About Rita
As one of the first dyslexia specialists in the Central Valley to work full-time and exclusively with individuals having dyslexia, Rita is well-known for helping children and adults with difficult and challenging educational needs. Trained by some of the most noted specialists in the field, Rita was certified to diagnose dyslexia by Susan Barton, one of the most respected dyslexia authorities in the U.S. and abroad.
Rita's vast work experience includes serving as Director of Educational Services at Modesto Psychiatric Center, and as a school psychologist for the former California Youth Authority, a facility for incarcerated males under the age of 22. She has also worked with children and adults with autism, asperger’s syndrome, severe mental retardation and multiple handicaps, children with learning disabilities, youth sex offenders, and children and adolescents with emotional problems.
Rita continues to hold 3 valid California teaching credentials, and school psychology/school counseling credentials. She holds degrees from Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. While enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of the Pacific, she completed a 2-1/2 year internship at the Stockton Development Center under the supervision of Dr. Robert Stillwell, a well-known experimental psychologist for the Department of Developmental Disabilities. She also taught at UOP in the Department of Education as an adjunct instructor.
In addition to training to diagnose dyslexia with Susan Barton, Rita also trained and is certified at the advanced level in both the Barton Reading and Spelling System and Slingerland. These are Orton-Gillingham based reading programs and were designed expressly for teaching reading and spelling to children and adults with dyslexia. She has also been trained by a Lindamood-Bell instructor in the LiPS program to help children and adults develop phonemic awareness prior to undertaking an Orton-Gillingham program.