Young Lee Pesky Portrait

Lee Pesky had learning disabilities at a time when there was little understanding of common issues like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD. His family struggled to find the support Lee needed in overcoming his obstacles to learning. They did the best they could with the few resources available at the time, and Lee was able to complete college and become a business owner. After their son passed away in 1995 at the age of 30, Alan and Wendy Pesky founded Lee Pesky Learning Center to honor Lee’s legacy by helping children with learning differences in a way they weren’t able to help their son.

Our vision is to create a pathway to learning for everyone.

Our mission is to work together with individuals, families, schools, and communities to understand and overcome obstacles to learning.

Our Commitments

We accomplish our mission through five strategic commitments:

  1. Equip learners of all ages with the skills needed for success. Our self-regulated learner framework supports individual strengths while incorporating the skills and strategies needed to become increasingly connected, self-aware, self-determined, strategic, and resilient.
  2. Deliver research-based services and contribute new research to the field. Our work is grounded in the science of learning and development and acknowledges the neurocognitive, psychosocial, and environmental factors that impact learning. Researchers and educators learn from one another to advance knowledge and improve practice.
  3. Empower educators and parents with knowledge and skills. Our professional development experts work with educators including administrators, teachers, and parents to build their capacity to provide high quality learning environments in which all individuals can thrive.
  4. Close the educational opportunity gap through direct service. Our academic, clinical, and teacher training services provide and promote inclusive, equitable, and culturally responsive learning environments designed to close the educational opportunity gap.
  5. Prepare the next generation of practitioners. Our professional staff provide university students with opportunities to apply new skills in academic and clinical settings, positioning them to excel in special education, early childhood education, clinical psychology, counseling, and education research.

Get to know us.

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News

Pesky Award for Inspirational Teaching: 2023 Winners Announced

Idaho’s outstanding teachers have been honored annually since the Pesky Award for Inspirational Teaching (PAIT) was first established in 2011 by Lee Pesky Learning Center’s Co-founders, Alan and Wendy Pesky. In partnership with Boise State’s College of Education, PAIT recognizes inspirational K-12 teachers who make a difference in the lives of their students through passion and caring.

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As Reported by Idaho Education News: Schools Start to Incorporate Newly Required Dyslexia Training

A number of districts and charters have started focusing on and offering dyslexia training. Organizations like Lee Pesky Learning Center (LPLC) have risen to meet the need with newly created, in-person hybrid and online classes designed for school staff.  The strategies LPLC offers will help not just those with dyslexia, but all students, to learn to read. And that’s essential, because reading is the gateway to a lifetime of learning. 

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LPLC Welcomes New Board Member

Jerry Sturgill is a former Wall Street lawyer turned investment banker. After a successful career as a partner of Latham & Watkins, an international law firm based in New York City, he returned to his home state of Idaho and founded an SEC and FINRA registered investment bank, Galena Capital, specializing in mergers and acquisitions…

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Wendy Pesky, LPLC Co-Founder, Passes Away

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of Wendy Pesky, LPLC’s Co-Founder. Wendy’s passing is a personal loss for the countless people that she knew and a monumental loss for Lee Pesky Learning Center. We invite you to read about Wendy’s life and the incredible impact she had on others as shared by the Idaho Mountain Express below.

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LPLC Welcomes New Board Members

LPLC extends a warm welcome to our three newest board members– Dana Herrman, Jim Foudy, and Dr. Lisa Gabel. We are grateful for your leadership.   Dana Herrman is Senior Managing Director of Silicon Valley Bank and the co-head of TMT equity trading. Prior to SVB, Dana was an SVP at Bernstein for 14 years…

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Idaho Mountain Express Features LPLC Alongside Community Partners

Bellevue, Idaho—For young children, summertime brings the promise of longer days, playtime with friends, and an opportunity to enjoy simply being a kid. For parents, it can be a time where creativity is applied to navigate childcare, craft a summer camp plan, and secure academic enrichment for their children. This need is all the more urgent for the one in five families who have a child who struggles with a learning disability.

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Lee Pesky Learning Center Provides Pathways to Literacy for English Language Learners

Bellevue, Idaho—For young children, summertime brings the promise of longer days, playtime with friends, and an opportunity to enjoy simply being a kid. For parents, it can be a time where creativity is applied to navigate childcare, craft a summer camp plan, and secure academic enrichment for their children. This need is all the more urgent for the one in five families who have a child who struggles with a learning disability.

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Dutch Bros Brews Meaningful Donation for Lee Pesky Learning Center

Lee Pesky Learning Center (LPLC) is accustomed to receiving gifts from those whom they serve on a daily basis—a magical ‘aha’ moment experienced during a teacher training, a milestone reached by a student, or confidence gained in a counseling session. However, on February 16, 2022, LPLC received a surprise contribution from a community member who had never received services at the center.

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LPLC Professional Development Director Takes Creative Approach to a Writing Workshop

In her 35 years as an educator, Lee Pesky Learning Center’s Professional Development Director, Cristianne Lane, is no stranger to leading writing workshops for teachers and children. Cristianne, and the experienced training department at LPLC, facilitate writing workshops of which hundreds of teachers across the state of Idaho have attended. A published author herself, Cristianne and LPLC staff realize the importance of fostering a love of learning in young children.

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Pesky Award for Inspirational Teaching: 2021 Winners Announced

Alan and Wendy Pesky, founders of Lee Pesky Learning Center, have been honoring outstanding teachers since 2011 with an award they created–the Pesky Award for Inspirational Teaching (PAIT). In partnership with Boise State’s College of Education, PAIT recognizes inspirational K-12 teachers in the state of Idaho and beyond who make a difference in the lives of their students through passion and caring.

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CBS2 Features LPLC as a Leader in Learning

On Friday, December 3, 2021, CBS2 featured Lee Pesky Learning Center as part of their Leaders in Learning series. The segment sheds light on the various ways that LPLC is supporting students in Idaho (and beyond) and how local community partners such as CapEd Credit Union are collaborating to strengthen early childhood learning in Idaho.

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Lee Pesky Learning Center Leadership Update

This past September 2021, Lee Pesky Learning Center (LPLC) expressed a warm farewell to Dr. Evelyn Johnson. After a decade of leading Lee Pesky Learning Center as Executive Director and, most recently, CEO, Dr. Johnson will be continuing her professional journey as VP of Research and Development at Aperture Education. Dr. Johnson also led LPLC’s research on our unique self-regulated learner framework, the early detection of learning disabilities, and a professional development model for early childhood educators.

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Idaho Press Features LPLC Co-Founder’s Memoir: More to Life than More

Lee Pesky Learning Center Co-Founder, Alan Pesky, is releasing his new memoir titled More to Life than More: A Memoir of Misunderstanding, Loss and Learning on September 7th (Skyhorse Publishing). In his memoir, co-authored with Claudia Aulum, Alan Pesky grapples with difficult life questions as he chronicles his relationship with his son, Lee Pesky, who died unexpectedly of a highly invasive brain cancer in 1995 at 30 years old. To honor Lee’s legacy, Alan founded Lee Pesky Learning Center (LPLC) in 1997.

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Cristianne Lane, LPLC Professional Development Director, Featured in Idaho Press

Our very own Professional Development Director, Cristianne Lane, was recently featured in an Idaho Press article discussing Idaho Lawmakers’ decision-making process about implementing full-day kindergarten. With Lee Pesky Learning Center’s mission to understand and overcome obstacles to learning in mind, Cristianne highlighted the reality that the key to closing educational opportunity gaps for our most…

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Announcing the Let There Be Poster Project

Announcing The Let There Be Project A Collaborative Project Benefiting Lee Pesky Learning Center and The Alliance of Idaho   The Let There Be project was dreamed up by Alan and Wendy Pesky to benefit The Alliance of Idaho and the Lee Pesky Learning Center, both Idaho-based nonprofits. The Alliance of Idaho protects the human…

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LPLC Welcomes New Board Members

Mario Pile, Assistant Director of Development at Boise State University is passionate about improving education for underserved students. Prior to his role at Boise State, Mario worked at the Idaho Youth Ranch. His commitment to students and experience in the field of development will make significant contributions to the LPLC Board. Robert Sanchez, LTC (Retired)…

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Leading From Values by Alan Pesky

Alan Pesky recently published Leading From Values in Leader to Leader, “an award-winning quarterly report on management, leadership, and strategy” published by the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. In Leading From Values, Alan identifies the foundational values of Lee Pesky Learning Center. He makes a compelling case that these values still define LPLC today and continue…

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Listening Series Session 3

On Thursday, August 13 LPLC held the third and final session in the Creating Pathways to Learning for Everyone listening series. This series is being hosted and moderated by The Community Library of Ketchum, ID. During session three, Dr. Evelyn Johnson, CEO of Lee Pesky Learning Center, and moderator Martha Williams, Program and Education Manager…

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Listening Series Session 2

On Wednesday, July 29 LPLC held the second session in the Creating Pathways to Learning for Everyone listening series. This series is being hosted and moderated by The Community Library of Ketchum, ID. During session two, Dr. Evelyn Johnson, CEO of Lee Pesky Learning Center, and moderator DeAnn Campbell, Children’s and Young Adult Director of…

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LPLC Welcomes New Executive Director, Dr. Lindy Crawford

Lee Pesky Learning Center is excited to announce the arrival of its new Executive Director, Dr. Lindy Crawford! Dr. Crawford joins LPLC from Texas Christian University where she was a professor and administrator. Dr. Crawford was also President of the Council for Learning Disabilities. Dr. Crawford will guide LPLC’s operations and advancement, as well as…

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Listening Series Session 1

On Tuesday, July 14 LPLC kicked off its Creating Pathways to Learning for Everyone listening series. This series is being hosted and moderated by The Community Library of Ketchum, ID. During session one, Dr. Evelyn Johnson, LPLC CEO, and Dr. Jenny Emery Davidson, Executive Director of The Community Library, laid out the current landscape of…

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LPLC to Kick-off Listening Series on Learning Challenges and the Opportunity Gap

School closures have widened the already existing opportunity gap in education. If we do not address these inequities full-on, there will be lifelong consequences for children who struggle.  Forecasts based on historical data from summer loss and previous school closures during natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina suggest that students will return to school this fall at about 65%…

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LPLC Board Welcomes New Member

The Lee Pesky Learning Center Board of Directors is pleased to announce Mark Hamachek has joined the Board as its newest member. Mark is a resident of Seattle, Washington and is passionate about supporting students with learning and attention challenges. Mark is the founder of H Group, an advisory and new venture development firm as…

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LPLC Featured on Voices of Treefort Music Fest Podcast

Lee Pesky Learning Center was given the opportunity to be featured on Storyfort Presents: Voices of Treefort Music Fest podcast. Christian Winn, Director of Storyfort, focused this week’s podcast on the festival’s non-profit partners and how they are adapting during the time of COVID-19. And how the community can support non-profit needs through Idaho Gives.…

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LPLC Featured on Where’s Larry of KTVB

Lee Pesky Learning Center was given the opportunity to be featured on Where’s Larry on KTVB News as part of Idaho Gives. To hear more from Larry’s interview with LPLC CEO, Dr. Evelyn Johnson, click here. To learn more about LPLC’s Idaho Gives campaign and contribute, click here. Idaho Gives ends at midnight, May 8,…

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LPLC Launches Virtual Parent Events

English Virtual Parent Event Kindergarten readiness is the key to continued success in school – and beyond. And we know just how critical parents are to the process. That’s why we’ve published our “Virtual Preschool Parent Events” to help preschool families navigate home learning during this unique time (también disponible en español a continuación). Please participate…

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Child working on tablet

Kindergarten and First Grade Resources

We have compiled a great list of kindergarten and first grade resources for parents and teachers. These resources include literacy, math and self-regulation activities and routines that can be done at home or school! Kindergarten and first grade literacy and math resources Scholastic Learn has a wonderful website full of books and activities for preK-9th…

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Photo of two children reading a book

Preschool Resources

We have compiled a great list of preschool resources for parents and teachers. These resources include literacy, math and self-regulation activities and routines that can be done at home or school! Preschool Literacy Resources Language and Vocabulary Resources:  Sesame Street has a wonderful website full of fun games for children! Storyline highlights famous people reading popular children’s…

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Jacob’s Story Featured on Idaho Matters

One in five students has a learning or attention challenge, and Idaho sixth-grader Jacob is one of those students. Jacob has dyslexia and dysgraphia, which can make it hard for teachers to understand what Jacob needs to be successful in and out of the classroom. Thankfully, Jacob and his mom found the Lee Pesky Learning…

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I Run for LPLC

Hi, I’m Greg Pesky. I am the Chair of the Lee Pesky Learning Center Board of Directors. I am proud to serve in this role and strategically guide LPLC as it strives to create pathways to learning for everyone. I’m also Lee’s younger brother. My connection to LPLC runs deep – and has kept me…

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