Teaching Teachers and Empowering Parents

2024 Winter Newsletter

From the President

Grace Sharma

I am humbled and excited to begin my term as President of IDA NorCal. We started the year by celebrating our 45th anniversary at our annual meeting in late January. Members and guests enjoyed a festive brunch at Northbridge Academy in Mill Valley. It was impressive to hear about the long and rich history of our IDA branch and a joy to celebrate with our first in-person annual meeting since the pandemic...continue reading

Maryanne Wolf Workshop Coming April 27th

Join IDA NorCal on Saturday April 27, 2024, at 11 a.m. for a virtual, interactive presentation with renowned literacy expert Maryanne Wolf. Details are being finalized, so watch your inbox for more information. An advocate for children and literacy around the world, Wolf directs UCLA’s Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice in the School of Education and Information Studies. She has authored more than 160 publications and books, including Proust and the Squid and Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World.

Honored for Outstanding Community Service

As is customary at the annual meeting, IDA NorCal honored two individuals for their extraordinary efforts to improve the lives of those with dyslexia...continue reading

Education advocacy attorney Deborah Jacobson and Decoding Dyslexia CA Co-Director Lori DePole

Meet Our New Leadership Team

IDA NorCal welcomed new officers and directors at the annual meeting in January. Our new president, Grace Sharma, has previously served as secretary and president-elect. Accepting another term as officers are Vice President Jennifer Parker, Secretary Beth Lucey, and Treasurer Erin Berg. We have also welcomed three new board members: Moriah Geller, Lisa Krackov, and Tiffany Obayashi. Read more about our talented and enthusiastic directors here.

Summer offers time and opportunity to hone your structured literacy skills. Whether you are looking for an introductory course or more advanced levels, options are out there! Check our listing of courses here. (An asterisk identifies programs that are eligible for IDA NorCal scholarship support.) Also consider the California Dyslexia Initiative’s free online conference June 11-12, 2024, where a range of speakers will discuss screening, intervention and instruction in an MTSS framework.

New Legislative Push for Science of Reading

Too many California students lack basic literacy skills. One way to address this is to make sure all schools are using evidence-based reading programs. Assemblymember Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), a former elementary teacher, has introduced AB 2222, which will be considered by the Assembly Education Committee this spring. The bill would ensure that a comprehensive evidence-based approach to teaching reading is used in California elementary schools. Learn more about the bill and ways to support it here.

IDA NorCal

PO Box 487

Brentwood, CA 94513

1-650-328-7667