our story

The Laverys dreamed St. Johns Reading Room (SJRR) into existence in 2019. SJRR originated from a firm belief that teaching students with reading difficulties and disabilities is a dire need, with far too many students left struggling without proper intervention.

As co-founders, Emily and Mike Lavery created St. Johns Reading Room to address that problem by providing reading intervention with a program that has a systematic and explicit curriculum, multi-sensory methods, and highly effective practices. SJRR believes ALL students can overcome difficulties when given high-quality, individualized instruction that addresses their needs.

Both Emily and Mike are highly effective Florida-certified educators specializing in the treatment of reading disabilities. They completed their bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education and master’s degrees in Special Education side-by-side at the University of Florida. Each holds teaching certifications for Elementary K-6 and Special Education K-12, as well as ESOL and Reading endorsements.

The couple has extensive training in reading difficulties, disabilities, and dyslexia. They are trained in the Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program for Reading, Spelling and Speech (LiPS), as well as Orton-Gillingham (OG). St. Johns Reading Room uses a blend of the best practices of the Science of Reading to create a program that is enjoyable and effective for all learners.

Over time, SJRR grew from one room in the Laverys’ home into the St. Johns Reading Room facility that exists today. SJRR currently has five full-time teachers and a total of over 60 active students who are receiving reading intervention services. St. Johns Reading Room has become known not only for the high-quality of instruction but for the love and care that is poured into each student and family.