Dr. Maria Casale’s vast professional experiences include her extensive work and development in helping to improve access and equity in educating students “at risk” for literacy failure. As a skilled literacy interventionist, she mentors teachers seeking to fulfill their credentials as an Orton Gillingham specialist. Maria was an adjunct professor of clinical studies for those seeking to develop expertise in providing diagnostic/prescriptive teaching methodologies. She was formerly a teacher, mentor, and administrator of New York City public schools, as well as the former Director of Intervention at NYC Chancellor’s Office of Response to Intervention. Maria co-founded the first and only charter school in the northeast for children with dyslexia and language-based processing disabilities. Currently, Maria is the CEO of Leap, as well as the founder of the “Parents as Partners” Homeschool Cooperative Learning Program. Recently, she co-founded Fusion Programs, a center for the development and integration of STEAM programs for children, teens, and young adults.

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Maria holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education, with advanced studies in English and Special Education. She holds a Master of Science Degree as a Reading Specialist. She is also a certified School Based/District Instructional Leader. She is a certified Reading Recovery Specialist at NYU, as well as a Curriculum Specialist at Teacher’s College Columbia University, and she holds National Board Recognition, Early Childhood Generalist, and NBPTS.  Additionally, she is a certified dyslexia specialist of the highly regarded Academy of Orton Gillingham Practitioners and Educators, AOGPE, and she is a certified dyslexia therapist of the International Dyslexia Association, IDA, an internationally acclaimed organization of dyslexia specialists. Lastly she holds a PhD in Special Education, possessing expertise in developing curriculum and programs which focus on the neurodiverse aspects of all learners, especially those with unique talents and abilities!