Kimberly McCotter

Owner, Program Director

Owner and private reading instructor Kimberly McCotter has been working with individuals of all ages struggling with dyslexia and other learning disabilities for 12 years. She has a passion for education and believes that every person has the ability to overcome his or her academic struggles. She opened Turning Leaf Literacy Center in July 2005 and has been serving on the Alaska Branch of the International Dyslexia Association since 2008.
Kimberly has a fantastic husband and two wonderful boys who all play an important role at Turning Leaf. Her hobbies (other than work) include baking, exercise, and spending time with her family. Her passion for helping others find success is the foundation for Turning Leaf Literacy Center.

Clinician

Talia is currently a full-time student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, pursuing her degree in Social Work. She has a passion for working with children and loves helping them grown, learn, and overcome challenges. One day, she plans to use her degree to help and support many other children. When Talia is not working with students, she enjoys hiking with her dog, reading, playing music, and spending quality time with her family.

Clinician

Anna was born and raised in Alaska. She has just moved back home after completing a BS in Psychology at Western Washington University. This background gives her insight into cognitive development and the neuroscience of learning disorders. Anna has firsthand experience as well, she herself has dyslexia and ADHD. She completed a reading tutoring program comparable to what Turning Leaf offers during seventh and eighth grade which is what led to her passion for literacy and teaching. Anna lives in Wasilla with her husband, her three year old son and her cat. When not teaching, she is trying to keep up with her wild toddler. She enjoys fantasy, sci-fi and historical fiction novels. Her goal is to impart the same love of reading to your child that her tutoring experience provided her. Anna believes that learning should be fun, exciting and uniquely tailored to each child’s learning needs.

Instructor and Clinical Manager

Elizabeth was born in Nevada but raised in Alaska. She is a part-time student at the University of Alaska – Anchorage. Since starting her work at Turning Leaf Literacy Center, Elizabeth has developed a new found passion for speech and language development. She loves working with children and watching them master new concepts. When she is not studying or working Elizabeth enjoys: reading fantasy novels, painting, and hanging out with her two rambunctious Pomeranians.

Instructor

Kristin Willberg moved to Alaska in the fall of 2020 from northern Minnesota. After earning a B.S. in Elementary and Middle School Education at the University of North Dakota, she taught for twenty-five years. Kristin’s education experience includes working as a substitute, teaching junior high language arts and social studies, tutoring, coaching extracurricular speech, and advising numerous activities. Kristin enjoys reading, crafting, watching hockey, and fishing. She lives in Wasilla with her husband, three daughters and two golden retrievers. 

Instructor

Eulalie started teaching at Fairhill Christian School in Fairbanks, Alaska, but spent most of her career in a one-room school house in North Pole, Alaska. She earned her master’s in educational leadership at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon. For the past 10 years, Eulalie has worked as a private tutor for an international business couple, teaching their daughter and traveling the world with them as needed. Eulalie is a thrice published author, with one educational work on how to teach writing and two Christian works on the Person of the Holy Spirit.

Instructor

Angelle grew up in Louisiana then moved to Alaska at 16 years old. After high school, she spent 4 years in Idaho to complete a BA in General Studies at Northwest Nazarene University.

Angelle tutored students with dyslexia & various learning disabilities for several years in Anchorage prior to working at Turning Leaf. She also helped one of her sons with dyslexia to navigate through school & on to college.

She lives in Chugiak with her three amazing sons (including twins) and a sweet little dog.

Instructor

Macy recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and will begin classes this fall as she pursues her dream of becoming a Speech-Language pathologist. She has a heart for helping children build confidence and reach their fullest potential in all areas of life.

Though not from Alaska, Macy considers it home and tries to make the most of everything Alaska has to offer. Her hobbies include playing pickle ball, baking, board gaming, and anything with animals.

She is excited to be part of the Turning Leaf team and to encourage students as they grow into confident readers.

Instructor

Emily finds joy in leading children to the sense of accomplishment that comes when a tough concept finally “clicks”. She aims to preserve curiosity and grow confidence in all her students.

Currently, Emily is taking classes at the University of Alaska Anchorage in pursuit of an eventual Doctorate of Occupational Therapy. Her intent is to use this degree to continue helping children develop skills that lead to self-reliance.

Rainy days are Emily’s favorites because they give her an excuse to curl up inside with a mystery book or a crochet project. She also loves music, spending time with her family, and studying her scriptures.

Office Administrator, Instructor

Analiseah has been a part of Turning Leaf Literacy Center since 2024, serving as the Director of First Impressions. Her passion for education and the joy of seeing students learn and grow have inspired her to pursue a career in teaching.

Coming from a family of educators, Analiseah has always valued the importance of learning and is proud to continue that tradition. She is dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for students and families while supporting every child’s educational journey.

Outside of work, Analiseah enjoys spending time with her husband and their dog, Kiwi. Together, they love going on adventures, especially camping and hiking. In her free time, she also enjoys baking delicious treats and expressing her creativity through painting.