Dyslexia Advisory Council

During the 2016 Legislation Session, the general assembly passed the T.C.A. § 49-1-229  which requires school districts to screen for characteristics of dyslexia through their existing Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI²) procedures and to provide “dyslexia-specific tiered interventions” for students that demonstrate a need.

On January 21, 2021, the Tennessee General Assembly enacted the Tennessee Literacy Success Act (SB7003/HB7002), marking an important point in history for Tennessee students and families. The act outlines a bold policy framework that engages different stakeholders to improve literacy rates in Tennessee. Recognizing the important role that school districts and local boards of education play in education, the act outlines new expectations for how schools and districts will use universal reading screening to assess, monitor, and report on efforts to improve literacy to ensure all children have the reading supports necessary to be successful.

T.C.A. § 49-1-229 also requires the department to convene a multi-stakeholder dyslexia advisory council to guide the statewide dyslexia strategy and district suite of supports. The council will meet quarterly and will report on their work to increase dyslexia screening and identification. This report will be shared with districts, stakeholders and the general assembly.

Agenda and minutes from each meeting are posted below, as available. If you are interested in providing public comment at the dyslexia advisory council, please contact Jessica.Dainty@tn.gov

Next Meeting:

September 8, 2025

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

In person: TN School for the Blind

Virtual: Click Here to Join

For questions related to the "Say Dyslexia" legislation, please contact the Tennessee Department of Education at Dyslexia.Questions@tn.gov.

Do You Need More Information?

We know that some readers will have trouble learning to read. If you need more information about dyslexia or need to support with a situation involving dyslexia, please contact Dyslexia.Questions@tn.gov .

If you want to be a part of the TN Dyslexia Association, please contact: https://tn.dyslexiaida.org/about-us/

Council Members Position Email
Lizzette Reynolds Commissioner of Education Commissioner.Education@tn.gov
Kristy Brown Chief Academic Officer Kristy.Brown@tn.gov
Jennifer Jordan Assistant Commissioner of Special Education and
Student Supports
Jennifer.Jordan@tn.gov
April Ebbinger Director of Psychological and Behavioral Services,
Assessment Specialist
April.Ebbinger@tn.gov
Taylor Jenkins Office of General Counsel Taylor.Jenkins@tn.gov
Jessica Dainty Manager of Statewide
Dyslexia Strategy
Jessica.Dainty@tn.gov
TBA, Elementary Teacher    
Wendy O’Neal Middle Grade Teacher Wendy.oneal@knoxschools.org
Galen Bell High School Teacher Bell_galen@hcde.org
Shalee Lastoria Special Education Teacher  
Kristin Davis Speech Language Pathologist Krisryan0823@gmail.com
Andrea Hickok Parent arredus@gmail.com
Gay Landaiche Dyslexia Advocacy Group
Representative
glandaiche@gmail.com
Susan Porter Ex Officio Susan.porter@mnps.org
Erin Alexander Ex Officio Erin.alexander@mtsu.edu
Toremika Brown Administrator tbrown@promiseacademy.com
Alison Atnip Tier I Instructional Coach alisonatnip@dekalbschools.net
Lauren Derrick Interventionist lderrick@athensk8.net
Dr. Deborah Reed Reading Research Center, UTK Dreed20@utk.edu
Haley Richardson Senior Manager of
Intervention
Haley.Richardson@tn.gov
Joann Runion Senior Director of Student
Supports
Joann.Runion@tn.gov
Raven Cleveland Senior Coordinator of English Learners Raven.Cleveland@tn.gov
Shaundraya Hersey Office of Civil Rights Shaundraya.Hersey@tn.gov
Tate Ball Office of General Counsel Tate.Ball@tn.gov
Michael Holman Senior Manager of Engagement Michael.Holman@tn.gov