THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH READING CLINIC (UURC)
STAFF
Dr. Kathleen J. Brown is Director of the University of Utah Reading Clinic (UURC) in the College of Education. Her scholarly interests include the development of educators' conceptual frameworks for teaching at-risk and struggling readers, and the development of intervention models to meet the needs of struggling readers from diverse backgrounds. Since 1999, Dr. Brown has led intervention clinical practica for over 1000 Utah educators. She continues to work with struggling readers on a regular basis because it informs her ability to mentor educators. In 1997, Dr. Brown received the University of Utah Graduate School of Education Teaching Award in recognition of her contribution to university teaching. Her work has been published in a number of scholarly journals, including
Michele Blake is a certified Elementary and Special Education teacher. She comes to us from the Jordan School District where she has taught Special Education (grades K-6) for 6 years. Michele has an ESL endorsement and earned her Masters in Education from the University of Utah in 2003. She had the opportunity to present at the International Reading Convention in Salt Lake City in March 2001 on interventions for at-risk and struggling readers. Michele has been trained in both Early StepsSM and Next StepsSM intervention by Dr. Kathleen Brown and also has been certified as a Wilson® Level 1 tutor. She has been extremely successful in adapting those models for students with learning disabilities and loves working with kids and helping them to become more successful readers.
Ursula K. Brock received certification as an English as a Second Language paraprofessional/para-educator through Weber State University. She has been trained by Dr. Kathleen J. Brown in intervention for at-risk and struggling readers and also has been certified as a Wilson® Level 1 and Level 2 tutor. Ms. Brock has excellent multi-lingual translations skills in German, Spanish, and English with over nine years experience as a translator. She has a solid background and sensitivity for cultural differences global customs, and culture.
Grace Craig has a BA from BYU in Studies of Ancient Greece and Rome. Grace received a Master's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Teaching Language with an emphasis in Teaching English as a Second Language. She taught elementary grades for four years at private schools, Challenger School in Sandy and Sandcastle Academy in Bountiful. She has also taught courses in Latin language and ESL. A body of coursework in Linguistics has helped prepare Grace to make a contribution to the Reading Clinic's activities. She considers herself very fortunate to continually be learning how to best teach struggling readers through her work with the University of Utah Reading Clinic.
Nikki Fellows received her Associate’s Degree from LDS Business College. She has worked in the Salt Lake City School District as secretary to the Director of Food Services. After taking some time off to be a "mom", she went to West Kearns Elementary and helped in the resource program there as an aide. The year 1999 found her in the front office at West Kearns which is where she had her first contact with Dr. Kathleen Brown and the University of Utah Reading Clinic. Since coming to the Reading Clinic, she has had the pleasure of learning and observing the Reading Clinic's program in action. She has been trained as a Next StepsSM tutor and feels there is no finer program available to children who are struggling with their reading.
Dr. Matt Fields has a B.S. in Applied Physics from Caltech, an M.S. in Educational Technology and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Utah. As a member of the Reading Clinic, he brings his research and technology background to the study of reading and the development of intervention practices. He currently serves as the Finance, Research, and Technology Manager for the Reading Clinic. He has been trained as a Next StepsSM tutor and conducts many of the assessment of students interested in receiving intervention as well as students who have completed the program.
Linda Jensen is a certified elementary teacher who comes to us after many years of service in the Murray School District. After serving in that district as a parent volunteer and while working as a Title 1 paraprofessional, she returned to school to complete her degree in Elementary Education. During her four years working as a classroom teacher, she earned her ESL endorsement. She worked another four years as a Title 1 Literacy facilitator. She has been trained in both Early Steps and Next Steps by Dr. Kathleen Brown, as well as being a certified Wilson level 1 tutor. She is delighted to be part of a program that has so much success in helping children overcome difficulties in reading.
Trina Robbins comes to the University of Utah Reading Clinic from Jordan School District after having worked in the Title I program for 11 years. She has received training in many areas ranging from child development to specific reading interventions for at-risk readers (i.e., Early StepsSM, NextSM, and Soar to Success). Trina had received extensive training from Dr. Kathleen Brown through the University of Utah and has been a tutor with the reading clinic for the last 3 years as well as being certified as a Wilson® Level 1 tutor.