About Teresa May, Ph.D.
Dr. Teresa May is currently the Executive Director of the Margaret Byrd Rawson Institute and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Sociology at Shenandoah University, Lord Fairfax Community College and Northern Virginia Community College. For over ten years, she was the head of a private school for dyslexic children. She is also the author of ‘A Parent’s Journey’ appearing in Why Kids Can’t Read: Challenging the Status Quo in Education. She received the 2002 ‘Maryland Woman of Achievement’ award for the founding of the ‘Parents Advocacy Group for Educational Rights’ and her passionate support for children who learn differently. She has served on numerous Maryland State Department of Education committees: “Maryland’s Reading First Leadership Team,” “Reading Literacy Team,” and the“Task
Force for Identifying Educational Best Practices for Students ‘At Risk’ for, or Identified with, Reading and/or Writing Disabilities”. She was also a founding member of the first Charter School in Frederick County, Maryland.
Teresa’s children began their education in the public school system, where her oldest son was still unable to read by the 4th grade. At that point she chose to leave teaching in higher education to head a small private school for dyslexic children that her two sons attended. Today, her oldest son has graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Technology and also obtained a Masters of Business Administration degree. And, her youngest son recently completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies.
About Renee Denny
Renee Denny, married for 26 years, is the mother of 5 children who has been homeschooling for over 15 years. She is a dedicated advocate for children with language based learning differences. Renee is trained in the Orton-Gillingham teaching techniques and is a certified Geriatric Nursing Assistant. A former homeschool cooperative administrative assistant, Renee brings a unique and valuable parent perspective to our learning community.
Renee’s three oldest children attended public school. However, by third grade, it was evident that her dyslexic twin daughters were not thriving, as they scored well below the national average in both reading and writing. In response, Renee decided to homeschool her children. Today, one has recently completed her Master’s degree in Information Technology with a certificate in Cyber Security while the other is completing her Ph.D. in Neurobiology. Her third daughter is completing her residency as a Physician Assistant. And, her youngest two children are still at home learning at the kitchen table.
