Michele L. Pawlik

Coming from a broken family, Michele, was raised by a mother who was married seven times and moved all over central Arkansas causing her and her 3 brothers to attended 13 different public schools. As a child she was retained in the second grade and enrolled in special education classes due to her inability to read and spell, placing her in the same class as her younger brother. As a teenager, she almost fails her 9th grade year in school and in the summer of her 10th grade year she moves from her mother’s house to live with her grandparents where she was encouraged to graduate high school and to attend community college with the help of her aunt.

A non-diagnosed dyslexic, she struggled and thrived after high school as she learned at her own pace to realize her true potential as a high school business teacher and later as a advocate, conference presenter, interventionists, screening/testing evaluator, and therapist of dyslexic education.

In 2013, her own son was going through the same nightmare of 2nd grade retention when she and her husband decided to do all they could to have him tested and diagnosed, causing her to change her career focus to learn all that she could about dyslexia, Arkansas state law, and how to provide therapy to those who struggle in reading, spelling, and writing.

With love and support from her husband of 20+ years and her family, Michele has since pursed a Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist from the University of Central Arkansas with the Dyslexia Endorsement, earned the credentials of Certified Dyslexic Therapist (CDT) from The APPLE Group in Jonesboro, and is working on a doctorate degree in literacy with a focus on reading disabilities.

• PhD in Literacy | St. John’s University, Queens, New York [August 2018-Present]
• Master of Education in Reading and Dyslexia | University of Central Arkansas, Conway [May 2007]
• Bachelors of Science in Education | Arkansas Tech University, Russellville [May 2010]
• Bachelors of Business Administration | Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, [May 2021]

• Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist | The Center for Effective Reading Instruction [2021]
• Certified Dyslexia Therapist | The Apple Group [2016]
• Licensed Arkansas Educator in the areas of Reading, Dyslexia, Business [2021-2025]

• Dyslexia Practitioner Program-Level 1 | Neuhaus Education Center, Houston, Texas [2017]
• Dyslexia Therapist Training | The APPLE Group, Jonesboro, Arkansas [2016]
• Orton-Gillingham-Level 1 |Institute of Multi-Sensory Education Training [2015]

• International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
• International Literacy Association (ILA)
• Arkansas Reading Association (ARA)

• New Teacher of the Year| Arkansas Business Education Association [2011]

Academic/Dyslexic Therapist | ACCESS Group, Inc., Little Rock, Arkansas [March 2021/Present]

• Prescriptive, individualized therapy in the areas of dyslexia and subareas of reading, spelling, comprehension, and writing while working with the student in their current academic work.
• Grade range of clients are 2nd to 11th grade with academic areas of need with homework assistance, dyslexia needs, and executive functioning.

Adjunct College Instructor | University of Arkansas Community College in Morrilton [January 2019-May 2021]

• Spring 2021
  • BUS 1031 Electronic Calculators
  • BUS 1041 Outlook
  • BUS 1051 File Management
  • BUS 1213 Computer Applications
  • EDUC 1303 Educational Technology
• Fall 2020
  • BUS 1031 Electronic Calculators
  • BUS 1041 Outlook
  • BUS 1051 File Management
• Fall 2019
  • BUS 1233 Database Management (Access)
  • ACAD 0503 Foundational Computers
  • ACAD 0213 Foundational Reading
• Spring 2019
  • BUS 2343 Advertising
  • BUS 1413 Visual Merchandising
• I assisted the UACCM in educating adults to prepare them for their future careers in teaching them technology based skills. With exception of teaching Foundational Reading. This course was for adults who did not score proficiently on their ACT or placement testing in the area of reading skills.

Certified Dyslexia Therapist | Dyslexia Guidance, LLC. [June 2018/Present]

• Private Practice where I provide Prescriptive, individualized therapy in the areas of dyslexia and subareas of reading, spelling, comprehension, and writing while working with the student in their current academic work.
• Clients range from kindergarten to adults with needs in dyslexia intervention.

Dyslexia Therapist, District Testing Coordinator, 504 Coordinator | Wonderview School District, Hattieville, Arkansas [August 2015/May 2017]

• As the Dyslexia Therapist I worked with students, teachers, and parents in assessment and intervention with individuals with dyslexia characteristics
• As District Testing Coordinator I prepared the online standardized testing for grades K-11th
• As 504 Coordinator I prepared accommodations plan for individuals who displayed a physical or mental impairment which substantially limited one or more major lift activities. This was done for the entire district with a team of individuals forming the plans based on student needs.

High School Business Teacher| Wonderview SD, Hattieville, Arkansas [August 2010/July 2015] & South Conway County School District, Morrilton High School [August 2017-July 2018]

• Wonderview HS Courses taught
  • 7th grade Keyboarding
  • 8th grade Computerized Applications
  • 9th-12th grades Computerized Business Applications (all Microsoft programs)
  • 10th-12th grades Digital Communications (Adobe programs)
  • FBLA advisor for Middle and High School Levels
• Morrilton HS
  • 9th-12th grades Computerized Business Applications (all Microsoft programs)
  • 11th & 12th grades Marketing
  • DECA advisor for High School Levels