Dyslexia Center of Austin Board
Ginny Druart
President
Ginny Druart is a lifelong Austinite with deep roots in Central Texas. She was a classroom teacher for 14 years, teaching 2nd and 3rd grades. Four years ago, she left the classroom and became a school librarian - her dream job! Ginny's passion is working with kids with learning differences and helping them develop their passions and overcome challenges. She has two adult children who both experienced learning differences in elementary school. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Education from Texas State University, and a School Librarian certification from the University of North Texas.
Tara Cevallos, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI
Treasurer
Tara Cevallos received her dyslexia therapist training at the Scottish Rite Dyslexia Center of Austin and became a Certified Academic Language Therapist and Licensed Dyslexia Therapist in 2010. Tara is the Principal at St. Austin Catholic School. Prior, Tara was the Academic Learning Specialist and Director of Curriculum at St. Austin Catholic School, where she was responsible for the dyslexia intervention, Language Arts curriculum coordination and professional development, RtI administration, school-wide accommodations coordination, and Title I management. Tara has a Master’s in Special Education, Specializing in Dyslexia through MSU Texas. She is a Qualified Instructor and member of ALTA and IDA.
Alice Marsel, M.A., LDT, CALT-QI
Secretary
Alice Marsel received her BS in Special Education from Syracuse University and MA in Education from the University of Alabama in Birmingham has been a Certified Academic Language Therapist for over 35 years and a Qualified Instructor for more than 25 years. She previously served as a Master Instructor and Program Director at Payne Education Center in Oklahoma City and Director of Education at Scottish Rite Dyslexia Center of Austin until its closing. She is a co-founding board member of the Dyslexia Center of Austin. Now in private practice, Alice has worked in numerous private schools in Texas and Oklahoma City as well as in private practice throughout her career. She is an active member of the Academic Language Association (ALTA) and co-chair of the South Region of the Texas ALTA Chapter. She has been involved with the International Multisensory Language Education Council (IMSLEC) for over ten years and has been a member of the IMSLEC Accreditation Committee since 2010.
Kara Salmanson
Board Member
Kara Salmanson is a licensed attorney with over 20 years of experience in the public sector. She currently works as an attorney at the Texas Department of Insurance. Before joining TDI, Kara worked for six years in the Texas Health and Human Services Commission contract division and eleven years as Assistant General Counsel of the Texas Department of Agriculture in the agency’s Food and Nutrition Division. Kara is the proud parent of two young adults with neurodivergent diagnoses.
Jason Meeker
Board Member
Jason Meeker is a marketing and public relations consultant in Austin, Texas. He serves clients in technology, financial services, real estate, energy, restaurants, and public affairs. He helps clients get news coverage, gain new customers, improve reputations, pull through a crisis, raise needed funds, build public support, or win votes.
Karyn Simmons
Board Member
Karyn Simmons is a Certified Academic Language Therapist and Dyslexia Therapist who works with students across Austin in both private and public school settings. Her journey to becoming a CALT began as a passionate literacy volunteer for over 12 years in her neighborhood elementary school, where she was introduced to the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching struggling readers. The research-based, structured literacy approach appealed to her analytical mind, and she embraced it as a key to helping the bright but struggling students she had met during her years of volunteering. Prior to becoming a CALT, Karyn managed global communications programs for 3M, Dell, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. She earned a dual Bachelor's in Business Administration and Information Technology from the Illinois Institute of Technology and her dyslexia therapist training from the Dyslexia Center of Austin. Karyn is a member of ALTA and IDA.