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.

Instructor

Dawn Noble has passionately taught in the valley for 27 years. She has an AAS in early Childhood development. In 2007 she began her work with Turning Leaf Literacy Center and attended a Lindamood- Bell® workshop. She has been with Turning Leaf since then working with students in the areas of reading, math, and comprehension.

Instructor

Samantha was born and raised in Alaska. After graduating from high school, she attended Northern Arizona University. In Arizona, she earned a BIS in Interdisciplinary Studies in Speech Language Sciences and Technology, and a BA in French. Her goal is to help students reach their fullest potential and learn to use all of their resources as new and emerging learners. In her free time, Sam loves to travel, be outside, and spend time with friends and family.

Instructor

Madlen was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria. There, she graduated from the capital’s most elite German immersion high school, after which she attended university in Trier, Germany, where she studied Art History, Psychology, and English. After her husband’s employment through the USAF brought their growing family to Alaska, she graduated Cum Laude from UAA with a BS in Psychology. She is now pursuing a graduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders (Speech and Language Pathology) through East Carolina University.

Since 2013, Madlen has been homeschooling her own two children. Her goals are to help any student establish a can-do attitude, build a set of productive problem-solving habits, and maximize their potential.

When she is not studying, teaching, or spending time with her family, Madlen enjoys immersing herself in a good Sci-Fi or fantasy novel while enjoying the company of her silly dog, two pretentious cats, or three incurably curious rats.

Instructor

Kaitlynn was born in Texas but has lived all over the world. She moved to Alaska in 2013, and now considers it her home. She has known from a very young age that she wanted to be a teacher. She is currently pursuing a degree in Elementary Education at UAA.

Working with kids is her passion! She strives to provide a safe, interactive, and fun learning environment for all kids! Kaitlynn is also the KOTR 2nd through 5th grade Elementary Director. She wants to help every child succeed. When she is not working, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family!

Instructor

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.

Clinician

Haley was born and raised in Ketchikan Alaska. She is currently pursuing a Bachelores of English Literature with a minor in Creative Writing at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Haley is passionate about helping students to build confidence and independence through education.

She enjoys spending time with friends, family and pets. She also loves to read and write in a variety of styles and genres but especially loves poetry. 

Clinician

Amanda was born and raised in Alaska. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a BS in Psychology and Communication Disorders and Sciences. She is continuing her education with the University of Oregon by pursuing her Master of Science to become a Speech and Language
Pathologist. Amanda is passionate about providing children with the tools to achieve success in their educational journeys. 

Anchorage Clinical Director

Celia was born and raised in Central California and has moved to Anchorage Alaska to attend UAA for a BS and Minor in Speech and Language Pathology. She is an undergrad member of Alaska’s first NSSLHA (National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association) Chapter of 2019.

Though she is enjoying her first year in Alaska, she is missing her big family of 8 siblings back home in sunny California. When she is not working as the Anchorage clinical director or in school she loves hiking, jazz ensembles (where she plays standup bass and sings), and wood crafting.

Instructor

Kailey was born and raised in Alaska. She is currently attending the University of Alaska Anchorage for a bachelors degree in Health Sciences with a minor in Speech Language Pathology. Kailey is passionate about helping children develop speech and language skills. She spends her spare time outside with her two pups and enjoys camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, and pretty much everything Alaska has to offer. She is also a wedding musician and loves to play her harp alongside her sisters in a musical trio.

Instructor

Tierra was born and raised in Palmer, Alaska and graduated as valedictorian of her class from the Alaska Middle College. She then attended the University of Alaska Southeast where she graduated magna cum laude with her Bachelor’s of Arts in Elementary Education and her Alaska teaching certification. She has a passion for education and working with students and is especially enthusiastic about reading, writing, and children’s literature.

Tierra has experience as an Alaskan educator teaching 2nd grade and loves the buzz of energy and creativity of the classroom environment. She is a travel enthusiast and loves to embark on adventures, whether within the pages of a book, throughout the splendor of Alaska, or beyond. Her favorite travel destinations are Latvia and Ireland, hiking through castle ruins or trying European pastries.

When she is not teaching, immersed in a book, or dreaming of her next travel destination, Tierra can be found walking her dog, visiting her family’s lakeside cabin, curled up with a cup of tea, or at her piano bench. She is so excited to be part of the team at Turning Leaf Literacy Center and to support Alaskan students in reaching their potential and achieving their reading goals.

Instructor, Clinician

Maia Gimm was born and raised in Alaska. She is currently pursuing a BS in Health Sciences with a minor in Speech-Language Pathology in hopes of becoming a speech pathologist.

Maia is beyond excited to be part of a team whose passions resemble her own: to help students reach their fullest potential! When she isn’t working or studying for school, Maia enjoys singing (both in choirs and as a solo performer), biking, and spending lots (and lots!) of time with friends and family.

Instructor, Clinician

Katie was born and raised in Alaska. After graduating from Chugiak High School, she attended Corban University in Salem, Oregon where she earned her BS in Elementary Education with an ESOL endorsement.

Katie has a passion for teaching, whether that be teaching English in Czech Republic, teaching music in Bulgaria, or teaching fifth grade in Oregon. She is excited to be back home in Alaska teaching at Turning Leaf Literacy Center. When she isn’t teaching, you can find Katie backpacking, hiking, rollerblading, jumping rope, or learning a new hobby.