THE ELA STORY
At Evans Literacy Associates (ELA), we believe that reading is more than just a skill - it is a gateway to opportunity, confidence, and independence. “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free,” said Frederick Douglass, and this truth continues to resonate today. Reading has the power to unlock minds and futures, yet too many children and adults struggle with this essential ability.
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As educators and parents, we have seen the challenges that struggling readers face firsthand. We understand the frustration of a child who wants to learn but can’t seem to keep up with their peers. We recognize the silent struggle of adolescents and adults who avoid reading because the words never seem to come together. In our schools, we watched as students fell through the cracks, not because teachers didn’t care, but because true evidence-based interventions were not readily available.
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Despite the increasing awareness of dyslexia and severe reading deficits, we found that even in elementary education, many teachers lack the knowledge needed to differentiate between struggling readers and those with deeper learning difficulties and how to intervene appropriately. Schools often do not have the resources or training to provide the necessary support, small group size, and targeted evidence-based curriculum, so parents are left searching for answers. Our region, like much of the state, has lacked a comprehensive resource that reaches out to parents, students, and schools alike, offering guidance, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment in one place.
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We started ELA because of the gaps in services, knowledge, and outreach that we have seen firsthand. We want to change that. We are lifelong learners, educators, and advocates who are committed to bringing research-based literacy support to those who need it most. At ELA, we don’t just want to teach reading; we find root causes of reading deficits and work with students holistically (with occupational and speech therapy and executive functioning coaching) to help them thrive. “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies,” George R.R. Martin once wrote. This is the awakening we strive to bring to every learner who walks through our doors, no matter their age or background.
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We believe that literacy is a right, not a privilege. Every student, from the youngest struggling reader to the adult who has always longed to learn, deserves access to the kind of specialized, structured support that can change their trajectory. At ELA, we don’t just help people read—we help them find their voice, their confidence, and their future. If you or someone you love needs literacy support, we invite you to join us in this life-changing work.
Because when a person learns to read, the possibilities are endless.
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~Allison and Crystal
Mission
Evans Literacy is dedicated to identifying and addressing the root causes of learning difficulties in reading, speech and language, writing, and mathematics. Through a comprehensive, cognitive-based approach, we collaborate across disciplines, including reading specialists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists. Through this collaboration, we will provide individualized, multisensory, and evidence-based instruction. Our mission is to accelerate student progress and build confident, capable learners through targeted instruction and intervention that produces meaningful, measurable outcomes.
Values
1. Root Cause Focus
2. Evidence-Based Practices
3. Cognitive, Individualized, and Holistic Approach
4. Interdisciplinary Collaboration
5. Accelerated and Results Driven Outcomes
6. Instructional Excellence
7. Student Confidence and Motivation Enhancement
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Meet the Team
Our Interventionists
We take pride in our team of dedicated interventionists.
More that just tutors, these certified teachers understand the current demands of students in the classroom and are knowledgeable and skilled in the areas of reading, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, math, attention, and developmental language skills.
