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Dyslexia 2021 EXPO Information

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Dickinson ISD is pleased to host a series of virtual informational sessions beginning with an exciting Keynote presentation by our very own Gator Students and Parents.

Click here for the Introduction from the Superintendent.

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When you're struggling to support your dyslexic child, it's easy to feel alone. The number of questions can be overwhelming: What is dyslexia? Where do I go for help? What reading programs will my child receive? Will my child ever read? Will my child be able to go to college? What can I do to help my child?

Dickinson ISD wants to bring parents, educators, students, and experts together to help answer these questions. Join our first annual Dyslexia Expo kicking off virtually on Thursday, April 8 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm with a student and parent panel addressing what it is like to live with dyslexia. On the following four Thursdays, we will offer two 30 minute sessions in which you can learn about the common signs of dyslexia, how it affects learning, what dyslexia instruction looks like, the transition from high school to post-secondary, the role of technology, and more.

No matter where you are on your path to learning about dyslexia, we hope the DISD Dyslexia EXPO will provide you with the dyslexia resources you are looking for to help your child. You will soon discover that you are far from alone.

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To Access the Playlist for all videos, click HERE.

Dyslexia Expo Flyer.pdf

Download file

Student Panelists
Access Presentation HERE
Parent Moderators

Meet our Keynote Student Panelists!

Succeeding as a Student with Dyslexia

Arnoldo Rodriguez II

Arnoldo is a senior at Dickinson High School. After many years of struggling with reading and being stuck at a 1.5 reading level, he was finally tested and diagnosed as dyslexic in the spring of his 4th grade year. Despite his struggles, he has not let dyslexia hold him back from achieving all the goals he set out to reach. He has learned the value of working hard and not procrastinating when studying and doing his schoolwork.

Arnold not only works hard in school but also in band and athletics. He is ranked #9 out of 684 students and is in the top 1% of his class.

Arnold is part of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society), Science Honor Society, and English Honor Society. He is also a member of the Student Council, and this is his 2nd year being on the UIL Math team, where he competes in mental math for the high school.

Arnold is the Captain of the Cross-Country team and the long-distance runners for track. He is a member of the Dickinson High School Band, where he plays several instruments in percussion, and he is part of the drumline. He also works as an umpire on the weekends.

He will be attending Texas A&M University, College Station, in the Fall. He will be majoring in engineering and was recently accepted into the Engineering Honors Program.

Jacob N Rodriguez

Jacob is a junior at Dickinson High School. He was diagnosed as dyslexic at the beginning of 5th grade. Working hard is something that he has always had to do. Because of dyslexia, he has learned to advocate for himself and has learned the need to prepare for school and tests in advance.

He is currently ranked #23 out of 740 students and is in the top 3% of his class.

Jacob is a member of the National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, and English Honor Society. He is also a member of the Student Council, and it is his first year competing with the UIL Math team at the high school.

He plays outfield for the JV Baseball team, and he is part of the percussion group for the high school band. He is on the drumline during the marching band season, and he will be trying out for section leader next year. He also works as an umpire on the weekends.

Jacob plans to attend Texas A&M University, College Station, when he graduates where he will pursue a degree in engineering.

Coy Magliolo

Coy is a junior at Dickinson High School and is proud of his accomplishments as a dyslexic student. He has successfully been on the A/B Honor Roll every semester of high school while enrolled in all Pre-AP and Dual Credit classes, which has helped him maintain a top 10% rank in his graduating class. He is a member of the Dickinson Gator Varsity Football Team and was awarded Academic All District this season. Coy has played basketball and ran track for the Gators, was voted Homecoming Duke his Sophomore year by his peers, and is a member of the Dickinson High School National Honor Society. Coy, along with his friends that are also dyslexic, was awarded 2nd place in the Regional History Fair and also the prestigious C.M. Caldwell Memorial Award for Texas History.

After being identified with dyslexia in the 4th grade, Coy navigates his dyslexia with the same attitude he has toward playing sports: “If you look at a situation already feeling defeated, no amount of hard work will ever help you attain your goals. It is all about mindset, perseverance, and confidence.” After graduation, Coy plans to attend college to pursue a degree in business, with a focus on financial planning, and will continue to be an advocate and role model for young dyslexic students

Kolten Marshall

Kolten is a junior at Dickinson High School and has had many accomplishments throughout his high school career. He has not allowed dyslexia and dysgraphia to stop him from reaching his goals.

Kolten is currently the Group Commander of the Air Force Junior ROTC program at DHS. He is in charge of leading all of the cadets in AFJROTC at DHS. He is also the president of the Kitty Hawk Air Society (AFJROTC Honor Society). He was previously the Color Guard Commander.

He is also a member of the International Thespian Society. He was the assistant construction crew head during the district musical Newsies. As assistant crew head, he helped build the set and direct others on the construction crew. He also performed in the musical as the Mayor.

Kolten plans to join the Marines after graduation. He would like to enlist and work on his college degree during his enlistment.

Victor Esquivel IV

Victor is a senior at Dickinson High School who has met distinctive challenges, but with hard work and dedication, he has persevered and accomplished his high school goals.

At a young age, Victor was diagnosed with dyslexia and A.D.D. Recently, he was diagnosed with Irlen Syndrome, a perceptual processing disorder where the brain has an inability to process visual information. Although he struggles with these issues daily, he is in the top 15% of his graduating class. He has been a member of the Dickinson High School band through all 4 years, is a member of the Math Honor Society, and works during weekends and summers as a baseball umpire for the Galveston-Houston area.

Throughout his childhood, he realized he needed to work harder than his peers in order to make the grades. Each night after school, he would sit at the dining room table to study math and science. Before bed, he would read out loud to improve his reading skills. Once he was given the correct diagnosis for his A.D.D. and Irlen Syndrome, he was able to focus during class, improve his reading skills, and feel more confident as a person and student.

Due to all his hard work, Victor was accepted into Texas A&M University and will be majoring in Marketing this fall.

Click here for the Introduction from the Superintendent.

To see the recorded presentation, click HERE.

Meet our Parent Moderators!

Jessica Rodriguez

Jessica is a Podcast Manager and Real Estate Agent for Reward Realty. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University, College Station, with a degree in Industrial Engineering. She is the mother of three dyslexic students, Arnoldo, Jacob, and Matthew Rodriguez. Arnoldo and Jacob are two of the panelists on the Successful Dyslexic Panel. She is also a school board trustee for the Dickinson Independent School District and an advocate for dyslexic students

Ginny Canales

Ginny is the English Language Arts and Social Studies Academic Coach at Bay Colony Elementary in Dickinson ISD. She has served as an educator for 25 years. She is the mother of two dyslexic students, Kolten and Marcus. Her son Kolten is one of the students participating in the Successful Dyslexic Panel. She has made it her mission to advocate for her sons and her students.

Misty Magliolo

Misty began her teaching career in Dickinson ISD in 1997 as a kindergarten teacher, became an Academic Coach in 2013 and a dyslexia teacher in 2016. She enjoys teaching dyslexic students in motivating and cheering them on as they successfully increase their reading and writing skills.

For the opening session of our dyslexia series, participants will hear directly from some of our current students and their parents. Join us to hear our success stories and hear some tips for helping your child!

Dyslexia is something you may never understand until you or your child has been diagnosed with this learning disability. The stress & effort of getting through day to day reading assignments and homework, and wondering how you will help your child to succeed, is not comprehensible to the outside world. Today you will listen to the stories of students and parents that were in the same situation as you and your child. You will hear how they persevered through hard work, in and out of the classroom, and overcame the obstacles set forth upon them due to having dyslexia. Questions you may have always wondered will finally be answered, and you can feel confident in learning that your child CAN and WILL succeed as long as they are prepared, persistent, and have a positive attitude in the work needed.

You will meet 5 dyslexic students that have gone from barely reading in elementary to being ranked from the top 1% to the top 15% of their graduating class. Our seniors are not only graduating at the top of their class, they have also been accepted into prestigious colleges such as Texas A&M University, College Station. Join us as we discuss how these students achieved their goals so that you can begin your journey in helping your child attain their own success.

For the Thursday, April 15 sessions, participants can learn the diagnostic criteria for dyslexia, how it affects learning, and what dyslexia instruction looks like in Dickinson ISD.

Download file

TOPIC: What is dyslexia and how does it affect learning?

Facilitators: Mary Gonzales, Educational Diagnostician and Maricela Guerrero, Lead Dyslexia Specialist

Link to presentation is HERE

Topic: What does dyslexia instruction look like in DISD?

Facilitators: Maricela Guerrero, Lead Dyslexia Specialist and Kim Davidson, Coordinator of Special Education Instruction and Compliance

Link to presentation is HERE.

For the Thursday, April 22 sessions, participants will learn about managing dyslexia at the college level and how to manage advanced coursework.

Topic: Transition from High School to Post Secondary

Facilitators; Erica Pineda, DHS Special Programs Counselor

Link to presentation is HERE.

Topic: Conquering Challenging Coursework

Facilitator: Kristle Steele, Dyslexia Specialist

Link to presentation is HERE.

For the Thursday, April 29 sessions, participants will learn about dyslexia accommodations and technology adaptations and how to manage anxiety that can be associated with managing dyslexia.

Topic: Dyslexia Accommodations & Technology

Facilitators: Kristle Steele, DHS Dyslexia Specialist

Link to presentation is HERE.

Topic: Anxiety Roadblocks and Dyslexia

Facilitators: Amy Cmaidalka, SEL Specialist and Maricela Guerrero, Lead Dyslexia Specialist

Link to presentation is HERE.

For the Thursday, May 6 sessions, participants can learn about the two service delivery models for dyslexia in DISD and there is a Spanish session that will offer a summary of the other sessions.

5:00 504, Special Education and Dyslexia

Facilitators: Laurie Rodriguez, Executive Director and Maricela Guerrero, Lead Dyslexia Specialist

Link to presentation is HERE.

5:30 Spanish session - Sesión en Español

Esta sessión explica qué es la dyslexia, cómo afecta el aprendizaje y cuando un estudiante es eligible a través de educación especial y a través de le Sección 504.

Facilitators: Maricela Guerrero, Lead Dyslexia Specialist

Link to presentation is HERE.

Meet our Presenters!

Ginny Canales

Amy Cmaidalka

Amy is the Social Emotional Learning Specialist for Dickinson ISD. She has been in education for 17 years. She is passionate about advocating for professional school counselors, mental health awareness, trauma informed care and self-wellness. Amy is implementing a Gator Wellness Initiative for Dickinson ISD. She is a Dickinson ISD graduate and is looking forward to programs that bring enrichment and social emotional learning into our gator community.For more information please visit the Gator Wellness Website: http://www.dickinsonisd.org/page/gc.gatorwellness

Kimberly Davidson

Kim is a proud 1990 Dickinson High School graduate. After attending college to obtain her undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies at University of Houston-Clear Lake, Kim returned to Dickinson and began her teaching career as a 4th grade teacher. She then earned her master's degree in educational administration, also from University of Houston-Clear Lake. Kimberly taught general and special education before becoming an ARDC facilitator, associate principal, and coordinato

Mary Gonzales

Mary is an Educational Diagnostician for Dickinson ISD. Prior to becoming an Educational Diagnostician, Mary was a special education teacher for 1st through 8th grade. She was trained in a variety of reading programs, including receiving Basic and Advanced Training at the Neuhaus Education Center. One of Mary’s professional interests is reading disorders.

Maricela Guerrero

Maricela joined Dickinson ISD in 2002 as a bilingual teacher, became an Academic Coach in 2006, and began working with dyslexic students in 2007. Her dyslexia training follows the Orton-Gillingham curriculum for both English and Spanish dyslexia instruction. Maricela became the district dyslexia specialist and team leader in 2019. Her goal for her team is to provide multi-sensory instruction, support, and student advocacy thereby providing the keys to unlock the potential of every student.

Misty Magliolo

Erica Pineda

Erica is the Special Programs counselor at Dickinson High School. She has been in education for 15 years and has been a school counselor for 9 years. She has worked for DISD for five years as the Special Programs counselor and has worked with special needs and English learner students to ensure they have the support services they need in order to be successful in the areas of academics, personal, social, emotional, and career development

Jessica Rodriguez

Laurie G. Rodriguez

Laurie joined Dickinson ISD in 2006 as the director. Her undergraduate degree is in secondary education, and her master's degree is in educational psychology, with post-graduate studies in educational statistics, and her superintendency at UT-Tyler. She taught general and special education before becoming an educational diagnostician and then moving into special education leadership in 2003. In 2013, Laurie was appointed by Governor Perry to serve on the Continuing Advisory Committee for Special Education. She also serves as an officer for the Gulf Coast Administrators of Special Education.

Kristle Steele

Kristle is Dickinson High School’s Dyslexia Specialist. Steele has been roping students into literacy for the last 14 years. Nothing is better as a teacher than when they become irrelevant in the dialogue between a student and their book, or between a student and their teachers. Not only is she passionate about literacy, but also about building student’s self-advocacy skills. As a learner with her own deficits in orthographic processing, rapid naming and written expression, Ms. Steele won’t stop until all students can independently access their learning and control their outcomes. Mrs. Steele can’t wait to share her book picks, favorite tech tools and assistive applications for conquering learning in high school and advanced programing. For more information please contact her at ksteele@dickinsonisd.org or give her a ring at 281-229-6598.