Testemonials
Discover what parents and students have to say about their experience working with Leah Thomas, CALT
T Sheridan (verified)
Former Appraiser, and Principal at Doss Elementary, Austin ISD
Ms. Thomas is an exceptional CALT who brought both deep expertise and a collaborative spirit to our campus. Her commitment to consistent progress monitoring ensured that no student was left behind; she always had a precise pulse on student growth and individual needs. Under her skilled instruction, students emerged as confident, capable, and soaring readers.
M. Mcwilliams (verified)
Student Parent
Our son began seeing Ms. Thomas after he was diagnosed with dyslexia in the fall of 2019—just as COVID was hitting. She was incredible in getting him properly assessed and immediately began building his confidence. She continued working with all of her students remotely during what can only be described as a chaotic and uncertain time for elementary students during the pandemic. Leah’s guidance, love for her craft, and genuine care for her students helped my son build a strong foundation for learning and studying effectively. The Take Flight program was easy for our child to understand and made phonics and literacy engaging and even fun. Leah has a gift for breaking down complex concepts in a way that builds both skills and confidence. I am so happy to say that our child is now a thriving eighth-grade student earning A’s in all of his classes (3 of which are High School classes) and using his accommodations only when needed. Leah helped both our family and our son understand that accommodations are not about “cheating the system,” but about providing the tools needed to live with dyslexia and truly thrive as a student. We cannot recommend Leah more enthusiastically to families hoping to give their child a strong path forward in the often uncertain and sometimes confusing world of dyslexia.
K. Spurck (Verified)
Student Parent
My daughter has dyslexia and was incredibly fortunate to have Leah as both her early reading intervention specialist and her Take Flight teacher. Leah is an exceptional language therapist whose expertise and dedication truly make a difference. My daughter began the Take Flight program during the early months of COVID, when much of the instruction had to be delivered virtually. Despite the challenges of that time, Leah provided structured, engaging, and highly effective instruction while continuing to encourage and support her students. When classes returned to in-person learning, she maintained that same level of excellence and care. Under Leah’s guidance, my daughter flourished. She made tremendous progress in her reading and writing skills and, just as importantly, developed confidence in her abilities. The growth we witnessed during that time was remarkable. I will always be deeply grateful for the role Leah played in my daughter’s academic journey. She is now in 8th grade and despite her dyslexia, she is thriving in school. We credit so much of her success to the strong foundation Leah helped build.
K. O'Mullan (verified),
Executive Director and Qualified Instructor at the Dyslexia Center of Austin
As Executive Director and Qualified Instructor at the Dyslexia Center of Austin, I had the privilege of training Leah and can confidently state that she is among the most exceptional educators I have mentored.
Leah completed our IMSLEC-accredited Dyslexia Therapist Training Program, a highly rigorous, two-year, graduate-level course of study grounded in the science of reading and structured literacy. The program utilizes Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia, developed by Scottish Rite for Children, and requires more than 200 hours of advanced coursework with ALTA-certified Qualified Instructors, extensive demonstration teaching with formal self-analysis and reflection, and over 700 hours of supervised clinical practice. Success in this program demands academic discipline, intellectual curiosity, and sustained perseverance—qualities Leah consistently demonstrated alongside notable professional maturity and depth of understanding.
Leah approaches her work as a reflective scholar-practitioner. She critically evaluates research, applies evidence-based methodologies with precision, and uses student data to drive thoughtful instructional decisions. She possesses strong expertise in dyslexia and related learning differences, including dysgraphia and disorders of written expression.
Equally impressive is Leah’s commitment to structured literacy and to cultivating learning environments that are both intellectually rigorous and emotionally supportive. Her instruction is explicit, systematic, and multimodal, and she skillfully differentiates to ensure meaningful access and measurable progress for every learner. Beyond her technical expertise, Leah demonstrates a profound dedication to students’ academic, social, and emotional development.
I recommend Leah Thomas without reservation and am confident she will be a valuable asset to anyone seeking an exceptional CALT.