About the Presenters

Lorna Simmons is a former special education teacher and author of Saxon Phonics and Spelling. Combining her years of formal training and classroom experience with her personal struggles to guide her own son to reading success, Lorna developed an immersive spelling and phonics program that has since helped over four million readers in all 50 states experience reading success. Lorna continues to work with schools to find ways to make the lessons more accommodating to the needs of teachers.

Michele Lynch, M.Ed., National Content Specialist at Heinemann Publishing, is a highly experienced classroom teacher, school founder, and leader with a remarkable career spanning over 20 years. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to making a significant impact in the lives of children within education in service to advancing equity and fostering innovation within education. Michele’s career in education began in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she taught elementary school for 11 years in a diverse range of settings. In 2012, Michele helped found Bricolage Academy, an open-enrollment school with a mission to advance equity and create innovators. Under her leadership, Bricolage Academy quickly became one of the most sought-after public charter schools in New Orleans. Michele is a highly respected educator and instructional leader. Her extensive experience as a teacher and principal, coupled with her commitment to equity and innovation, have made her a driving force in the field of education.