The St. Johns
Reading Room Team

Mrs. Emily smiling and wearing colorful "read" earrings, with a bookshelf in the background.

Mrs. Emily

Founder / Admin

With her master’s degree in Special Education and Reading Disabilities from the University of Florida. She brought years of experience as a 3rd grade and ESE Reading teacher to her vision for SJRR. 

Trained in LiPS and OG, Emily utilized the strengths of each program to create the SJRR curriculum. She has poured her passion for students into developing a truly one-of-a-kind program. 

Mr. Mike wearing a blue striped polo shirt and khaki pants, standing in front of shelves filled with books and magazine boxes in a library or bookstore setting.

Mr. MIKE

Founder / Teacher

Side-by-side with Emily in earning his bachelor’s in Elementary Education and master’s in Special Education from the University of Florida, Mike taught 1st and 2nd grade for 8 years before joining SJRR full-time. 

Mike combines his expertise in reading education along with a love of connecting with students to help them achieve their reading goals. 

Mrs. Jackie smiling, dressed in a red floral dress, standing in front of a bookshelf filled with colorful books.

Mrs. Jackie

Teacher (Co-op)

With her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and 25 years as an educator, Mrs. Jackie brings a wide range of experience to SJRR. She has taught kindergarten through 6th grade, along with serving as director at a preschool.

Mrs. Jackie is teaching our Homeschool Co-op groups! She loves fostering successful learning environments to help students build strong literacy skills.

Mrs. Pam wearing a sleeveless blue floral top, a beige skirt, and gold earrings, standing in front of a bookshelf filled with colorful books.

Mrs. Pam

Teacher (1-on-1)

With her master’s in Education, Pam brought her expertise to The Bolles School where she was an elementary educator for 24 years. During her time there, Mrs. Pam earned the Jessie Ball DuPont award four times for high-quality teaching.

Her warmth and compassion towards her students is evident from the moment you meet her. She loves the growth and transformation that 1-on-1 intervention can provide!

Ms. Shanda wearing a red cardigan, white top, and a colorful skirt, standing in front of a bookshelf filled with books.

Ms. Shanda

Teacher (1-on-1)

A fellow Gator, Ms. Shanda earned her bachelor’s in English Literature. She went on to achieve a master’s degree in Childhood Education and Special Education. Ms. Shanda utilized this background as a kindergarten and ESE teacher for 7 years.

Her warm and encouraging nature creates an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and motivated.

Ms. Heather wearing a white blouse, smiling with her hand on her hip, in front of a bookshelf filled with books.

Ms. HEATHER

Teacher (1-on-1)

After earning her bachelor’s in Education from the University of North Florida, Ms. Heather was a teacher at Duval County Public Schools for 17 years. Prior to this, she worked as founder and instructor at a martial arts school for 22 years.

Drawing from her years of experience, Ms. Heather believes patience, consistency, and encouragement are key to helping every child thrive.

Mrs. Kristen smiling and leaning on a wooden table inside a bookstore with shelves filled with colorful books in the background.

Mrs. KRISTEN

Admin

Mrs. Kristen is our Administrative Assistant and the friendly face when you step into St. Johns Reading Room in the mornings. With a background in early childhood education, the arts, and running a business, she loves supporting students, families, and our teachers while making our center a welcoming place for young readers to thrive.

Mrs. Jen, wearing a colorful floral dress with a V-neckline and puffed sleeves, stands with her right hand on her hip in front of a bookshelf with various books. She is smiling gently and wearing blue earrings and a smartwatch on her left wrist.

Mrs. Jen

Admin

Mrs. Jen is our Administrative Assistant and the friendly face when you step into St. Johns Reading Room in the afternoons. She brings years of experience as a paraprofessional to her role at SJRR. Our students look forward to seeing Mrs. Jen before beginning their sessions.