Leadership
Wendi Adair
Executive Director
My journey with teaching students who struggle with reading started when I began homeschooling my two children with dyslexia. To best assist them, I received specialized training in the Orton-Gillingham approach of literacy instruction, which is a researched-based methodology proven to work with individuals who struggle with literacy. As an Orton-Gillingham reading practitioner, I was able to help other struggling readers unlock their reading potential. However, most parents in our community whose children struggle with literacy cannot afford a private Orton-Gillingham tutor. That’s when I learned about the Augustine Literacy Project, which trains volunteers in the same effective instructional methods and provides private tutoring for eligible students at their schools for FREE! As the Director of ALP-Brevard, I will continue to train and support volunteer tutors to reach as many qualifying students in our community as possible who will provide the most effective, interventive literacy instruction available.
Board Members
Lee Timmons
Chair
I graduated from Sewanee with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and earned my teaching licensure from Brevard College. As an outdoor educator and former high school English and Civics teacher, I am passionate about helping kids reach their potential in every aspect of life. All of our youth should be able to explore who they are and who they want to become, yet circumstances limit many. Whether it’s finding resilience on a backpacking trip, scouting a whitewater rapid, working on a group project, analyzing a piece of literature, or revising an essay, every experience and challenge helps develop new skills. So when a mentor at Brevard College’s Education Program suggested that I join the board at Augustine Literacy, I jumped at the opportunity to serve in such a meaningful way. I am honored and grateful to be a part of such an incredible organization that uplifts our community by expanding possibilities for our youth.
Kate Shober
Vice Chair
I grew-up in this wonderful town and attended Appalachian State University. My teaching career began in 2003. I am a Certified Teacher in Exceptional Children Education (K–12) and Elementary Education (K–6). My past teaching experience includes high school and elementary special education as well as many years in the 2nd and 4th grade classroom. I currently serve as the Reading Interventionist at Pisgah Forest Elementary School and also teach EC math.
It is a privilege to serve as a board member of Augustine Literacy Project in Transylvania County. I see firsthand the positive impact this organization has on our community and our youngest learners. I believe that reading is not only a pathway to success but a pathway to transform lives. When I’m not teaching, you can find me hiking, gardening, reading and spending time with my husband and two daughters.
Kathryn Polmanteer
Board Chair
I became an Augustine Literacy Tutor in the fall of 2016. My background is in speech-language pathology and I have always been interested in how children’s speech and language development and their understanding of phonological awareness impact later reading and spelling skills. The structured, multisensory approach used in the Augustine program is built on a foundation of phonological awareness-phonics-fluency-comprehension-vocabulary and each of these areas is incorporated into the lesson plan. It is pure joy to witness the progress that struggling readers can make using this program. I wish I had known about it years ago.
Deborah Paratore
Board Member
After finding my way to Brevard by way of Ohio, Texas and Tennessee and 35 years of teaching and working with Hearing Impaired children, I found the Augustine Literacy Project in Brevard. Being a tutor was a perfect fit for me as it let me continue to work with students and learn new ways of teaching, especially reading. I am very excited to be a member of the Board because it now enables me to further expand my knowledge about literacy and contribute more to the program as well as provide additional support and encouragement to tutors.
Courtney Morgan
Board Member
Courtney Morgan is an Assistant Professor of Teacher Education and Coordinator of the Elementary Education program at Brevard College in Western North Carolina. She is also a National Board Certified teacher and founder of The All-Access Classroom, where she partners with schools and districts as a keynote speaker and professional development facilitator.
Before entering higher education, Courtney spent 19 years as a general education and English Language Development teacher. Her work focuses on helping educators integrate language development, evidence-based literacy practices, and content learning. She is passionate about equipping teachers with strategies that make instruction more equitable and accessible for multilingual learners. Courtney is thrilled to join the board of Augustine Literacy Project to contribute to the work of raising strong readers through evidence-based instruction.
Molly Tartt
Board Member
I have resided in Brevard for sixty one years and have taught over one thousand students in Transylvania County, retiring over 23 years ago.
I became an educator because I taught swim lessons to special needs children when I was in high school. They grew near and dear to my heart. I realized that I could foresee my future by assisting them with learning to read. Many of them struggled. I knew there had to be a way to reach them. I learned about the Augustine Literacy Program and met Wendi Adair. I signed up to tutor and take the enrichment class this summer. After one intense week of training, I realized, my hearing loss would be a serious problem. In my heart, I knew it would be traumatic to try to teach a child sounds if I could not hear them myself. I turned in my resignation and left the program feeling very inadequate.
Wendi did not let that go, she asked me to serve on the Board. I definitely have found a way to feel successful and yet still be involved. It has fulfilled my needs to help children be successful.
Kim Limerick
Treasurer
I graduated from Gardner Webb University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. I then worked for American Greetings for seven years until my son was born. I was a stay-at-home mom for 12 years. I volunteered to manage finances for Brevard Community Church, which turned into a full-time position for fourteen years. Currently, I enjoy managing the financial affairs of three non-profit business: Augustine Literacy Project-Brevard, Bound for Glory Camp, and Around the Corner Ministries.