About the IDA-NNEA

IDA-NNEA (formerly known IDA New Hampshire) Branch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific and educational organization, promoting awareness about dyslexia and serving Maine,  Vermont and New Hampshire.

IDA-NNEA is dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and research of dyslexia (language-based learning disability). We educate the community about the causes, symptoms, assessment and remediation of dyslexia; disseminate information about available resources; teach multi-sensory structured language instructional approaches to educators and other professionals; and collaborate with organizations working on behalf of people with dyslexia.

This branch’s goals are to increase public awareness of dyslexia, and through our seminars, conferences, and workshops, service individuals with dyslexia, their families, and professionals in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. The IDA-NNEA Branch sponsors workshops, conferences, trainings and scheduled community based trainings each year designed to provide information about different aspects of dyslexia. To find out more about what is happening, go to our Events page or click the button below.

Jesse Lowe, President

Jesse Lowe is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of IDA-NNEA. She holds a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Antioch University New England, and draws upon over twenty years of experience working with neurodivergent young people and their families in a range of roles, including classroom teacher, school counselor, community mental health provider, early intervention specialist and social coach. As a person with ADHD, she understands the strengths and challenges inherent in navigating life with learning differences. Her advocacy on behalf of dyslexic learners began when her son was diagnosed in the third grade. The maze-like experience of finding viable remediation options motivated her to get involved in the literacy conversation locally, ultimately inspiring her to join her community’s Educational Advisory Committee and to chair the SEPAC at her son’s school. As part of her journey, Jesse has homeschooled her two children, organized homeschool cooperatives, started an educational coaching practice, and completed a structured literacy training through Yokyworks. In addition to her new role within IDA-NNEA, she recently accepted a position as a licensure-track clinician at Family Associates of Merrimack Valley in Chelmsford, MA, where she hopes to continue to support neurodivergent clients to thrive. Her interests include learning about the science of reading, organic gardening, and hanging out with her family and their rescue dog.

Susan Hourihan, ICALP, Immediate Past President

Committees ~ Executive, Finance, Email, Conference, Nominating, Membership

Susan Hourihan is currently the President of the International Dyslexia Association-Northern New England Alliance. She is also an Instructor of Practitioners at the Seacoast Children’s Dyslexia Center in Rochester, NH. She began her Initial Level Orton-Gillingham training in 2006, graduating in 2007. Over the next two years, she continued with the Advanced Level Orton-Gillingham training, while tutoring students both at the Children’s Dyslexia Centers and privately. She became a supervisor and trainer at the Initial Level. She has been the lead trainer in the Center’s school-based Orton-Gillingham collaboration which trains and certifies area teachers. She graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation. Susan lives in Southern Maine with her husband and has three adult children living in Maine. Susan likes socializing with friends and family, swimming, doing puzzles, watching murder mysteries, playing with her dog, Lily, and reading in her free time.

Cynthia Kenney, LICSW,Vice President

Cynthia Kenney is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She is also a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA – National certification) and a Licensed Applied Behavior Analysis (LABA) in the state of Massachusetts. Cynthia has over a decade of experience supporting children and families and specializes in case management, clinical assessment, and behavioral health interventions, focusing on challenges within social services, medical systems, and educational environments. Skilled in developing personalized treatment plans and behavior support strategies, Cynthia utilizes Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She holds graduate degrees from Boston College School of Social Work, Penn State in Applied Behavioral Analysis, and Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Georgetown University, along with an undergraduate degree from Colby College, Waterville, Maine. Additionally, she has contributed to academia as an adjunct professor at Endicott College, where she developed curricula on child and adolescent mental health.

Rebecca Bellis, Treasurer

Committees ~ Executive and Finance

Rebecca Bellis is a dedicated educator with extensive experience in elementary education and special education. Holding professional licenses in Elementary Education (grades 1-6) and Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) in Massachusetts, she specializes in fostering inclusive, supportive, and engaging learning environments. Rebecca earned a Master’s in Education with a focus on Curriculum and Teaching for Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) from Boston University. She also holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and International Relations from Boston University. Rebecca’s professional growth includes certifications as a Dyslexia Practitioner Levels 1 and 2 and training in innovative educational strategies such as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and Responsive Classroom techniques. Her commitment to excellence has been recognized with awards like the Sontag Prize in Urban Education and service as a CURATE K-5 ELA/Literacy Panelist. With a decade of teaching experience, Rebecca currently serves as a 2nd Grade Classroom Teacher at Florence Roche Elementary School in Groton, MA. Her leadership roles include serving on school-level decision-making teams and contributing to logistical planning for new school facilities. Rebecca is passionate about evidence-based instruction for all students and advocating for students with dyslexia and their families.

Lilli Anna Henderson, Secretary

Lilli Anna Henderson, Director of Tutoring and Consultation, is a seasoned reading tutor and literacy coach. With her extensive experience and certification as a Level 2 Dyslexia Practitioner, she’s dedicated to transforming students’ lives through structured literacy lessons, primarily using the esteemed Orton-Gillingham approach. She has extensive experience successfully implementing the Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Curriculum, Kilpatrick’s Equipped for Reading Success, Precision Teaching, Wilson Fundations Levels K-3, and UFLI. Beyond student interactions, Lilli Anna plays a vital role in our community as a literacy coach and consultant.

Joanne Grobecker, Member-at-Large

Joanne Grobecker is the Literacy Initiatives and Family Engagement Facilitator at New Hampshire’s Parent Information Center. She received her BA in English Teaching at the University of New Hampshire and recently completed her M.Ed in Literacy. She is a lifelong learner and recently completed the LETRS training program. She believes in the power of families and in providing parents with the resources and training they need to ensure their children learn how to read. Joanne’s greatest joy is her two daughters who are both reading proficiently in public school. Joanne passionately believes that every child deserves to learn how to read.

Jessica Voglino, Member-at-Large

Jessica is a certified reading and writing specialist currently working in NH public schools. She is trained in the Orton Gillingham methodology from the Dyslexia Training Institute. She is also well versed in Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing (LiPS) and Visualizing and Verbalizing. She received her bachelor’s in Elementary Ed from Franklin Pierce University and her Masters as a Reading and Writing Specialist from New England College. One of her biggest passions is the connection between the brain and reading.

Beth Chaput, Member-at-Large

Beth Chaput is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist for almost 15 years and Certified Dyslexia Interventionist since 2015.  Beth worked in public schools in MA and NH and became interested in literacy when she realized how many children were struggling to read, even in middle school.  She trained through the Children’s Dyslexia Center in Nashua, and has been servicing children in reading and writing through her private practice ever since.   Her interests include hiking, working out, taking walks with her husband and two dogs, and spending time with her family including her 2 daughters and son-in-law.

Jennifer Cyr, Member-at-Large

Jennifer Cyr works as the English Language Arts lead teacher for the Rochester School District.  She is a school reading specialist at the School Street School and has worked in the reading field for 20 years.  She is a teacher trainer for Dibels Next, LIPS, LETRS, and other scientifically-based programs.  Jen attended school at the University of Maine, then Lesley University, and is currently updating her skills set at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine.  She has completed level 1 Orton-Gillingham training through the Dyslexia Center in Rochester.   Jen has special interests in promoting scientifically- based training in teacher preparation programs, as well as in providing equity in public education for disadvantaged students.  

\Brittany Lovejoy, M.Ed, Member at Large

Committees ~ Government Affairs, Membership, Nominating

Brittany Lovejoy served as a special educator in a Vermont public school and as an Adjudications Officer with the Department of Homeland Security.  Her interests include studying the science of reading and reading differences, promoting equity for diverse learners, appreciating Vermont’s natural beauty, and exploring her faith.  Currently, Ms. Lovejoy is a private literacy tutor, writer, and a voice for the students and parents of Vermont.

Heidi Zollman, Member at Large

Committees ~ Conference-chair

Heidi has developed a strong background in literacy through working as an elementary classroom teacher, reading and writing specialist, Reading First Coach, OG Scholar, and is currently the  Curriculum Director in the Rochester School Department in Rochester, N.H.  Heidi is a certified local LETRS, DIBELS, and SRSD trainer and her passion for supporting literacy in all learners can be seen in the work she has done to raise awareness of dyslexia in the K-16 arena. Heidi actively consults with other school districts across the nation, specializing in literacy, data teams, and the change process and serves on the IDA NNEA board as the conference chair. 

Andrea Pollock, Member at Large

Committees ~ Media Specialist – Conference, Communication and Outreach, Constant Contact, READ for Parents Webinar

Andrea Pollock is a certified educator currently working as a special education reading teacher in the NH public schools. She is a member of the professional staff at the Children’s Dyslexia Center in Nashua where she is a trainer of teachers at the initial level through IMSLEC accredited training. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and General Special Education from Rivier University in 2010 and her Master of Education with a focus on Reading Specialist from the University of New England in Maine in 2018. She is certified in the state of New Hampshire for Elementary Education, General Special Education, and as a Reading and Writing Specialist. 

Rachel Brown-Chidsey, PhD. Member At Large

Rachel Brown-Chidsey, PhD, NCSP, is Senior Academic Officer for FastBridge Learning and a faculty member in the Department of Educational and School Psychology at the University of Southern Maine. Prior to obtaining her doctorate in school psychology, she taught middle and high school history and special education for 10 years. Her research areas include curriculum-based measurement, response to intervention (RTI), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and scientifically based instruction methods. Dr. Brown is coeditor of Assessment for Intervention, Second Edition: A Problem-Solving Approach and coauthor of Response to Intervention, Second Edition: Principles and Strategies for Effective Practice; RTI in the Classroom: Guidelines and Recipes for Success; and Practical Handbook of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. In addition, Dr. Brown has authored articles about reading assessment and instruction as well as implementation of tiered instruction. She has consulted with numerous school districts to support RTI and MTSS implementation.

Kristine Reilly, Administrator

Kristine Reilly, EdD is a reading specialist in the Hollis School district. Kris became interested in language-based learning disabilities and dyslexia as she observed students struggling to read and write over the course of her educational career. Kris earned an M.Ed. in education from Rivier University, an advanced graduate certificate in Dyslexia Studies and Language Based Learning Disabilities from Southern New Hampshire University,  and her Ed.D. in leadership, focusing on phonological processing and educator training, from the University of New England. Kristine is certified as a Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner and Certified Academic Language Practitioner. She is also trained in various reading and writing approaches and programs including LETRS, Orton-Gillingham, RAVE-O, V/V, LiPs, and Language Circle Programs. Kris holds multiple teacher certifications: Early Childhood Education, General Special Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Learning Disabilities, and Reading Writing Specialist.