RAYNA G. WEINER, M.ED.
Owner/Executive Director
Licensed Intervention Specialist
Certified Orton Gillingham Practitioner- FIT/OGA
Rayna holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Therapy and a Master's Degree in Special Education. She is a licensed Intervention Specialist K-12 and has 20 years of experience working with students with Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities. Rayna also has extensive training in teaching reading, including Certified Level Orton Gillingham Method of Instruction through the Orton-Gillingham Academy & Wilson Language System Level I.
Rayna has experience as a classroom resource teacher, inclusion special education teacher, school-wide literacy coach, and private intervention specialist. Currently, along with 1:1 and small group tutoring, Rayna is assisting and co-teaching Associate and Certified Level Courses for teachers through the Orton-Gillingham Academy.
Rayna resides in Bexley, OH with her husband who is a professor at The Ohio State University and her two sons, ages 11 and 8. When she isn't teaching or reading she enjoys decorating cakes and spending time with her family.
JESSICA BENNETT, PH.D
Intervention Specialist
Jessica Bennett is the Director of Mindful Literacy Columbus, 501C3 and the Principal of Mindful Literacy Practice, LLC. She has a passion for literacy learning--especially writing and spelling--and holds a Ph.D. in Special Education from The Ohio State University, where her focus was on reading fluency. She holds Orton-Gillingham credentials with AOGPE and studies Linguistics with Gina Cooke of LEX and Michel of Real Spelling. She hosts a podcast for parents and teachers called: The Mindful Literacy Podcast, which focuses on all things special education, literacy education, and mindfulness practices. "Dr. Bennett" is thrilled to be partnering with Columbus Tutoring Services.
JOANN DEVANY, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
JoAnn Devany is a physical therapist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She works in both the outpatient and homecare settings. There she assists children and their families to improve each child’s strength, balance, mobility, and independence within their home and community with an individualized approach. JoAnn received her Bachelor’s of Science in Biology degree at Saint Peter’s University (Jersey City, NJ) and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, CT).
In her free time, JoAnn enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring trails and parks with her dog, Shadow, traveling to new places, baking, and volunteering at various organizations around Columbus!
JANINE CONWAY
Intervention Specialist
For the past twenty years as an Intervention Specialist, Janine has worked with students in grades K-9, building skills in reading writing and math. However, her favorite area to teach is reading, especially early literacy skills. Through the Academy of Orton Gillingham Practitioners and Educators, Janine completed training through the Associate level. She uses The Orton Gillingham approach to some degree with all of her students.
When she has free time Janine enjoys gardening, playing the piano, and vacationing with her family in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
CHELSEY COSSMAN
Intervention Specialist
Chelsey Cossman is licensed in Secondary Language Arts Education grades 7-12 and in Special Education Mild/Moderate Intervention grades K-12. She is currently in her tenth year as an educator; eight years were spent teaching Language Arts in the Columbus region for grades 9-12, one year at The Ohio State School for the Blind in a moderate to intensive unit with students with multiple disabilities, and is currently an Intervention Specialist in Upper Arlington City Schools. At UAHS, she supports students with specific learning disabilities, executive functioning skills, behavioral and emotional regulation skills, and anxiety. Chelsey is passionate about supporting students in building their literacy skills while helping each and every student discover their full potential to become a life-long learner.
Chelsey is originally from the Cincinnati area but has lived in Columbus for almost a decade now. She earned two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Cincinnati in 2011, one in English Literature and one in Secondary Language Arts Education, with a minor in Spanish. She earned her master’s in Special Education: Mild/Moderate Intervention from The Ohio State University in 2016. The Licking Heights Education Association, a district where she was formerly employed, named her Teacher of the Year 2014-2015, which she considers one of her biggest accomplishments to date. She enjoys spending time with her five pets (two dogs and three cats), reading voraciously, crafting, and laughing loudly and often.
MARY OLIVER
Intervention Specialist
Mary holds a Bachelor's Degree from Wheelock College in Boston, MA in Early Childhood Education and Moderate Special Needs. She also holds her Master's Degree in Teaching Reading from The University of Dayton. She continues to stay abreast of the latest research in teaching reading by taking classes and webinars. She has a permanent license as an Intervention Specialist K-12 in both Ohio and Massachusetts. She has 37 years of experience working with students with Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities. Mary has extensive training in teaching reading, writing and math including training with the Orton-Gillingham Method from Brainspring. She uses Orton-Gillingham methods in some capacity with each of her students. Mary has experience as a classroom resource teacher, inclusion special education teacher, and private intervention specialist.
After 37 years of teaching in private and public schools, Mary retired from public school education. Because teaching students with learning difficulties is her passion, she continues to share her skills with students and families throughout Ohio. She resides in Clayton, OH with her husband, her labradoodle, Sadie, and her cat, Cece. When she isn't teaching reading, writing or math, Mary enjoys camping in her motorhome with her family, hiking with her dog, and visiting with friends and family.
SHARONA HOSPODAR, MA, BCBA, COBA
Intervention Specialist
Sharona Hospodar is passionate about helping students with learning difficulties. She believes all children can learn and succeed. She attended The Ohio State University where she received a Bachelor of Science in special education. She also received her Master of Art in special education with an emphasis in applied behavior analysis (ABA) at OSU.
Sharona holds two licensures in special education: mild to moderate & moderate to severe. She is also a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and a certified Ohio behavior analyst (COBA).
Sharona has worked as a classroom teacher and supporting students in a 1:1 ratio.
JARED KREMPELS
Intervention Specialist
Jared is a licensed intervention specialist in Whitehall where he runs the Autism Support Program for students at the elementary level. The students receive instruction and support for all academic areas, as well as social skills and behavior skills. He enjoys working with all students, regardless of need, to see them make improvement and believes that all children can make progress if given the right tools.
Jared graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. He enjoys watching sports, riding his bike, and spending time with his family. Jared is married and has 2 children.