Every Child Reading. Every Future Possible.
Boundless Literacy
unleashing the power of reading.
At Boundless Literacy, we believe that reading is not just a skill—it’s a right. When children are taught to read with care, consistency, and research-backed methods, their confidence grows and their futures open wide.
We partner with schools to ensure that all children, particularly those who face barriers to reading success, receive expert, individualized reading instruction. Our approach is rooted in the science of reading and the knowledge that literacy unlocks opportunity.
We're Celebrating a Host of Growing Readers
Check out our Impact Report!
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. As Dr. Emily-Binks found in a 2021 meta-study, "The most influential factor upon a child's ultimate success, or lack thereof, in learning to read is the quality of the reading instruction a child receives."
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. Our teachers work with students in small groups every school day during the regular course of the academic day. Instruction is delivered by teachers with training in Orton Gillingham, a specialized 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. The four pillars of our model are: intensity, highly-skilled instruction, access and partnership.
Our Story
Boundless Literacy was the brainchild of the parent of a child with dyslexia.
Knowing the expertise and extensive instruction necessary for children to learn to read, he wanted to make this available to families who could not afford it or did not have access to it.
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 our Recent Opinion Piece on High-Dosage Tutoring
Our Mission
Boundless Literacy is a nonprofit organization that provides small-group, evidence-based reading instruction to students in underserved schools.
Our aim is to reach students for whom this 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 in underserved schools.
WHAT OUR PARTNERS SAY ABOUT US
“Boundless Literacy has been an invaluable partner since 23-24 SY in addressing literacy challenges at our school. Their evidence-based approach, rooted in the Orton Gillingham methodology, has provided targeted, effective instruction to students who are reading below grade level. Many of these students, who were once struggling to keep up, are now showing remarkable progress and renewed confidence in their ability to learn. The data that Boundless Literacy and our teams share speaks clearly to the efficacy of its approach.”
– Principal, New Haven Public Schools
Our Board of Directors
Jennifer Marlon
Dr. Jennifer Marlon is the Executive Director of the Yale Center for Geospatial Solutions and a Senior Research Scientist at the Yale School of the Environment. Her research explores the complex interactions between social and ecological systems in the context of climate change and extreme weather. A recognized leader in the fields of public climate change perceptions and wildfire dynamics within the Earth system, Dr. Marlon has pioneered data-driven tools that enhance public engagement with climate issues. As the former Director of Data Science at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, she led the development of influential resources such as the Yale Climate Opinion Maps, Yale Climate Fact Sheets, and the Six Americas Super Short Survey (SASSY). She has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed articles published in leading journals.
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 Development & Strategic Partnerships at Lost in New Haven, a museum and cultural center, a space at the intersection of art, history and culture to educate, inspire and enrich our understanding of history and ourselves. Previously, 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. 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 serving on the Hopkins School Alumni Association Board. 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. She is Currently working on her certified level.
Catherine lives in Hamden, Connecticut with her husband. She enjoys reading, running and spending time with family and friends. She has two college-aged 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 is currently working on her Associate Level through the Orton Gillingham Academy.
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.
Erin Cofrancesco
Erin Cofrancesco holds a Master’s of Education from Harvard University and received training in Orton Gillingham from the Institute for Multisensory Education.
Before joining Boundless Literacy, Erin worked to support children as a classroom teacher, outdoor educator, and curriculum developer. Erin grew up in New Haven and now lives in Guilford, CT.
She enjoys art, reading, and spending time with family.
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.