Meet the Team

Alysia is the founder and director of Inspiring Minds. She graduated from the University of North Dakota in 2000 with a degree in occupational therapy. Alysia has worked in all areas of pediatrics throughout her career, including school systems. She has a graduate certificate in dyslexia studies and language-based learning disabilities, is a certified Barton tutor, and is also certified as a Level 1 Handwriting Specialist with the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum. Alysia has extensive training in the areas of handwriting, sensory processing, and dyslexia.

Alysia is also the mother of three fabulous sons with dyslexia. It was through her experience with her own children that Alysia became dedicated to providing research-based remediation to all individuals with dyslexia. She continues to further her education in the field of dyslexia with ongoing training in the Orton-Gillingham approach/structured literacy, and the science of reading.

Alysia is passionate about educating others and provides a variety of workshops for teachers, parents, and other professionals. Please feel free to contact Alysia with any questions regarding the services Inspiring Minds is able to offer.

Tiffany graduated from Valley City State University in 1998 with a degree in elementary education and minors in reading and early childhood. She completed her masters in early childhood special education in 2012. Tiffany was a preschool director for 14 years, and also a learning center director for 4 of those years prior to joining our team. 

Tiffany has a passion for working with students of all ages in remedial reading, math, and study skills. She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach as well as the Barton Reading & Spelling System.

Tiffany brings a wealth of knowledge in program development, as well as a heart for working with children and families, as well as with adults. 

We are so fortunate to have Tiffany as part of our Inspiring Minds family! 

Pam​​ joined the Inspiring Minds team in the spring of 2017 and brings with her over 26 years of experience as an occupational therapist. She is trained in the Barton Reading & Spelling System and attends ongoing training in structured literacy instruction, providing her students with multisensory literacy instruction that is both engaging and effective. 

Pam is also a Level 1 registered therapist with the American Hippotherapy Association, Inc and holds the OK Corral Equine Assisted Learning Certificate. Inspiring Minds is thankful for the expertise Pam brings to our team! In her time away from the learning center, Pam is the executive director of Providence Ranch Ministries where she is able to combine her love for horses with her skills as a therapist and literacy tutor.  

Shirley earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education followed by a 

Masters in Reading and Curriculum. She has been trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach and in the Barton Reading & Spelling System.

With over 20 years of experience in education, Shirley loves working with students on their literacy journey! 

Shirley brings so much knowledge to Inspiring Minds with her experience as a classroom teacher, a reading specialist, and an online ELL teacher.

Shirley has 5 children of her own, with so many experiences to share!  She has such a special connection with each of her students and families.

Melissa grew up in Bismarck and graduated from the University of Mary in 1991 with a degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education.  She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach and the Barton Reading & Spelling System.

Before joining Inspiring Minds, Melissa was employed at Shiloh Christian School for 12 years. She has a gift for teaching and brings such joy to the center.

 She and her husband, Dennis,  have two children. Their son attends NDSU, and their daughter is a nurse and lives with her husband in Fargo.  

Melissa says, "It is a joy to get to know my students and their unique personalities, talents, and gifts. I am blessed to be part of the Inspiring Minds team!"

Rebecca graduated from Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Pure and Applied Mathematics. She then completed the Colorado Alternative Licensure Program to earn her professional teaching license in 7-12 grade mathematics. Rebecca was a middle school and high school math teacher for two years before becoming a tutor at Inspiring Minds. 

Rebecca is trained in the Barton Reading & Spelling System, and she also offers specialized instruction in the area of math.

Inspiring Minds is so thankful to have Rebecca!