. She has over 2000 hours as a Tutor/Trainer. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Special Education from Central Michigan University, and her Masters in Teaching Learning Disabilities from Saginaw Valley State University.
Sherry Dillbeck
Trainer
Sherry is a Trainer at Children's Choice Initiative, and a Tutor/Trainer at the Great Lakes Bay Area Children's Dyslexia Center where she has been since 2005. She has also worked as Director of Testing at Midland Academy, and has more than 2000 hours as a Tutor/Trainer. Sherry earned her Bachelors Degree in Education from Illinois State University, and her Advanced Trainer Certification from Orton-Gillingham.
Brad Williams
Trainer / Curriculum Development
Brad Williams is the senior member of our Curriculum Development Staff, and a Certified Trainer. Brad serves as a School Counselor at Cramer Junior High in Essexville, and has more than 18 years experience as a General and Special Education Teacher. Brad is also the Author of several children's books. He earned his Masters Degree in Counseling at Central Michigan University, and his Bachelors Degree in General & Special Education at Michigan State University.
Next Steps...
We have already partnered with several school districts in Michigan, and we're looking forward to partnering with you. Request your Free Consultation Today!