Speech Therapy in Eagle River and Anchorage, AK

Speech & Language

Our certified Speech Language Pathologists are here to help your child develop skills needed for successful communication. How can we help?

Writing and Written Expression

We’re qualified to evaluate and treat a variety of speech and language impairments including:

Articulation
Aural Rehabilitation
Expressive and Receptive Language Delays
Early Intervention for ages 2-5 (Including Hanen certified therapists)
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Childhood Apraxia of Speech. We have therapists trained in both PROMPT and Kaufman.
Social Skills (including Social Skills groups at the Elementary, Middle, and High School Level)
Feeding / Swallowing / Picky Eater

Reading Write Alaska is also an approved vendor for all local homeschool programs

TESTIMONIALS

"The scores on our daughter’s most recent re-evaluation are jawdropping. She has gone from reading 13 words on a word identification subtest to 113 words in a year!! Her score went from 67 to 107! Her spelling score went from a 77 to a 99! She was at an early first grade reading level last year and is now testing at mid third grade! We are so thankful for sweet Miss Lori and all she’s done for us!"

~ CARY

SEE ALL TESTIMONIALS

Kelly Farmer

Billing Manager

Kelly is the billing manager for Reading Write Alaska. Kelly grew up as a military “brat” whose family settled in Alaska in 1983. In 1998 Kelly moved to Surprise, AZ., where she started her career as a Medicare biller, moving into hospital administration and provider management in Steamboat Springs, CO. It is said, if you leave Alaska, you will always come back; this proved true for Kelly, returning in 2009 becoming Operations Manager for a Third-Party Administrator handling one of the largest self-funded health plans in Alaska. Kelly then went on to insurance brokerage and consulting. After working in the corporate environment for so many years Kelly longed for work-life balance which she found at Reading Write Alaska! Kelly has an adult daughter, a very spoiled Labrador retriever and loves all that Alaska outdoors has to offer.

Robin Ruzic

Speech-Language Pathologist / Eagle River Clinical Director

Robin was born and raised in New Iberia Louisiana, the heart of Cajun country. She finished high school in Crystal Lake Illinois and shortly after moved back south. She is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Clinic Director for Reading Write Alaska. In our Eagle River location. Robin earned her Master’s of Arts in Communication Disorders from University of Houston after being a stay at home mom for 10+ years. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA). She is licensed by The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the state of Texas and the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing in Alaska. She has experience working with a variety of speech disorders, including receptive and expressive language disorders, Apraxia, phonological disorders, fluency disorders, and social communication disorders. She worked several years in a Texas school district before starting a career in private practice. After working many years in a private practice with PreK students doing play therapy, she set her sights on school aged children with reading, writing, and spelling difficulties. She joined Reading Write Alaska in February 2019 where she relocated from Texas with her husband. She enjoys fishing, cooking, and photography. Robin is an avid traveler and loves to tell stories of all the countries she’s visited. When Robin is not providing therapy to her students, she is at home cooking with her husband of 24 years. They have parented two grown children, Ema and Jakob.

Jennifer Carlson

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

Jennifer is a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant with a Bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and a minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Eastern Michigan University. While her college career started in Occupational Therapy, she quickly transitioned to Speech-Language Pathology after spending time tutoring bilingual children in both reading and writing. She loves the excitement and perspective kids bring to life and enjoys sharing a passion with them for reading and writing that extends beyond the boundaries of education. Jennifer enjoys anything that ignites adrenaline from rock climbing to white-water rafting to parasailing. Originally born in Arizona but moving to Michigan at such a young age, she considers herself a lifelong Yooper and resident of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She moved to Alaska in January of 2019 and started working at Reading Write Alaska’s Wasilla location shortly after. Jennifer is licensed by the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing

Mary Mitchell

Speech-Language Pathologist

Mary is a Speech-Language Pathologist. Mary graduated from James Madison University with her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorder in 2012 and taught a Kindergarten program in Maryland for two years before returning to graduate school. Mary graduated from Radford University with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology in 2016. After graduating, she decided to move across the country to the beautiful state of Alaska to start her career as an SLP and spend more time exploring outdoors. Mary spent two years working part time at a private practice and full time working in early intervention in Anchorage before moving out of state as a traveling SLP. She missed Alaska and the pediatric population, so she returned and began working at Reading Write Alaska in February 2019. In her spare time, she loves dancing, hiking, skiing, and exploring all that Alaska has to offer! Mary is licensed by the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association.

Lindsey Cady

Speech-Language Pathologist

Lindsey Cady is a Speech-Language Pathologist who received her Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology from Northeastern State University in Talequah, OK, after completing her undergraduate career with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications at Arkansas Tech University. After working for two years in Arkansas with a population ranging from birth to geriatrics, Lindsey decided to pursue her dream of becoming a travel therapist. In the fall of 2017, she made her way to Alaska and worked for the Anchorage School District. Like so many who only plan to stay in Alaska for ”a season”, her dream of being a travel therapist was quickly replaced with her love for Alaska, and Anchorage became her first and last assignment. Lindsey is excited to have joined the team at RWA at the end of 2018 and to discover this new passion in the field of speech language pathology. Lindsey has experience working with infants, children, and adults with a variety of impairments including early intervention, feeding and swallowing, cognitive rehabilitation, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and articulation and speech delays. In her free time, Lindsey enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and frequenting Moose’s Tooth and Bear Tooth more than she should. Lindsey is licensed by the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing, the State of Arkansas Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing, and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association.

Tyler

Math Instructor

Tyler is a Math Tutor for Reading Write Alaska and began working part time in 2018.  Tyler grew up in Minnesota and spent 10 years in the United States Air Force, first as a Chinese-Mandarin language analyst, and then as a command post controller.  After receiving an honorable discharge for the Air Force, Tyler was employed in the bridge construction field. He realized he truly enjoyed the field of land surveying, so he decided to go back to school for a Geomatics degree.  His younger brother and parents had already moved up to Alaska, so it was only natural that Tyler would follow them, and enroll at the University of Alaska-Anchorage.
In his off time, you can usually find him hiking up some mountain, taking lots of pictures, or at a hockey rink, either playing or refereeing.  You might also find him in a wood shop, building furniture, or other fun projects.
Tyler has had an affinity for math from a young age and enjoys working with children and watching and helping them discover new ideas making being the math-u-see tutor perfect for him.  In his younger days, he was an Eagle Scout, and for a long time, the oldest scout in his troop, so he has been teaching people most of his life.  This all adds up to Tyler being enthusiastic about sharing math with young people!

Kristie Koffard

Front desk Administration

Kristie is the front desk administrator for the Reading Write Alaska team in Wasilla. She was born in Palmer, Alaska and has lived in Wasilla ever since. Although an Alaskan at heart Kristie is an avid traveler. She has traveled to Japan, Thailand, South Korea, as well as most of North America. She has a beautiful black German shepherd who thinks he is a lap dog and a gray cat that looks like Jabba the Hutt. Kristie enjoys reading, writing, drawing, and hiking. Being born into an adventurous family, she has always loved traveling the state and experiencing the wilderness around her. Even with traveling all over the world, she still finds herself in awe coming home to this great place. Kristie joined the Reading Write Alaska team in 2017 and absolutely loves it here. Working closely with parents and families has been a rewarding experience for her.

Kimberly Westervelt

Billing Specialist

Kimberly was born in Ohio, grew up in Anchorage, and calls Alaska her home. She graduated high school early and attended UAA. Kimberly married her high school sweetheart and has two children, Colin and Brinley. After twelve years of medical billing and office manager experience, she took time off to be a mom. Six years later and having a son with dyslexia she was a perfect fit for the Reading Write Alaska administrative team. Watching her own son work through the program and seeing him blossom into a confident reader fueled her desire to learn more and also share her son’s journey with other families!

Marissa Pedersen

Front Desk Administration

Marissa grew up in Lisle, Illinois, a busy suburb of Chicago. After graduating high school, she moved to Grand Junction, CO where she attended Colorado Mesa University. She moved back to Illinois for a year and decided to take her love for adventure and finally move to Alaska. She joined the team in 2016 is thrilled to be here at Reading Write Alaska full time! Besides taking classes toward her billing and coding certification here in Anchorage, Marissa enjoys just about everything outdoors that Alaska has to offer. Skijoring, hiking, and camping with her dog Zora, are just a few of the things you may find her doing on the weekends.

Cheryl Carter

Human Resources

Cheryl was raised in West Virginia. Her husband made a career in the Air Force, which ultimately led them to Fort Walton Beach Florida where they made their home for 35 years. In January 2014 Cheryl moved to Anchorage to join Reading Write Alaska as its first office manager. Cheryl has two grown daughters and made the move to Anchorage to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. Cheryl has a background in retail management. She retired with 28 years’ service holding positions in human resources, finance, and operations manager. At RWA Cheryl oversees Human Resources and Office Operations.

Julie Swaner

Speech-Language Pathologist

Julie graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, with her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a focus in Speech-Language Pathology. In 2015, she moved from Texas to Alaska in search of a forever home and found it. Although she has experience in a variety of settings, she loves the Barton Reading and Spelling Program and seeing how quickly students can progress using this method. She has worked part-time in Reading Write Alaska’s Wasilla location since 2016. Her outside interests include quilting, fermenting and exploring Alaska. Julie is licensed by the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing and holds Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Selina Gutierrez

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

Selina is a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant with a Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin. Throughout her career, she has provided individualized and group therapy to children in the home, school, and clinical settings. She is skilled in the areas of Articulation Disorders, Expressive & Receptive Language Delays, Phonological Processing Delays, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Early Language Delay, Apraxia of speech, ADHD, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Selina is a native to Texas but is proud to call Alaska her home. She joined Reading Write Alaska’s Wasilla location in 2018. She loves to be outdoors, try new recipes, crochet, travel, and spend time with close friends. Selina is licensed by the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing.

Lynice Firey

Speech-Language Pathologist

Lynice grew up in Canada and earned a Masters Degree in Communication Disorders from Minot State University. She moved to Alaska with her husband, who is originally from the state. She has one son and a dog. She started her career in Kenai, and after a few years her family relocated to the valley. She joined Reading Write Alaska’s Wasilla location in 2018. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, and read. Lynice is licensed by the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing and holds Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Uriah Mitchell

Speech-Language Pathologist

Uriah joined the Reading Write Alaska team in 2018, assisting in diagnosing and treating individuals with communication difficulties. Uriah has had experience working in schools, skilled nursing facilities, and clinics across Idaho, Oregon, California, and (now) Alaska. He enjoys performing at oral storytelling events, learning about folklore & mythology and loves comic books. Uriah is licensed by the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Kayla Head

Speech-Language Pathologist / Clinical Director - Wasilla

Kayla is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Clinic Director in our Wasilla location. Kayla was born in the Midwest and grew up in Southwest Washington. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington and graduated with her Master's in Speech-Language Pathology from Idaho State University in 2014. Kayla spent her first two years working in a school setting with children in preschool through high school with a wide range of disabilities. She has developed a particular passion for working with preschool-aged students, as she loves their energy and enthusiasm. Kayla joined Reading Write Alaska in 2016 to explore working in a private practice setting and gain experience in literacy-based therapy. She found herself to love Alaska and all its outdoor adventures with her husband and two dogs. Kayla is licensed by the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association.

Kristin Wetzel

Speech-Language Pathologist / Clinical Director - Wasilla

Kristin is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Clinic Director in our Wasilla location. Kristin grew up in a small town in Northern Nevada and attended the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). She traveled to India for a yoga teacher training, then moved to a tiny island in the Pacific called Guam to work at a resort after obtaining her Bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences. Graduate school took her away from island life and took her back to the University of Nevada, Reno to work on her Master's degree in Speech Language Therapy. Her internship brought her to Central Oregon in 2014, where she worked as an SLP with Pre-K and school-aged children. She moved to Alaska with her husband and giant Labrador, Murray, in the summer of 2016 to join the Reading Write Alaska team. Kristin is thrilled to be working with children at RWA, as well as exploring everything the land of the midnight sun has to offer. Kristin is licensed by the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association.

Grant Tatge

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

Grant earned his bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of North Dakota. For five years, he worked for Denali Borough School District serving pre-K through 12th-grade students in the Healy, Cantwell and Anderson schools. He moved to Eagle River in 2015 and enjoys working as a full-time Speech-Language Pathology Assistant with Reading Write Alaska at the Eagle River location. Grant feels very blessed to participate in helping children learn and succeed in the vital areas of reading and writing. His favorite hobby is spending time with his family, especially in the Alaskan outdoors camping and fishing. Grant is licensed by the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing.

Eli Skelton

Speech-Language Pathologist

Eli earned his bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He then earned his master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas. Eli moved to Anchorage in July 2018, and he is loving every second of it! His favorite hobby is hiking, especially when there is a waterfall at the end! Eli is licensed by the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Alysia Damin

Speech-Language Pathologist

Alysia is a Speech-Language Pathologist and lead teletherapist. Alysia grew up in a small town located in central New York. As a child, she was surrounded with educators and professionals in the field of speech pathology and decided early on to pursue a career as a Speech Language Pathologist. Alysia arrived in Alaska in Fall 2015, after her husband received orders for the US army; with their daughter, and fur children (a dog and a cat!). They enjoy adventuring outdoors, traveling, and spending time making memories in our beautiful 49th state. Alysia completed her Bachelor's degree in Speech and Language Disabilities in 2011 from The State University of New York College at Cortland and went on to receive a Masters of Science in Education degree in 2014 from SUNY Potsdam in Reading Literacy, with the certification of children from birth through grade 12. Alysia has previously worked in NYS with preschool aged students that have speech and language concerns. Alysia continued to pursue her career goals through the completion of her second graduate program with a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University in 2017. Alysia is also certified in the Barton Reading and Spelling System. Alysia was excited to join the professionals Reading Write Alaska in 2017, and be part of a clinic that has a focus on the improvement of language, including reading, writing, and spelling; specifically dyslexia. This allows her to further her knowledge in the field and be able to utilize her educational background daily! Alysia served as the Clinic Coordinator in the Eagle River location until 2019 when the Army sent them to Germany. She continues to work with RWA via teletherapy. Alysia is licensed by the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Division of Business and Professional Licensing and holds Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Wendy Baker

Teacher / Language Specialist

Wendy has lived in Anchorage since 1986; however, she grew up in Fairbanks. She is a certified teacher who taught for 20 years at Bartlett High School where she taught Russian, world history, and Latin. She has two sons who are grown who went to Turnagain, Romig, and West High. They both live in Anchorage, and she has one granddaughter.

Speech Therapy in Eagle River and Anchorage, AK

Speech & Language

Our certified Speech Language Pathologists are here to help your child develop skills needed for successful communication. How can we help?

Speech and Language

Reading and Spelling

Writing and Written Expression

Math

SAT Prep

Test Proctoring

We’re qualified to evaluate and treat a variety of speech and language impairments including:

Reading Write Alaska is also an approved vendor for all local homeschool programs

TESTIMONIALS

Kelly Farmer

Billing Manager

Robin Ruzic

Speech-Language Pathologist / Eagle River Clinical Director

Jennifer Carlson

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

Mary Mitchell

Speech-Language Pathologist

Lindsey Cady

Speech-Language Pathologist

Tyler

Math Instructor

Kristie Koffard

Front desk Administration

Kimberly Westervelt

Billing Specialist

Marissa Pedersen

Front Desk Administration

Cheryl Carter

Human Resources

Julie Swaner

Speech-Language Pathologist

Selina Gutierrez

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

Lynice Firey

Speech-Language Pathologist

Uriah Mitchell

Speech-Language Pathologist

Kayla Head

Speech-Language Pathologist / Clinical Director - Wasilla

Kristin Wetzel

Speech-Language Pathologist / Clinical Director - Wasilla

Grant Tatge

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

Eli Skelton

Speech-Language Pathologist

Alysia Damin

Speech-Language Pathologist

Wendy Baker

Teacher / Language Specialist