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Boundless Literacy provides small group, intensive instruction to students performing well below benchmark in reading, many with persistent reading vulnerabilities, in Connecticut's districts of opportunity. Teachers use a Structured Literacy or Orton Gillingham approach and tailor instruction to student learning needs and growth using assessment to guide instruction.
High-Dosage, High Impact Literacy Tutoring
HIGH-DOSAGE
Boundless Literacy uses “high-dosage” literacy tutoring in its partner districts.
Research demonstrates that effect sizes for this kind of tutoring are among the strongest for educational interventions. Perhaps for this reason, the term has become a bit of a buzz-word in the media and political discourse lately. Earlier this year, Secretary of Education, Michael C. Cardona encouraged schools to implement this strategy to help struggling students. Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker endorsed this approach saying, “Few interventions have had such an unequivocally positive impact on expanding learning opportunities and closing equity gaps.”
Why it works
But what is high-dosage tutoring? And why does it work so well?
1. High-dosage tutoring is intensive. It occurs one-on-one or in small groups at least three times a week for at least 30 minutes a session.
2. It’s delivered by a qualified, trained tutor.
3. It happens during the school day just like other scheduled classes. This way, students don’t miss sessions due to schedule conflicts or problems with transportation. This also sends the message that the intervention isn’t an add-on. It’s central, part of the daily curriculum.
4. This tutoring reflects assessment data- both diagnostic and formative.
5. It centers the relationship between the tutor and the student.
Boundless Literacy models our interventions deliberately according to this framework. Sessions occur as close to daily as possible during the school day for thirty minutes or more. Instruction is delivered by teachers with training in the Orton Gillingham approach. Boundless Literacy employs a thorough and comprehensive assessment protocol to maximize student learning. Perhaps most importantly, Boundless Literacy’s teachers value their students, seek to learn as much as possible about them as unique individuals and to connect with them every day.
Our Story
Boundless Literacy was the brainchild of the parent of a child with dyslexia.
Knowing the intensity and expertise in instruction necessary for children with persistent reading challenges to learn to read, he wanted to offer this to families who could not afford it or did not have access to it. He shared this idea with Catherine Pamelard and they, with the support of many others- both individuals and foundations-, began to bring this organization forward.
We're Celebrating a Host of Growing Readers!
Boundless Literacy is expanding! The organization began in 2021 with just one teacher. As of January 2024, seven full-time, Orton-Gillingham trained teachers are working in New Haven and East Haven Public Schools! This is a testament to the skilled, in-school intensive model for intervention we are using and the unflagging efforts of our teachers and school partners. The model works for children.
We are indebted to our district and school partners, families and community-based supporters and donors. Thank you for being a part of this work and this journey! We couldn’t do it without you.
Read the opinion piece that describes our work in The New Haven Register
Our Mission
Boundless Literacy is a nonprofit organization that provides small-group, evidence-based reading instruction to students with reading deficits in Connecticut's Districts of Opportunity.
Our aim is to reach students for whom this INTENSIVE, MULTISENSORY instruction is CRITICAl, THEREBY helpING these children learn to read before THEY ATTEND Middle or HIGH SCHool.
Boundless Literacy joins the efforts of public schools and families in furthering literacy education. Literacy is an equity issue; our vision is a world in which every child learns to read regardless of his or her circumstances. Boundless Literacy is the only non-profit organization in New Haven, Connecticut that provides daily, small group, intensive reading instruction to students who are performing well below the benchmark in reading.
WHAT OUR PARTNERS SAY ABOUT US
“Boundless Literacy has blended seamlessly with our schoolwide approach and student centered model. They offer a valuable component to the resources we have- positioned to affect one of our neediest populations, the struggling reader, with targeted instruction. The coordination between the building level administrator and Boundless Literacy has been outstanding- regular check in with feedback loops to ensure stakeholders have all information. The instructor working with the students is talented, and the proof is in the results- students are making the growth we knew they could make when presented with the model. Although Boundless Literacy was an external program coming into the building, they have become part of the building. This program works!”
-Principal, East Haven Public Schools
Our Board of Directors
Tracey Ruotolo
Tracey Ruotolo is an educational leader who, after working in early childhood education and as a special educator at New Haven Public Schools for much of her career, currently serves as the director of Learning Support at the Foote School. She completed literacy training through Wilson Reading and the Orton Gillingham Academy and holds an Associate level certificate. Tracey also completed training on structured literacy. When not at work, Tracey enjoys reading and spending time with family.
David Goldblum
After working in community redevelopment in Washington, DC and commercial real estate development in Connecticut, David became a teacher and then principal in public high schools in New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut. David continues to work in real estate development. He is also collaborating with a Hartford area non-profit to develop career pathways connecting high schools, colleges and employers.
David currently teaches mathematics in New Haven Public Schools.
Heidi Hamilton
Heidi Hamilton is a native of California, educated at Wellesley College and the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Heidi has practiced law for over three decades and is barred in New York and Connecticut. As an attorney, she has held positions in law firms, city and federal government in New York. She moved to Hamden, Connecticut in 1994 to raise a family. Heidi worked with the Grants and Contracts division of Yale's School of Medicine and the University’s Office of New Haven and State Affairs, as well as other Connecticut city and state government agencies, and not-for-profits. While practicing law with a Hartford firm, she was assigned exclusively as counsel to a Connecticut charter school management organization and later joined as their General Counsel and Chief of Staff. In 2015, she moved to Manhattan to join the Amber Charter Schools network as their Chief Legal and Operating Officer. She currently serves as the Chief Real Estate, Facilities & Legal Officer. At Amber Heidi manages the renovation and yearly capital improvements of over 120,000 sq. ft. of commercial school property.
Heather Wachter
Heather Wachter is a visionary literacy leader with a passion for educational excellence and equity. She is currently the Director of K-12 English/Language Arts for Hamden Public Schools. Leading the district’s work to shift to a Science of Reading driven instructional model, Heather was instrumental in implementing a universal screener for all K-8 students. Prior to joining Hamden Public Schools, Heather served in a variety of literacy leadership roles including; literacy coach for New Haven Public Schools, Managing Director of Elementary Literacy at Harlem Village Academies, and Principal and Academic Dean at Achievement First. Heather holds certifications in Elementary Education, Remedial Reading and Language Arts, and Intermediate Administrator.
Amy Caplan
Amy Caplan currently serves as Director of Institutional Advancement at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden. Most recently, she worked in the Office of Development and Alumni Programs at The Foote School, her alma mater, where she helped to coordinate and plan the school's fundraising activities and alumni events around the country. After attending Foote, Amy graduated from Hopkins School and Vassar College where she majored in Anthropology. Before moving back to New Haven in 2006, she lived and worked in Manhattan, San Francisco and Paris. A life-long athlete, having played field hockey since a young age through college, Amy is an avid hiker and skier, practices Kundalini yoga, and loves watching live sports on TV. She also enjoys volunteering her time in the community, including as President of the Hopkins Alumni Association and with Horizons at Foote. She has previously served on the Board of Leila Day Nursery School and was a tutor for New Haven Reads. Amy lives in Hamden with her family.
Amiya Bhaskar
Amiya Bhaskar is an MBA candidate at Yale School of Management, with a rich background in law and public service. Originally from India, he practiced law for four years before transitioning to a pivotal role in the Indian Federal Government in the social security domain, where he served for six and a half years. In the Indian Civil Service, Amiya significantly improved operational efficiencies and service delivery to millions of citizens. He led large teams and managed cross-functional projects, making notable contributions to the public sector. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he is deeply committed to legal advocacy and community service. An avid reader of non-fiction and science fiction, Amiya enjoys playing and watching multiple sports, including soccer, cricket, and table tennis.
Kara Campbell
Kara Campbell is a Certified member of the Orton-Gillingham Academy. She has provided more than 7,000 hours of structured literacy instruction in one-to-one, small group and whole classroom settings. She has served as a practicum supervisor for the University of Georgia’s Dyslexia Certificate program and as a Remediation Specialist with The Dyslexia Resource. Kara holds undergraduate degrees in English and Public Relations. Her experience as a mom to three children with learning differences led her to be the founding president of the first special education PTA in Georgia. Kara’s passion is supporting teachers as they put their growing knowledge of research-based literacy practices to use with students. Kara lives in Trumbull, CT with her family and is an Instructional Developer, Coach and Trainer with the AIM Institute.
Boundless Literacy is growing! We can't wait to bring intensive, evidence-based instruction to even more students who need it!
Our Teachers
Catherine Pamelard
Boundless Literacy Founder Catherine Pamelard has been working as a reading teacher and special educator for over twenty years.
SHE HOLDS A MASTER'S DEGREE FROM SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY AND A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP FROM HARVARD UNIVERSITY. CATHERINE IS A STRUCTURED LITERACY CLASSROOM EDUCATOR THROUGH THE CENTER FOR EFFECTIVE READING INSTRUCTION AS WELL AS AN ORTON GILLINGHAM PRACTITIONER AT THE ASSOCIATE LEVEL.
Catherine lives in Hamden, Connecticut with her husband and two children.
Dawn Bertrand
Dawn Bertrand has a Master's of Education Degree with a concentration in literacy from The University of St.Joseph.
She received Orton Gillingham Training from the Institute of Multi-Sensory Education as well as phonics training from Teachers College at Columbia. She has over 20 years of experience in education. Prior to teaching, Dawn was a professional graphic artist and still paints holiday windows.
She enjoys camping and spending time with family and friends. Dawn lives in Wolcott, Connecticut with her husband, Glenn. She has two grown sons who have both earned their college degrees.
Monique Dewar
Monique Dewar has a Master’s Degree in Education from Sacred Heart University.
She has received Orton-Gillingham Training from the Institute of Multi-Sensory Education and has been teaching her entire professional career, previously as an English Language Arts teacher for the ACES school district.
Monique currently lives in Hamden, Connecticut and enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Rashell Lee
Rashell Lee holds a Master of Education degree from Ashford University..
She received Orton Gillingham training from the Institute of Multisensory Education. Rashell has been working in education for over 13 years. She enjoys book shopping, amusement parks, and spending time with family and friends.
Rashell lives in West Haven, Connecticut with her husband Michael and her daughter.
Tess Fukuyama
Tess Fukuyama has been teaching special education for at-risk students for two and a half years. Two of those years were spent in a therapeutic residential setting, working also as a dorm staff.
She has degrees (B.S. Special Education, B.S. Psychology, and M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction) from Penn State University. Tess has been trained in Orton Gillingham literacy instruction through The Institute for Multisensory Education.
She lives in Clinton, Connecticut. In her free time, Tess has been working on home improvement projects for a house she recently bought.
Elaina Madden
Elaina Madden holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary and Special Education from Marywood University.
She received Orton Gillingham training from the Institute of Multisensory Education and was previously a special education and third grade teacher.
Elaina lives in Newington, CT and enjoys reading, horseback riding, and traveling.
Melanie Flickinger
Melanie Flickinger has a Master's of Education Degree in School Improvement Leadership from Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland.
SHE RECEIVED ORTON GILLINGHAM TRAINING FROM THE INSTITUTE OF MULTI-SENSORY EDUCATION. IN ADDITION TO BEING A K-5 CLASSROOM TEACHER FOR 15 YEARS, SHE HAS SPENT TIME AT THE DISTRICT AND STATE LEVELS AS A TITLE I INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALIST.
Melanie lives in Madison, Connecticut with her husband Bob and two teenage daughters. She enjoys reading, hiking with her dog, and spending time at the beach.
Meghan Lynch
Meghan Lynch holds a BFA from Emerson College and dual certification in general and special education through Region 13 in Austin, Texas.
She received training in Orton Gillingham through the Institute for Multisensory Education. Meghan spent many years overseas where she taught English but now lives in Milford with her husband, two children and her dog, Fred.
Meghan enjoys reading, traveling, and finding new soup recipes to make for friends and family.
OUR SPONSORS
The Seedlings Foundation
SMPS Family Foundation
The JMS Foundation
The Stonesthrow Fund
Roger Ibbotson
The Community Foundation of Greater New Haven
The Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts
Daniel and Sharon Milikowsky Family Foundation
The Eder Family Foundation
NewAlliance Foundation
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