Michelle Szabo, M.S.Ed., Director of Instruction, directs the instruction program for the Stern Center’s staff of 20+ teachers who instruct 400 students each year. She brings more than 30 years of teaching experience to her supervisory role ensuring program efficacy for all students, while continuing to offer individualized and customized instruction both in-person and online […]
Stern Center Staff
Susan Zirpoli, M.A.
Susan Zirpoli is a Wilson Credentialed Trainer and Wilson Dyslexia Therapist. She has worked extensively in the field of education for over twenty-five years. Prior to working with Wilson Language Corp. as a Literacy Specialist, she was the Coordinator of Reading Interventions for Carroll County Public Schools in Westminster, Maryland. Under her leadership all three […]
Shirley Bate, M.Ed., Fellow/OGA
Shirley Bate, M.Ed., Fellow/OGA, is a Supervising Fellow with the Orton-Gillingham Institute at the Stern Center. She provides training at the Orton-Gillingham (OG) Classroom Educator, Associate, and Certified levels to provide in-depth mentorship to educators seeking OG certification. Shirley has been certified by the Orton-Gillingham Academy as an OG educator for twenty-five years and is […]
Kristy Wysong, M.S.Ed.
Kristy received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from Auburn University in Elementary Education. She has been teaching for 33 years and taught grades 1–4, focusing the last 12 years on teaching reading to struggling students and students with dyslexia. She is an in-district and on-call trainer for the Wilson Language Training company. She has been trained in Orton-Gillingham from the Michigan Dyslexia Institute and the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education.
Edward R. Wilkens, Ed.D.
Ed spent 19 years as a public school principal in four Vermont districts. During a six year interlude of that work, he served as consultant and technical assistance provider for the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Ed began his time with the Stern Center as Development Director, serving in that role […]
