Melissa Duersch is the founder and Director of Brightwire Dyslexia Resource Clinic in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.  Her story is really the story of her son, Jesse.

 

Jesse struggled to learn his alphabet, his letter sounds, and his sight words.  He struggled with counting, adding, and subtracting.  On Fridays, Melissa would often find his spelling test ripped to shreds in the bottom of his backpack.

 

In the second grade, Jesse was pulled out for extra help in reading.  Melissa asked the resource teacher, "What can we do to help him catch up?"  But the school didn't have the answers. 

 

Melissa took Jesse out of second grade.  She taught him at home, using a fabulous phonics program.  The one-on-one environment was helpful, but Melissa still did not have the right tools. 

 

In third grade, Jesse returned to school.  He had caught up to his peers in reading, but he did not progress.  Near the end of third grade, a family friend suggested, "Could it be dyslexia?"

 

Melissa's research began.  She learned about dyslexia: the causes, warning signs, and remediation.  She became trained to tutor Jesse in the Barton Reading and Spelling System.  She tutored Jesse, and it worked.

 

Melissa worked with other children in her neighborhood, received additional training, and became a Certified Barton Tutor.  Melissa has now worked with many students, from kindergarten through high school.

 

She has also written four chapter books for the Barton Reading and Spelling System.

 

In the summer of 2009, Melissa received graduate-level training from Susan Barton, in association with the University of San Diego, in Diagnosing Dyslexia. She also completed a practicum, earning her the title of Certified Dyslexia Testing Specialist.

 

Since earning her certification, she has tested over 30 students.

 

To make quality, research-based tutoring more accessible, Melissa is pleased to announce the opening of her clinic in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.  Additional, highly qualified teachers will be available to provide tutoring services to struggling students.

 

Melissa holds a Master of Arts degree in History from Utah State University, which she earned in 1996.  She taught history at Mercer County Community College in New Jersey.