Notes from the Field: October Designated Dyslexia Awareness Month

Lee Pesky Learning Center (LPLC) announces an important leadership transition. Executive Director Maureen O’Toole will be stepping away from her position to attend to family health matters. The entire LPLC community expresses deep gratitude for Maureen’s leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication to advancing our mission of helping students, families, and educators overcome learning challenges and reach their full potential.

During her tenure, Maureen guided the Center through a period of growth and adaptation while strengthening relationships with community partners, expanding access to services, and championing programs that ensure all learners have the tools and support they need to succeed. Her empathy, professionalism, and focus on mission-driven impact have left an enduring mark on the organization and those it serves.

Stepping into the role of Executive Director is Dr. Lindy Crawford, who previously led Lee Pesky Learning Center and now returns with optimism and a renewed vision for impact. Dr. Crawford brings deep institutional knowledge, decades of educational leadership experience, and an unwavering commitment to the Center’s mission. Her familiarity with LPLC’s team, community, and the broader educational landscape in Idaho ensures continuity, stability, and momentum during this transition.

“Lee Pesky Learning Center’s professional expertise is second to none and it is my great honor to once again serve alongside an incredibly accomplished and deeply empathetic team,” said Dr. Crawford. “For close to 30 years, LPLC has led educational innovation using an evidence-based approach to teaching and learning. I am excited to play a small part in our continued evolution.”

Board Chair Jim Foudy added, “We are profoundly grateful to Maureen for her care, leadership, and commitment to every learner we serve. We’re equally confident in welcoming Lindy back to guide LPLC into its next chapter. Her deep knowledge of LPLC and her passion for education will be a great asset to the organization during this transition period.”

For nearly three decades, Lee Pesky Learning Center has helped thousands of students, families, and educators overcome obstacles to learning through direct academic and clinical services, professional training, and community partnerships. The organization remains steadfast in its mission to ensure every learner has the opportunity to thrive.

On October 4^th, Governor Brad Little issued a proclamation designating October as Dyslexia Awareness Month in Idaho. We were thrilled to be at the signing to support and celebrate the work of Decoding Dyslexia of Idaho, whose advocacy led to this important milestone.

The next day, Decoding Dyslexia hosted Idaho’s first Dyslexia Awareness Summit, sponsored by the St. Luke’s Foundation and Lee Pesky Learning Center. Over 120 attendees were there to learn more about dyslexia from experts about a range of topics related to dyslexia.

Dr. Evelyn Johnson, the CEO of LPLC, spoke about the importance of early detection. “The signs and symptoms of dyslexia can be observed at young ages, but because dyslexia is a condition that makes learning to read very challenging, too many students aren’t identified until they are really struggling.” Dr. Johnson noted. “It’s why we are working on tools that can help teachers identify children much earlier, so we can provide early intervention.”

Learn more about LPLC’s work on early detection of dyslexia here.

About Dyslexia

Dyslexia is an unexpected difficulty learning to read. Reading is complex. It requires a person to match letters on a page with the sounds they make, hold on to those sounds as you put them together to form a word, pull the meaning of the word from your ‘mental lexicon’ and then adjust your understanding of what you are reading as you go.

People with dyslexia have trouble matching the letters they see on the page with the sounds they make. This makes the rest of the reading process a challenge. As many as 20% of the population struggle with slow or inaccurate reading, poor spelling, poor writing, or difficulty understanding what was read.

Dyslexia is a lifelong condition that can’t be ‘cured’ – but providing the right supports and the understanding that people learn differently can lead to success. We encourage you to learn more about dyslexia here.

About Decoding Dyslexia of Idaho

Decoding Dyslexia Idaho is a grassroots movement driven by families, educators and professionals concerned with the limited awareness of and access to supports for students with dyslexia and other, language-based learning disabilities. Their goal is to raise awareness, empower families, and inform policymakers on best practices to identify and serve students with dyslexia in Idaho.

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