About Mary
I’m Mary Saghafi, a certified elementary and special education teacher, dyslexia advocate, and podcast host in Atlanta, GA.
Wife and mother of two, my happy place is an outdoor patio with family, friends, and good food. I cherish learning, friendship, creativity, and connection.
Experience
I have helped close to 100 families build a bridge between home and school with 1:1 tutoring, advocacy, and parent coaching. My training is in Orton-Gillingham methodology (AOGPE), which is an explicit, systematic, prescriptive, and multisensory approach to teaching reading. I have 10+ years of classroom teaching experience working with students with learning disabilities as a special education teacher and kindergarten teacher. In 2018, I completed my certification for Dyslexia Advocacy through the Dyslexia Training Institute.
Approach
My teaching style is based on humor and acceptance. I believe that students must be engaged in order to perform to their full potential. Engagement begins with feeling safe, asking questions, and feeling confident. The key to helping students find success is to help them develop a sense of self. When students can identify their own learning styles, they can begin to take ownership of their learning. I believe that students at a very young age can learn to advocate for accommodations that are best suited to their learning style. In all my work, I focus on building self-esteem and confidence, and on activities that nurture independence.
Listen for more…
The podcast I co-host with my good teacher friend, Shannon Betts. Come listen in on our professional conversations about all things literacy.
Education & Training
BA Elementary Education, Saint Mary’s College (2006)
M. Ed. Special Education, University of Pittsburgh (2009)
Orton-Gillingham Teacher Certification- 70 hours, Fellow Norma McHugh, AOGPE (2011)
Dyslexia Advocate Certification, Dyslexia Training Institute (2018)