Leadership Team

Bambi Boggs an educator who has spent most of her career as a special education teacher.  She was a member of the first cohort of educators who obtained the Dyslexia Specialist credential at the University of Iowa and now works as the Dyslexia Specialist for the Ottumwa School District.  Bambi works tirelessly to educate other teachers about dyslexia and the science of reading.  She is one of the leaders of the Southeast Iowa Dyslexia Teacher/Preservice Group, which holds regular meetings and presentations, and she leads a dyslexia/science of reading team in her district.  When she is not advocating or educating, you can find Bambi hiking, gardening or educating herself through reading, webinars and podcasts.

Sue Brandt is an elementary reading specialist and has been teaching for over 25 years.  Her personal adventure with learning disabilities began when her son was diagnosed with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dysnomia in 2014.  She is involved in the Eldora Dyslexia Parent Support group, gives presentations about dyslexia, and advocates for students.  Sue lives in Ackley with her husband and has a busy life with three children.  She enjoys gardening, collecting antiques, and visiting national parks.

Randy Califf is a co-founder of Decoding Dyslexia Iowa and has served on the board since its inception. His primary involvement has been with legislation and communication. Randy has spent most of his career in product management and marketing for technology/software and currently leads a team in the Technology Division of Wellmark.  Randy earned an Executive MBA from the University of Iowa and a Journalism/Advertising degree from South Dakota State.  He learned about dyslexia when his youngest son struggled in pre-school.  Randy believes that reading is a foundational skill and that every child has a right to learn to read.  He enjoys cooking, photography, craft beer and being a soccer dad.

Casey Condon-Yu is a certified dyslexia tutor and advocate. She became involved in dyslexia education and advocacy in 2014, when two of her children were diagnosed. Casey has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement and has instructed students using the Barton and Wilson systems. Her passion includes supporting twice exceptional students and helping families prepare for transitions, from building level transitions to going to college. Casey lives in Urbandale with her husband and three children. She enjoys family road trips and keeps busy with her children's activities and events.

Katie Greving is the Executive Director of Decoding Dyslexia Iowa and manages the group’s daily operations. She is a co-founder of the organization and served as board President from 2015 to 2020. Katie works with legislators and policymakers, gives educational presentations about dyslexia, and manages the group’s online presence. Katie has a master's degree in Counseling and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Her dyslexia journey began when she learned one of her children and several family members have dyslexia.   She is passionate about helping parents advocate for their children.  Some of her favorite things are coffee, cats, and walking/hiking.

Megan Hunemuller is a stay-at-home mom of four who took a deep dive into dyslexia after recognizing multiple signs in her daughter but being told, “We’ve never had a student with dyslexia before.”  In 2017, Megan and her husband entered the world of special education with little knowledge of laws and procedures.  As intimidating as this was, advocacy quickly became Megan’s passion.  Megan is a Certified  Dyslexia Advocate through the Dyslexia Training Institute, and she is a co-founder of the Waverly Area Dyslexic and Learning Support Group.  In her rare free time, Megan enjoys scrapbooking, playing games with her family, and curling up with a good book.

Carrie Johnsen is an educator who taught at the elementary level for 13 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom.  She is currently a substitute teacher.  She has two children with dyslexia, and her journey began when her oldest child struggled with reading in kindergarten. From there, she began learning all she could about dyslexia by taking classes, reading books, and seeking outside help for both kids.  Carrie strives to teach others about dyslexia and to advocate for a better future for all kids.

Brooke Lantz is an advocate for her daughter with dyslexia, who was officially diagnosed in 2022 but had been struggling in school since preschool. Brooke has a passion to advocate not only for the best education for her daughter, but for all children who learn differently.  She stays busy with her three children and working full time as a Physical Therapist Assistant. In her free time, she enjoys being with her family, hiking, and working in the yard.

Nina Lorimor-Easley is the Assistant Director of Education and Outreach for the Iowa Reading Research Center and the primary instructor for the University of Iowa's Dyslexia Endorsement program.  She has master’s degrees in educational psychology and curriculum development with emphasis on language-based learning disabilities. Nina also completed graduate level certification in dyslexia from the Landmark School. Nina has personal connections to dyslexia and began her professional path in dyslexia advocacy by helping her two sons through school. Nina is a co-founder of Decoding Dyslexia Iowa, served on the Iowa Dyslexia Task Force, and authored several of Iowa’s virtual dyslexia training modules with the Iowa Reading Research Center.  She currently serves as Chair of the Iowa Dyslexia Board.

Laura Olson is a certified dyslexia tutor and parent advocate. She began her special education journey with her oldest son, who has multiple special needs. She continued this journey when her middle child was diagnosed with dyslexia after struggling with reading and spelling for several years. The process was challenging but typical of the experience of most parents, which is what makes Laura so passionate about helping others. She works closely with parents, children, teachers, and school administration to provide the optimal educational experience for children with dyslexia. Laura is a graduate of Iowa State University and lives in Des Moines with her husband and three children.

Nicole Pizzini is a Professor at St. Ambrose University and received her PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling Education from the University of Iowa.  Her background assisting people with various disabilities and navigating accommodations has been instrumental in her professional and personal life.  Nicole’s personal connection to dyslexia began when one of her three daughters showed difficulties with reading in kindergarten.  Eventually her daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia and other learning disabilities.  Nicole is a strong advocate for dyslexia awareness in her local community.  She has presented dyslexia information to her school board, city council, and legislators, and she has successfully requested her city to recognize Dyslexia Awareness Month. 

Renee Saarloos became aware of the need for dyslexia advocacy when her son was diagnosed in 2019. She began learning all she could about dyslexia and earned her master's degree in Reading Science from Mount St. Joseph University.  Renee currently works as an elementary reading interventionist at a private school and is one of the leaders of the Northwest Iowa Dyslexia Support Group. She is passionate about partnering with parents and educators to raise awareness about how to identify and support struggling readers. Renee lives in Sioux Center with her husband and four children.

Lindsay Seydel has been educating herself and others about dyslexia since 2014 when her eldest son was diagnosed. Since that time, she has been a fierce advocate for her son and for all students who struggle to become proficient readers. Lindsay currently works for the Iowa Reading Research Center as the Education and Outreach Coordinator.  Prior to that, she was a PK-6 Literacy Instructional Coach and an elementary teacher. Lindsay earned her Master's degree in Reading Science from Mount St. Joseph University, where she was trained in Orton Gillingham. Additionally, she holds the Iowa K-12 Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement. Lindsay lives in West Branch with her four sons, who keep her busy with all of their sporting events. 

Mindy VanZuiden is a homeschool parent, a private dyslexia tutor, and a Project Teacher with the Mid-Prairie Homeschool Assistance Program, providing support to parents of struggling readers. Mindy taught in public school for over 15 years. She holds an undergraduate degree in K-12 Physical Education, a master's degree in Education Leadership, and is a Certified Dyslexia Specialist through the University of Florida. Mindy’s discovery that her youngest son has dyslexia led to the eye-opening realization that she and many of her family members are also dyslexic. Mindy’s mission is to raise dyslexia awareness not only in her community but for everyone, everywhere. She is married with three children and two large dogs.