READ LEARNING SERVICES - Key Persons

Hi! My name is Ann Sonkowsky and I have been a professional educator for 30 years. I have mostly worked with students with emotional and behavioral disabilities but have experience with a wide range of learning differences. I have taught kindergarten through ninth grade. I also have a masters degree in school counseling. I was born and currently live in Appleton though I love to travel and have been to over 20 states in the last two years. I have two grown daughters and four cats that keep me entertained.

Kate joins the READ Learning team with 6 years of experience in education, including special education, alternative education, and bilingual education. With teaching licenses in special education from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and alternative education from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Kate is passionate about creativity in education. Kate obtained her doctoral degree in occupational therapy from Mount Mary University where she continued to develop her skills in alternative access to functional learning with a focus on multisensory approaches. Although she's pivoted from the traditional classroom, Kate is a champion for using lifelong learning as a means for empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential. Kate loves traveling, yoga, and game nights with family and friends.

Jerry Weissbuch, B.A. in Liberal Arts, M.S. Mathematics from University of Illinois at Chicago, National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), Golden Apple Teacher Nominee, 2011. He is a 22-year veteran middle school teacher who has taught in Chicago, Illinois and Racine, Wisconsin. He has a current K-8 teaching license in Wisconsin, additionally certified in Special and Gifted Education. Jerry makes his home in Appleton, Wisconsin. In his spare time, he enjoys the fine arts, classical music, and all the Wisconsin State Parks.

Katie earned a Bachelor of Science in English Education from Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, WI and a Masters in English Education from University of North Carolina at Pembroke. For fourteen years, Katie has taught all ages, teaching primarily English in middle and high schools in North Carolina and Wisconsin and teaching English as a Second Language to children through adults in China. After teaching in China, she moved to Wisconsin to be near family, from whom she heard about READ Learning and Silver Moon Spelling. Having watched older students struggle with learning and not being able to help as a classroom teacher, Katie is excited to teach with READ Learning to help young people be able to grow as readers. In addition to teaching, she enjoys playing and singing classical music, writing adolescent fiction, and sewing historical clothing.

Job Titles:

• Founder / President / Dyslexia & Learning Specialist

Kelly Steinke, M.A. Ed., NBCT is the founder of READ Learning Educational Services, LLC. Kelly began her career as a special education teacher and taught for almost 20 years in the Midwest, East Coast, and Pacific Northwest. During this time she became a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in Exceptional Needs, earned a Master of Arts Degree in Education (Administration and Leadership), and founded her company, READ Learning Educational Services, LLC. Currently, Kelly serves full time as the president of READ Learning and Silver Moon Spelling Rules, LLC. Kelly is a certified dyslexia screener and interventionist and a published curriculum writer. Kelly also teaches part time in the special education department at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh on literacy assessment and intervention. In her free time, Kelly enjoys spending time outdoors with family, friends, and her Brittany Spaniels. Some favorite activities are seeing live music, hiking, biking, boating, family card games during thunderstorms and snowstorms, and campfires.

Laura has 20 years of experience teaching across K-12 and adult education settings and is very happy to be a part of the team at READ. Laura earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Art degree in Reading/Language Arts from Cardinal Stritch University. While working with English language learners during her years teaching in the public schools, Laura became aware of the need for intensive reading instruction with struggling readers and those who are learning English. As she transitioned into adult education, she noticed continuing concerns with many adult readers and has made it her mission to help others reach their goals through improved reading and writing skills. In her free time, Laura enjoys reading, exercising, spending time with her family, and watching music and theater performances.

Job Titles:

• Executive Functioning Skills Instructor

Lillian Wenzel is currently a second-grade teacher in Appleton, Wisconsin. She has a wide range of personal and professional experiences working with students who have different learning needs including twice exceptional. Lilian has taught bilingual special and regular education, EL, and ELA in monolingual classrooms, all ranging from grades K-6. Lilian is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and English.

Maggie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from The University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Arts in Special Education from Cardinal Stritch University. She has over 20 years of experience in rural, urban and suburban school districts. She recently retired from Cedarburg School District where she served as both a reading and math interventionist. Maggie is passionate about helping students learn in the way that works best for them. In her free time, Maggie enjoys reading, traveling, and walks with her husband, two sons and Cockapoo, Calvin.

Mindy earned a degree in Behavioral Disabilities from UW-Madison. She has over 30 years of teaching experience, including more than 25 years as a Learning Disabilities Teacher (K-12) in the Neenah Public School District. As an elementary teacher for students with learning disabilities she realized that working with dyslexic children was a passion. She acquired training in Orton-Gillingham, Auditory Discrimination in Depth, Nanci-Bell's Visualization & Verbalization for Language Comprehension, Project READ, and initial training in Wilson Language. In 1994, she was honored to receive "Teacher of the Year" from the State of Wisconsin Learning Disabilities Association.

A native of Appleton, Sammi loves working with children of all ages and has been teaching private vocal lessons, leading voice therapy, working in schools, with choirs, and theater ensembles for the past 16 years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music Education from St. Olaf College and is a licensed K-12 music teacher. She spent 14 years in Chicago, furthering her education and vocal training at North Park University. In Chicago as a mezzo-soprano she served as a professional cantor, sang with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, and Grant Park Chorus, as well as having various opera roles. In 2020, Sammi moved back to the Fox Cities, where she loves to spend time with her family, practice yoga, and sing whenever given the opportunity. Sammi is excited to join the READ team and bridge her love for music with helping students build stronger decoding skills and phonological (sound) awareness.