All children with dyslexia can read—up to a point. However, auditory processing problems prevent them from hearing all the individual sounds in a word, therefore, they do not read by sounding out. People with dyslexia can significantly improve their reading and spelling skills if they are taught differently. We offer that teaching via the compassionate and competent Dyslexia therapists here at the RRC.
“One young man started dyslexia therapy with me (Penny Grose) when I came to RRC in June of 2017. He had struggled with reading since starting school and was just about ready to give up. When we began work he was very hesitant and apprehensive about reading anything. Once we began work, I was able to explain the hows and whys of certain letter combinations and sounds. Things began to make more sense to him. He began applying syllabication patterns, spelling rules and coding words. While reading is still difficult, he has the tools he needs to ‘attack’ words and read with more assurance and fluency. He is now reading chapter books and gaining confidence in his ability each day.”—Penny Grose, Dylsexia Therapist
A graduate of Thrasher High School and Mississippi State University with a degree in Social Work. Robby began his career as a social worker at the Department of Human Services in Prentiss County. From there Robby gained experience in the non-profit world at the Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America and United Way. Robby was hired as Director of RRC in 2014.
Robby first visited RRC has as social worker when bringing children for appointments. While working for United Way he formed even a closer relationship with the Rehab Center and with the former long time Director Mrs. Kay Mathews.
Robby speaks regularly about how blessed he is to be working at such an amazing organization.
Wanda is a lifelong resident of Tupelo, graduate of Tupelo High School and a graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in counseling.
Wanda provides play activities for birth to three years old to develop age appropriate skills. Wanda currently works in the Early Intervention Department as a Special Instructor. She has devoted many years of service to families and the community through the Regional Rehab Center.
Peggy graduated from Hickory Flat High School. She has been employed at RRC for RRC has a Physical Therapy Tech. She began her time at RRC in Aquatic Therapy but now spends the majority of her time in the Physical Therapy Department.
Gretchen graduated from OT school at the University of MS Medical Center in 2001. After graduation from OT school, she began seeing pediatrics in a home-based setting. She later moved to Knoxville, TN, to work in a senior environment. Gretchen returned to Mississippi in 2003 to continue her pediatric calling. She joined RRC in 2006 because she felt strongly about the values and mission that RRC upholds. She feels everyone deserves the therapies they need regardless of insurance or financial status.
Gretchen lives in New Albany with her husband of 23 years and two daughters. In her spare time, she loves traveling with her family.
Bre Ashe has been the Developmental Director for RRC since 2019. Bre graduated with a Bachelor’s of Business Management from Mississippi State University in 2017 and moved to Tupelo in 2018. She has always had a passion for helping people with special needs and loves being able to spread the message of what RRC does through social media, community outreach, and in her everyday life. In Bre’s free time, she loves being on the beach with her family and spending as much time with her little girl, husband, and dog.
Penny has a Bachelor in Education from Blue Mountain College. She earned M Ed. In dyslexia therapy in 2012 along with her certification as a Certified Academic Language Therapist(CALT). She is a member of ALTA and IDA. Penny retired from public education after 26 years and joined the RRC team in June of 2017.
Anna Claire Bowers is a Tupelo native and 2006 graduate of Tupelo High School. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Educational Psychology from Mississippi State University, and obtained her Master’s Degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Tennessee State University. She has experience working as an SLP in the public school setting, outpatient rehab, as well as skilled nursing and rehab facilities. Anna Claire has a heart for community. She joined the Regional Rehab team in 2017 when she moved home to Tupelo after living in Nashville for 6 years.
She has experience treating a variety of clients including individuals with receptive and expressive language delays, articulation and phonological disorders, autism, childhood apraxia of speech, fluency disorders, and Down syndrome. Anna Claire is trained in TalkTooks Oral Placement Therapy (OPT) and PROMPT therapy. She enjoys collaborating with parents and caregivers to help with carryover of skills at home and making therapy fun. Anna Claire and her husband, Jordan, welcomed their daughter, Bess, in January of this year. In her free time, Anna Claire enjoys a good book, trying new recipes, and spending time with friends and family.
Patricia graduated from Nettleton High School and then attended Itawamba Community College. She has worked as a therapy tech, secretary, and office manager for several different Rehab therapy companies. She first started working at RRC in 2000 as a medical records clerk but left briefly in 2002 to help out a friend start a therapy company. In 2005 she returned to RRC and is currently the Office manager.
Patricia has stated there is no other place she would rather work. The people that she works with and the people that she sees on a regular basis at RRC have become her family and friends. Patricia goes on to say that when you can come to work and see people that are struggling to walk or talk their first day but by the time they are discharged from therapy you watch them walk out the door unassisted is an amazing experience that she is happy to play a role in. “What greater joy can you have then helping someone less fortunate than yourself.”
Patricia is married with 2 children and 2 grandchildren.
Penny graduated from Nettleton High School and attending Itawamba Community College. She has been a Therapy Tech for 18 years and for the last 12 she has been in the Occupational Therapy Department at RRC.
Her greatest achievements in life are being a wife, mom, and grandmother.
Tina is a Speech-Language-Pathologist who specializes in language based learning disorders, including dyslexia. Tina has worked at RRC since 1993. Before coming to RRC she worked in the public schools for 6 ½ years. She has her Bachelor of Science degree in Communicative Disorders from the Mississippi University for Women and a Master’s of Science degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Mississippi. Yearly she attends many conferences related to literacy, language, and attention deficit disorder as well as other related issues. All these conferences are sponsored by the American Speech and Hearing Association and the International Dyslexia Association. Tina is a member of both organizations.
Tina did a summer semester of student practicum at RRC while obtaining her Master’s degree. She enjoyed the clients, staff, and atmosphere and felt like she could pursue her area of professional interests for all children, simply based on need by working at RRC.
Ms. Kay obtained her BS degree in Speech Pathology in 1961 and her Master’s in Speech Pathology in 1967, both from the University for Women.
In 1965 she began working at RRC as a Speech-Language Pathologist and left in 1971 to help her husband in family businesses and raise a family. In 1993 Ms. Kay returned to RRC and was a Speech-Language Pathologist till 1998. From 1998 to 2002 she was the Director of Clinical Services and therapist. In 2002 Ms. Kay became the Executive Director of RRC and stayed in that role until she “retired” in 2014.
Ms. Kay as everyone knows her by has been associated with RRC for many years and has made it her lifelong cause. She has mentored and been a part of countless individuals lives and is now the #1 volunteer for RRC. Since retiring she still maintains an office at RRC and volunteers to see several clients. She also has been the Red Rasberry Humanitarian Award Dinner Chairman and helps with all the fundraisers.
Bethany Reed, M.S., CCC-SLP has been a speech-language pathologist at RRC since June of 2018. A native of Mantachie, Mississippi, she is married to her high-school sweetheart, Ian Reed, and the two of them are excited to welcome their baby boy, Ellis, in July of 2022. Bethany graduated with her Associate of Arts degree from Itawamba Community College in December of 2013 and continued her education at Mississippi University for Women to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She graduated with her master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Mississippi in May of 2018. Bethany is trained and certified in TalkTools and PROMPT. She maintains CEU’s in ethics and supervising, allowing her to supervise and mentor graduate level clinicians. Bethany has always had a passion for helping others and loves to see her patients progress and meet their goals! She views her job as a speech-language pathologist as a way to change someone’s life for the better. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and mini-schnauzer, Charlie, cheering on the Bulldogs, soaking up the sun at the beach, and shopping with her sister and mom.
Parker is a 2017 graduate of Oxford High School and was inspired to become a dyslexia therapist after obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Mississippi. In 2021 Parker began working on her M. Ed. in Dyslexia Therapy at Mississippi College while working as a teaching assistant in the Oxford School District. In January 2023, Parker began working for RRC and was placed at West Union Attendance Center and Myrtle Attendance Center in the Union County School District to serve as a dyslexia therapist. Parker will graduate in May of 2023 and is so excited to be working with RRC and the Union County Schools!
Kari is a 1996 graduate of Saltillo High School. In 1999 she earned an Associates of Applied Science degree in Physical Therapist Assistant Technology from Itawamba Community College. She is the granddaughter of the late Robert and Nita Butler, co-founders of the Regional Rehab Center, and has been involved with the Center from a young age. In April 2003 she joined the staff at RRC as a full time Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. She considers her coworkers as family, and feels elated to be part of the organization that was so very dear to her grandparents.
Hannah graduated in 1997 from Aberdeen High School. She went on to Itawamba Community College, where she was accepted into the Physical Therapy Assistant Program. She graduated in 1999, with an Associate of Applied Science from ICC. In 2008, she was given the opportunity to join the RRC team working as an Aquatic Therapist in the newly renovated Aquatic Physical Therapy pool room.
Kammi began working as a new graduate in June 1992. During her first 5 years she worked with clients from infants to older adults. During her time at RRC she has assisted individuals facing articulation delays, language disorders, myofunctional disorders, stuttering, hearing impairments, autism, cleft palate, Down Syndrome and more. She has also worked with adults with the affects from a stroke, larynectomy, hearing impairment, vocule nodules, and dialect reduction.
Early in Kammi’s RRC career she took another job but continued her work with RRC. She has stated that is was not a difficult decision to return back to RRC full time when RRC started the Early Intervention Program. Kammi has been in the Early Intervention program at RRC since 1999 and has worked with hundreds and children and families since that time.
Laurie Alford began working at Regional Rehab in August 2020. Prior to this time she spent 36 years as a first- or second-grade teacher, with the last 25 years in the Tupelo Public School District. She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Mississippi College, a Masters of Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and completed her National Board certification in the field of early childhood in 2007. Continuing to look for ways to support young children in reading, she received a scholarship from the National Junior Auxiliary to go toward completing a Masters in Dyslexia Therapy from Mississippi College. Upon completion of this degree, she was offered an opportunity to work at Regional Rehab. “Being able to work one on one with students of all ages diagnosed with dyslexia and supporting these students and their families has been such a rewarding experience. I’m grateful that so many people in North Mississippi believe in the importance of helping people develop strategies which allow them to develop this life skill and in turn allow me to be involved in that process!”
Natalie is a 2003 graduate of Amory High School and was inspired to become a therapist after her brief work at the Regional Rehab Center from 2003-2008. In 2010 she earned an Associates of Applied Science degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant Technology from Itawamba Community College. She spent the next 12 years working in a skilled nursing facility with the geriatric population. In July 2022, she returned to the RRC as a full time Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. Natalie is elated to be back at the Regional Rehab Center and looks forward to the future!
A proud Tupelo native, Kendall Walker is a 2016 graduate of tupelo high school. She obtained her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Mississippi in 2020.
After graduation, Kendall opened her own tutoring practice, KendallGarten. It was during this time, she discovered her passion for helping students with reading and learning difficulties. This prompted her to purse her Masters in Dyslexia Therapy at Mississippi College. She will graduate in May 2023. In her free time, Kendall enjoys reading and spending time with family and loved ones.
Jeff is a graduate of Mississippi State University, with a B.S. and a master’s degree in Physical Education. He later attended the University of Mississippi, earning a master’s degree in Educational Psychology, and a master’s level certification in Educational Leadership. He spent 34 years in public education, 21 as a teacher/coach, 3 as a high school principal, and 10 as a district level administrator. Upon leaving the public school system, he worked for 5 years for The Family Resource Center, teaching parenting classes and working with the MAVP Program to assist non-custodial fathers to attain visitation rights.
Jeff is no stranger to RRC, having been married to Tina Finch, who has been at RRC for over 29 years, and currently heads up the Dyslexia Department, for the past 37 years. Jeff joined the team at Regional Rehab in September 2022 to work with the newly formed Proverbs Center. Aimed at expanding the dyslexia department through partnering with neighboring schools, Jeff is very excited to be a part of The Proverbs Center. He enjoys the opportunity to liaise with local schools, as well as being part of a program aimed at helping school age children reach their potential.
Twila Goolsby spent 35 years in public education and recently spent 2 years retired before joining the dyslexia team at Regional Rehabilitation Center. She taught special education in all grade levels and provided homebound services for special education students for many years. In 2012, Twila earned a master’s degree in dyslexia therapy from Mississippi College and in 2014, she earned a degree in educational leadership by completing the MAPQSL program through MDE. Until retirement, she served as Director of Curriculum, Director of Pre-K, Dyslexia Consultant, and Assistant Superintendent. Currently, Twila is employed by Regional Rehabilitation Center to provide dyslexia therapy at New Albany Elementary School three days a week. Twila is extremely excited about this opportunity. She has seen how dyslexia therapy can change a person’s life, and she believes that will be true for the students she is currently working with. Twila has two children: Grant, who is a school administrator, and Beth, who is a dyslexia therapist, and she enjoys spending as much time as possible being Twilly to her four grandchildren.
