About Word Warrior Academy
Word Warrior Academy Leadership
Patricia Elkins, M.S.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI
Patricia Elkins is a dedicated Dyslexia Therapist based in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is passionate about transforming the lives of children with dyslexia through academic language therapy. As a Qualified Instructor (QI) and therapist at Little Rock Christian Academy, Patricia specializes in dyslexia intervention and plays a pivotal role in improving literacy outcomes for her students.
Professional Journey
Currently, Patricia is actively engaged in a significant initiative as a QI, working with a team of instructors through a grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Arkansas. The mission is to train 500 Certified Academic Language Therapists (CALTs) for public schools, impacting dyslexia remediation and professional services in the state.
Leadership and Advocacy
Patricia's commitment to advancing literacy extends beyond the classroom. She is the current President-Elect of the National Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA). She has served as the Vice President of Practice on the ALTA Board, where she also chaired the Chapters Committee and contributed to various national committees. Her journey into chapter leadership began during her tenure as President of ALTA-AR, during which time she discovered a profound passion for building a network of professionals dedicated to meeting the needs of individuals with dyslexia.
Passionate Educator
Patricia's enthusiasm for teaching individuals impacted by dyslexia to read goes beyond her professional endeavors. She believes in the power of education and the strength of ALTA credentialing to shape the future. She is committed to nurturing and growing a supportive community of highly trained ATLA professionals who share her vision for enhancing dyslexia remediation for every child.Through her multifaceted roles as a dyslexia therapist, qualified instructor, and leader within the academic community, Patricia Elkins continues to impact the lives of students and educators alike. Her dedication to dyslexia remediation and creating networks for professionals reflects her unwavering commitment to fostering a brighter future through education.
Jill Henrich, M.Ed., CALT-QI
Jill Henrich, M.Ed., CALT-QI
Jill has been working at Little Rock Christian Academy for 15 years, serving children in reading and mathematics. Since becoming a CALT in 2017, she has been working to make a difference in children's lives by providing a proven, structured, sequential, and systematic intervention program for her students who struggle with reading and spelling.
Professional Journey
Jill has been working as a CALT-QI through a grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Arkansas. Recently, Jill and Patricia have been training teachers to become CALTs or CALPs at Little Rock Christian Academy, working with both public school educators as well as teachers from their school. Jill is trained in Alphabetic Phonics through LEAD and Kay Peterson out of Dallas. She was re-trained in Take Flight and has gone to Scottish Rite for Children Hospital in Dallas for continued training in their new programs (JET, BUILD, & Turbo). She, in turn, trains other professionals to take these programs back to their classrooms.
Leadership and Advocacy
Jill served as Treasurer of ALTA-AR for several terms and is currently on several committees for the National Academic Language Therapy Association, serving as Chairman of the CE Events committee.
Passionate Educator
Jill believes that every child can achieve success in reading and spelling. A quote from Maryanne Wolf speaks directly to her philosophy of dyslexia intervention, "Dyslexia is a different brain organization that needs different teaching methods. It is never the fault of the child, but rather the responsibility of us who teach to find methods that work for that child."