A Fellow!

Lauren Mitsis, F/OGA

Becoming an Orton-Gillingham Fellow: A Journey Toward Expertise

I am a PROUD Orton-Gillingham FELLOW as of October 2024! Learning from amazing Fellows, Mary and Lisa, has been the most transformative professional experience. I am so fortunate to have had not one, but two, fabulous Fellows pouring into me for the past three years. Thank you Mary and Lisa! 💜 

As educators and tutors, we’re always striving to improve our skills and offer the most effective, evidence-based support for our students. One of the most distinguished ways to demonstrate mastery in the field of literacy and specialized learning is through the Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach. For those who want to take their knowledge and teaching abilities to the next level, becoming an Orton-Gillingham Fellow represents a remarkable accomplishment. 

What Does it Mean to be an Orton-Gillingham Fellow?

Becoming an Orton-Gillingham Fellow is the highest level of certification within the Orton-Gillingham Academy. The OG approach is a structured, multisensory, and individualized method of teaching reading, spelling, and writing. The journey to this level of expertise is rigorous, involving extensive training, classroom hours, and a deep understanding of the science behind literacy development.

An Orton-Gillingham Fellow is someone who not only understands the core principles of the OG approach but has also demonstrated advanced proficiency in applying those principles across diverse student populations and is equipped to train other educators to use the OG approach. Fellows are armed with the knowledge to adapt and personalize instruction to meet the needs of all students- both educators and literacy learners.

Becoming an OG Fellow is not the end of the road for me; as you might guess, it’s a lifelong commitment to learning. Fellows engage in continuous professional development to stay current on research, best practices, and strategies that will help them support their students even better. I am also deeply committed to maintaining an expertise in supporting learners with executive function vulnerabilities. 

For now, I am celebrating and savoring this accomplishment. You can see me walking into each learning space with an extra hop in my step! I am also filled with humility to join the ranks of dedicated, knowledgeable professional who came before me and grateful to walk along the side of educators who make a difference every day.

Onwards and upwards…. until all can read!