Every October, Dyslexia Awareness Month shines a spotlight on the unique strengths and challenges of dyslexic learners. At the heart of this movement are champion educators like Carly Swanson, Regional Tutoring Director for the Books, Bots, and Beyond Program at Dyslexic Edge and IMSE District Instructor at Falls Church City Public Schools. Carly’s journey is both deeply personal and profoundly impactful.
For Carly, education has always been personal. She was diagnosed as a student with both dyslexia and ADHD and knows firsthand how overwhelming reading can feel without the right support. Instead of letting those early challenges define her, Carly chose to turn them into her life’s purpose.
“I can promise my students that I will never ask them to read something I haven’t taught them,” Carly explains. “That simple promise builds trust and confidence. My students know they can do this.”
Carly went on to earn her Master of Education in Literacy Leadership from George Mason University and pursued certifications in Orton-Gillingham. Over the years, she has served as a first-grade teacher, curriculum lead, tutor coordinator, and literacy specialist. What sets Carly apart is her ability to validate her students’ experiences while equipping them with the tools to thrive. She brings empathy, rigor, and determination to every classroom, showing students that being dyslexic does not limit their potential.
Her personal journey is the foundation of her professional mission: to ensure that every learner has access to effective, evidence-based instruction.
Building Confidence Through Dyslexic Edge
Carly’s path led her to Dyslexic Edge during college, when she interned with the organization as part of a summer of service. She quickly recognized how well its mission aligned with her own: to empower students with dyslexia and prepare them for success in STEM fields. Over time, Carly grew into larger roles within the organization, shaping curriculum and mentoring tutors.
When she was introduced to IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham Plus training, she immediately saw its potential. After experiencing the training herself, she advocated for her colleagues to do the same. She eventually became an IMSE District Instructor, ensuring that more teachers in Falls Church City Public Schools had the tools they needed to reach struggling readers. Through her leadership, both her district and Dyslexic Edge adopted IMSE methodologies, amplifying their impact for students.
Books, Bots, and Beyond: Expanding Access
Under the IMSE Foundation umbrella, Dyslexic Edge launched the Affordable Homes and Communities (AHC) program one year ago. That initiative has since grown into Books, Bots, and Beyond, which brings IMSE-based one-on-one literacy intervention to students living in affordable housing or attending Title I schools.
The program not only strengthens literacy skills but also introduces STEM exploration to spark career curiosity and open new pathways for students who may have once felt limited by reading struggles. Twice a week, students in the AHC after-school program participate in a 45-minute STEM lesson designed to engage their creativity and problem-solving skills. This is followed by 45 minutes of one-on-one or small-group IMSE tutoring, held twice a week, where students receive targeted literacy support. Teachers are encouraged to adapt the program to their own vision and their students’ unique needs, ensuring flexibility and impact.
Currently offered in Washington D.C., the program is preparing to expand to Buffalo, New York next year, continuing to equip educators with evidence-based literacy strategies. The results so far have been remarkable. Parents and students alike are celebrating measurable gains across multiple literacy skills.
Measurable Growth and Lasting Impact
After working with IMSE, Dyslexic Edge student outcomes soared. Data from the 2024-25 school year tells the story:
- 100% of students demonstrated growth from the beginning to the end of the year.
- On average, students improved by more than 70 points across assessments.
- Foundational skills including decoding, spelling, and sentence writing showed exceptional improvement, with many students achieving over 85% of their growth in these areas.
Skill-specific highlights included significant improvements in reading words, blending sentences, identifying sounds, and writing skills. For students who once doubted their ability to read, these numbers represent much more than data. They represent confidence, independence, and hope.
Empowering Educators to Empower Students
Carly emphasizes that IMSE training benefits educators just as much as students. “IMSE increases teacher knowledge and depth,” she explains. “It gives teachers the background they need to meet every student where they are. That empowers teachers to truly make a difference.”
Through her dual role at Dyslexic Edge and Falls Church City Public Schools, Carly has become a bridge between research and practice, between personal experience and professional expertise. She embodies the mission of Dyslexic Edge and the IMSE Foundation: to create inclusive, effective, and empowering learning environments for all students.
During Dyslexia Awareness Month, Carly’s story reminds us that with the right support, every student can discover their strengths, build confidence, and unlock their potential.
If you’re interested in bringing Books, Bots, and Beyond to your city, contact Krista Gauthier, Executive Director of the IMSE Foundation and Founder of Dyslexic Edge at krista@imsefoundation.org.
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