DISCOVERY THERAPIES - Key Persons
Carolyn (Carol) Shields, PH.D. Is a retired professor of educational psychology and research. Her dissertation and subsequent publications were primarily based on the work of the Russian psychologist L S. Vygotsky. During her career in higher education, Carol taught at Winthrop University and at Columbia College. Earlier, she spent 4 years as a special education resource teacher at the high school level. Her personal interests include reading and her cats and dogs.
Dolly has a master's degree (M.Ed.) in education and is a professionally certified educational therapist (P.C.E.T.) with NILD (National Institute for Learning development). She has had several years experience teaching in public and private schools prior to becoming an educational therapist in 1992. She worked as a therapist at Ben Lippen School before joining DTI in 2007. One of her greatest joys has been seeing her students have "Ah, Hah!" moments of learning discovery. She really enjoys meeting former students who have become successful adults pursuing careers of their choice. In addition to spending time with her grandchildren, Dolly enjoys taking nature walks with her husband.
Donna Weston, Ed.D., PCET, is Founder and Executive Director of Discovery Therapies, Inc. She is not only an educator, educational therapist, and NILD Board Member, but is also a parent of a learning disabled and ADHD son.
Her passion for the struggling learner and their families is born out of her own experience. Her son, Ryan, was born with congenital heart defects requiring four open heart surgeries by the time he was four years old. She and her husband, Mike, knew that learning difficulties would likely result, but they had no idea of the consequences to come.
Not knowing about Educational Therapy until Ryan was a teenager, Donna home schooled him throughout his educational career, while her other two sons experienced a combination of home, private, and public educations. She and Mike watched this energetic, out-going, intelligent boy who loved to explore and learn become frustrated, angry, and blame himself and the world for his being "stupid".
Donna knows first hand the challenges and heart-aches often involved in raising a child with learning disabilities or differences: trying to keep them interested in education, trying to convince them that they are not "stupid", helping the family deal with the emotional and behavioral consequences that often accompany the learning challenges. Every minute, every moment, every effort was worth it.
Jacob is a Kansas City native and has been an NILD therapist since 2012. He moved to Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2017, to serve missionary children as a teacher and therapist. While there, he met his wife who was teaching 2nd grade at the time. They were married in 2019 and welcomed their first child in 2020. With growing tensions in Ukraine, they moved to Columbia in 2021, and welcomed their second child in October. He has extensive experience with struggling learners at all grade levels as well as multi-language students.
Jeannie is an NILD professionally certified educational therapist. She completed her M.Ed in exceptional student education/educational therapy through Southeastern University. She is a graduate of Erskine College with a degree in English. Prior to becoming an educational therapist, Jeannie enjoyed traveling with her husband who played baseball professionally. Jeannie has been married to her husband, Eric, for 28 years and they have two sons. One of her sons is a former DTI student.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
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- Vice - Chair of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Pediatrician
Mary Kaye has a degree in special education from the State University College at Buffalo in New York State and has been involved in education for forty-five years. Her experience includes private, public, and homeschooling, as well as being a licensed NILD educational therapist since 2001. She enjoys Mexican food, decorating, traveling and spending time with her four children and eight grandchildren. Working with students to reach that "Aha" moment is one of her greatest joys.
Job Titles:
- Accountant
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Radio Consultant and Voice Actor
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- Chairman
- Clinical Psychologist
- Member of the Board of Directors
Sharon joined Discovery Therapies in 2018. She has an M.Ed. from the University of Florida and taught elementary school for 11 years. Since leaving public education in 2005, she has been homeschooling her two children and teaching classes to other homeschooled children. She recently completed Comprehensive Orton Gillingham reading training as well as her NILD professional certification. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, reading, watching TV, and playing board games with her husband and children.
Sue has worked with public, private, home schooled, and college students since becoming an educational therapist in 2011. Sue is a Holistic Nutritionist, certified by American Fitness Professionals and Associates. She also completed a health coaching course through Dr. Josh Axe's Institute of Nutritional Leadership. Her educational background includes study in English, education, and several different languages. She spent six and a half years as a radio announcer and interviewer.