Meet Our Teachers (backup-10/28)

Our Teachers

have outstanding qualifications and caring attitudes.

All of our teachers are Certified Teachers and are specialists in reading, many have master’s degrees and/or additional training in a particular area of instruction.

Cari O'Dea
Teacher

Cari has a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has experience working with students from preschool to 5th grade. She is currently teaching 4th grand and has previously taught kindergarten and second grade. She has completed training in the Barton Reading & Spelling system which concentrates on phonics-based literacy for individuals with Dyslexia and other learning challenges. Cari’s goal is to help all students be successful and to grow confidence in themselves and how they might impact their future.

Sally Bower
Teacher, Trainer and Assessment Specialist

Sally has over 20 years of teaching experience in Champaign, Farmer City and Monticello. Sally has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with an emphasis in reading from the University of Illinois and a Master’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University in reading. Sally received her reading recovery training from the University of Illinois. She is currently an interventionist with the Monticello School district. Ms. Bower conducts all of the student assessments for The Reading Group.

Debbie Heffernan
Teacher

Debbie graduated from Illinois State University in Normal and has an MS degree from the University of Illinois. Having taught in the Urbana School District for 33 years (grades 3-6), she especially enjoys helping students gain self-confidence in themselves as successful students. Debbie retired from Urbana Schools in June 2009, but continues to work as a substitute teacher in the district. She has been an instructor at The Reading Group since July 2009.

Michael Marks
Teacher - Trainer

Michael provides teacher training programs and specializes in working with preschool and kindergarten children who are gifted and at risk for school learning problems. He was the founder and director of the Creative Discovery School in Champaign for 12 years as well as served as an early childhood teacher at University Primary School in Champaign.

Why We Are Different

Private tutoring designed for students who learn differently.

Our Staff

Tom Eaton
Business Office Manager

Tom is a former attorney who started with the Reading Group in September 2019. He has also been the bookkeeper at the dental office of his wife, Dr. Kathy Eaton, since 2012. Tom is responsible for tracking all business transactions to include teacher and student scheduling, reporting all financials to the Board of Directors and managing all financial and scheduling transactions.

Our Core Services

Feel free to explore our core services