Kathleen Lavallee

Hi, I’m Kathleen Lavallee! I’m a lifelong learner, passionate educator, and dedicated tutor with a heart for helping struggling readers.

I grew up in Birmingham, AL, where I attended Catholic school from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Learning didn’t always come easily to me, especially reading. It took a lot of extra support from my mom and other caring adults to help me succeed. Through years of hard work, I built my own “tool kit” of study skills and strategies, which became the foundation of my academic success. By high school, I was managing multiple sports teams while maintaining strong grades, all thanks to the habits I had developed through perseverance.

I attended Samford University and earned a degree in Elementary and Special Education. During college, I tutored and babysat for local families, which sparked my love for one-on-one learning support. I didn’t know it at the time, but that part-time job would eventually become my calling.

After marrying my husband, David, in 2010, we moved to Starkville, MS, where I taught 1st grade and later Special Education Resource. During this time, I started tutoring students with dyslexia in the afternoons and quickly realized it was my true passion. I found joy and fulfillment in working one-on-one with students, to the extent that I even looked forward to tutoring, even after a full day of teaching.

I approach dyslexia from three unique perspectives: as an educator, as someone who personally struggled with reading, and as a parent. My daughter, Ellie, has dyslexia, ADHD, and high-functioning autism. Supporting struggling learners has always been my passion, but walking this journey as a parent has deepened my empathy, sharpened my insight, and made me a stronger advocate and educator. I know firsthand the emotions that come with watching your child struggle—and the hope that comes when the right support makes a difference.

Today, I live in Madison, AL, with David (now an aerospace engineer), our two kids, Ellie and Charlie, and our sweet dogs, Oliver and Rosie. As a family, we love going on walks, exploring new activities, and making memories together.

 

I’m thrilled to be able to focus my education career on tutoring and to walk alongside students on their learning journeys, just like others once did for me.