Meet Our Experts:

Leadership Team

Name: Stephanie Tsapakis, MA

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Focus: Dyslexia Intervention

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Years of Teaching: 13

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Favorite Subject: Reading & Math

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Hobby: Photography

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Inspirational Quote:  

"A well educated mind will always have more questions than answers" - Hellen Keller

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Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner

International Dyslexia Association 

Texas EC-6 Generalist

Texas Education Agency

Texas Principal

Texas Education Agency

Welcome! I'm Stephanie Tsapakis, CEO and founder of The LD Expert, LLC. We are so excited you're here! I have been teaching students with Learning Differences for 13 years.  I earned my Master's degree in Educational Psychology from Kent State University, and I am also a Certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner. I love combining the best parts of in-person instruction with today's technology to deliver quality instruction and intervention virtually. Our company started as a dream to expand access to expert reading intervention and tutoring by utilizing the virtual arena. We have grown our team into an amazingly talented group of educators who are passionate about helping your student. 

I have the divine privilege of being a mom to two beautiful girls, so I understand a parents desire to see their child succeed academically. Sharing the knowledge and skills I have acquired to meet the specific needs of LD learners is my passion - and I look forward to getting to know you and your student! 

Name: Chelsea DiMarzio, MA CCC-SLP

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Focus:  Dyslexia Intervention and Speech & Language Evaluations and Therapy Services

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Years as a Speech Pathologist: 7

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Favorite Subject: Science

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Hobby: Baking

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Inspirational Quote:  

"In a world where you can be anything, be kind." - Unknown

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Speech-Language Pathologist

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Arizona, California, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia 

Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner

International Dyslexia Association

Hi! I'm Chelsea DiMarzio, co-owner and COO of LD Expert.  I am a speech language pathologist that has been serving students through telepractice since 2014.

I have Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Communications from Walsh University and a Master's degree in Speech Language Pathology from The University of Akron. 

I love working with and advocating for students, especially those who struggle with language and literacy. I deeply believe that words matter, and that the personal relationship with each student, family, and school team is the key to building up that student's confidence in his or her ability to work hard and tackle big challenges. 

I've been fortunate enough to work with hundreds of students in various school systems across the country through telepractice. This experience has helped me better understand the real challenges our students face, but also to see the very big potential each student has when they know the people closest to them believe in them. 

Dyslexia Intervention Team

Name: Amanda Capone, MA

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Focus:  Dyslexia Intervention

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Years as a Teacher: 11

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Favorite Subject: Reading & Science

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Hobby: Reading

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Inspirational Quote:  

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose!” - Dr. Seuss

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Special Education Teacher

New Jersey Department of Education

Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner

International Dyslexia Association

Hi! I’m Amanda Capone, and I am so excited to be a part of the LD Expert Team! I have been teaching students with various differences for 11 years in both elementary and middle school. I earned my Master’s degree in Special Education from St. Joseph’s University, and I am also a Certified Dyslexia Practitioner through the Wilson Reading program. Teaching is one of my passions, and I love being part of a student’s journey to self-confidence and pride.  This passion has grown significantly since becoming a mom to my two sons.  I want to be the type of teacher any parent and child would feel comfortable with. Being trusted with a person’s most precious gift is what drives me to continue educating myself and to never stop looking for ways to reach my diverse learners. 

Name: Kelly Carone, M.Ed.

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Focus:  Dyslexia Intervention & Testing

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Years of Teaching: 4

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Favorite Subject: Reading & PE

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Hobby: Running

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Inspirational Quote:  

“We all have different gifts, so we all have different ways of telling the world who we are.” -Mr. Rogers

K-12 Special Education

Tennessee Department of Education

Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner

International Dyslexia Association

Hi! I’m Kelly Carone and I am so grateful to be a part of the LD Expert team! I have a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Developmental Psychology and my Master of Education Degree in Instruction & Learning, both from the University of Pittsburgh. I am also a Certified Dyslexia Practitioner through the Wilson Reading System. I’ve worked as a special education teacher in a variety of school settings- early on in my career, I discovered a deep passion for structured literacy interventions. It is such a privilege to see students’ confidence grow as they put in the work to unlock skills that impact their daily lives so heavily. My goal is always to be a resource and advocate for students and their families, and I am so excited to be doing this work with LD Expert!

Name: Jill Champagne, MA, CCC-SLP​

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Focus:  Dyslexia Intervention & Speech and Language Development

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Years of Teaching: 18

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Favorite Subject: Reading & History

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Hobby: Rowing and Volunteering at Animal Shelters​

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Inspirational Quote:  "Don't try to steer the river" - Deepak Chopra

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Speech-Language Pathologist

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Ohio, New York

Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner

Wilson Language Training

Teacher of Speech and Hearing

New York Department of Education

Greetings! I am Jill, an educator with 18 collective years of professional experience. I have supported children in a variety of capacities: one on one, small group and entire classrooms addressing a span of needs including but not limited to literacy, language comprehension and expression related to listening skills, following directions, study skills, speaking, writing, social skills, fluency of speech and articulation required for effective connection across all contexts.  Throughout the last year, I learned the artful practice of virtual learning and firmly believe in the benefits and accessibility it provides.  I have strong commitment, motivation and enthusiasm for educating children.

Name: Kari Harman, B.A.

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Focus:  Reading Fluency &Dyslexia Intervention 

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Years of Teaching: 20

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Favorite Subject: Music

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Hobby: Running

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Inspirational Quote:  "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." -MLK

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K-12 English Language Learners

Minnesota Department of Education

K-6 Elementary Education

Minnesota Department of Education

Wilson FUNdations & Just Words

Wilson Language Training

I'm Kari, and I come to The LD Expert with over 20 years of teaching experience. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Spanish. I am also licensed in English as a Second Language. Early in my career I sought out professional development opportunities around literacy and it quickly became my favorite subject to teach. When my son was struggling to read and write, helping him and other kids became my passion. I have experienced first hand the profound impact one-on-one tutoring can have in a child's life and it is my privilege to work with students and families. 

When I’m not tutoring you’ll find me running: running around to my kid’s activities, running after my cat and dog to keep them from destroying things in my house, and literally running the streets and trails in the Twin Cities training for road races.

Name: Kelly Houston, MA

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Focus:  Dyslexia Intervention

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Years of Teaching: 10

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Favorite Subject: Science

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Hobby: Reading

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Inspirational Quote:  

“All students can learn and succeed, but not in the same day, and not in the same way" - William G. Spady

Reading Specialist K-12

Illinois State Board of Education

Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner

International Dyslexia Association

Hello!  My name is Kelly Houston and I am one of the Dyslexia Practitioners with The LD Expert Team.  I received my Bachelor’s Degree from Trinity Christian College and my Master of Arts in Education: Reading Specialist K-12 from Olivet Nazarene University both located in Illinois.  I am also a Certified Dyslexia Practitioner through the Wilson Reading System. I have worked as a reading specialist in an elementary school setting. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to have gone through training in structured literacy instruction. The growth I am able to see in my students is inspirational and makes me love what I do more each day.  I look forward to working with your child.

Name: Emily Litchfield, MA

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Focus:  Dyslexia Intervention

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Years of Teaching: 8

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Favorite Subject: Reading

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Hobby: Art & Running

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Inspirational Quote:  

“Hoping, I’m starting to think, might be the bravest thing a person can do.” - From the book 'Other Words for Home'

Early Childhood Education

Massachusetts Department of Education

Elementary Education

Massachusetts Department of Education

Special Education

Massachusetts Department of Education

English as a Second Language

Massachusetts Department of Education

Visual Arts Education

Massachusetts Department of Education

Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner

International Dyslexia Association

Hello! My name is Emily Litchfield, and I am excited to be one of the Dyslexia Practitioners with The LD Expert Team. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Art Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and my Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. I am also a Certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner. I have been working as a Special Education and English as a Second Language educator for the past 8 years, and I am especially passionate about supporting literacy growth. I consider it a huge privilege to play a role in a student’s development as a reader and writer, and I am so looking forward to getting to know you and your child!

Name: Cindy Myers, MA

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Focus:  Dyslexia Intervention

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Years of Teaching: 30

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Favorite Subject: Lang. Arts/History

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Hobby: Reading

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Inspirational Quote:  

“Every child is gifted. They just unwrap their packages at
different times.” - Unknown

Reading Specialist

New Jersey Department of Education

Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner

International Dyslexia Association

Hello! My name is Cindy Myers, and I am so excited to be a part of the LD Expert Team! I have a B.S. in Special Education/Elementary Education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. I have a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University of Portland, Oregon, where I also became a reading specialist. I am also a Certified Dyslexia Practitioner through the Wilson Reading program since 2006. I had been teaching special education for 30 years in the same school district. Although I recently retired, I wanted to continue to teach children the joy of reading, because reading is my passion. Helping students learn how to read is very rewarding to me!

Subject-Specific Tutoring Team

Name: Tim Burk

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Focus:  Subject Specific Tutoring

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Years Teaching: 30

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Favorite Subject: Math/Science/History/

Sociology/Music

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Hobby: Reading/Discovery

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Inspirational Quote:  

“It doesn’t matter how you start; what matters is how you finish.”  The Tortoise

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Elementary Education 

State of Washington Education Department

K-12 Music Education

State of Washington Education Department

Hello!  My name is Tim Burk, and I am excited to be a part of the LD Expert Team!  My passion is to help students move from survival to competence in their academic subjects, and share with them how fun and fulfilling learning can be.  I have a B.A. in Music Education from Northwest Nazarene University, and an M.A. in Music from Seattle Pacific University.  My primary instrument is Trombone, which means I am interested in how things work, and basically any subject (just try me).  I was a substitute teacher for a number of years, pursuing higher education in various subjects, and have experience in helping students gain understanding in all the K-12 academic subjects. Because I’ve been fortunate to spend part of my career in various classrooms as a substitute, I was able to learn how to quickly develop meaningful relationships with students in order to teach them in engaging and flexible ways in all subjects. It matters to me to meet each student where they are at and build from there. I look forward to helping your student gain confidence in Iearning!

Name: Rhonda Green, MA

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Focus:  Subject Specific Tutoring

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Years of Teaching: 26

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Favorite Subject: History

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Hobby: Cooking

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Inspirational Quote:  

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." Benjamin Franklin

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Permanent Teacher

New York Education Department

Hi, my name is Rhonda Green, and am excited to be working with LD Expert.  I have been teaching students of all ages and abilities for the past 26+ years in both the private and public sector.  I have my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Mt. Mary University, and my Master of Arts degree from the University at Albany. 

Quickly in my teaching career, I found my passion and niche for teaching students with LD at all levels.  As a mom of 2 sons with LD diagnoses ( ADHD and dyslexia), I understand the complexities of being a parent of children with LD.  When you combine those experiences as a parent with those of  a teacher who loves to teach this population…you a get me, a teacher who loves to go the extra mile to make sure every child builds not only their academics, but also their self-confidence. 

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Name: Yannick Scarff, 

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Focus:  Math & French

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Years of Teaching: 17

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Favorite Subject: Math

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Hobby: Cooking

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Inspirational Quote:  

"I have learned that people will forget what you said, and forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel" 

-Maya Angelou

4-8th Grade Math & Science

Texas Education Agency

EC-6 Generalist

Texas Education Agency

Foreign Language - French

Texas Education Agency

Bonjour! My name is Yannick Scarff, and I am excited to be part of the L.D. Expert team.

I graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentration in Math and Science. I have taught French, my native language, for seven years, as well as Math for ten years. As a teacher, my mission is to make students love Math and/or French while reaching their full potential.

Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner

International Dyslexia Association