Who we are
Lighthouse to Literacy was established by a dedicated group of experienced educators who have devoted their careers to helping even the most profoundly dyslexic children achieve literacy success. Our collective experience as teachers, tutors, and advocates serves as the foundation of our primary goal: to empower every child with the gift of reading.
Nearly 25 years ago, our founder, Holly Jo Hightchew, commenced her journey in educational support by assisting children in developing their reading skills. This path took an unforeseen turn when her third child, Becca, received a diagnosis of dyslexia. In her quest to identify effective resources to aid her daughter, Holly undertook an in-depth exploration of the neuroscience underlying reading development. This investigation led her to recognize the advantages of the Orton-Gillingham approach, a structured, multi-sensory method designed for reading, spelling, and writing instruction.
Holly is a certified tutor in the Barton Reading and Spelling System and has trained with the Academy of Orton-Gillingham to acquire expertise in effective reading instruction techniques. While the Orton-Gillingham approach is especially beneficial for children with dyslexia, it is also recognized as a valuable tool for one-on-one instruction and is adaptable for use in small groups or classroom settings.
Over the past decade, Holly has successfully trained public and private school educators, university students, tutors, and parents in implementing the Orton-Gillingham approach. Her comprehensive 40-hour in-person training program equips participants with essential tools for success and addresses critical “why” questions, which she considers fundamental to promoting reading achievement in children.
In addition to her training program, Holly brings a wealth of experience, including:
25 years of tutoring children in reading, with five of those years spent at a reading center.
12 years of conducting reading assessments and helping parents find effective solutions to support their children's reading success.
7 years of designing and directing a dyslexia summer camp, where campers typically improve their reading skills by an average of two grade levels over four-week sessions.
Holly aims to ensure that every child learns to read while also enhancing the skills of those who are already reading. Inspired by her vision, a team of educators joined her to create Lighthouse to Literacy, motivated by the dream of helping every child achieve literacy.
Lighthouse to Literacy operates with a three-pronged initiative:
Training teachers, tutors, and parents in the Orton-Gillingham approach while providing effective multi-sensory techniques to support children in their reading journeys.
Offering specialized services to students with dyslexic tendencies, including conducting reading assessments, making recommendations for remediation, and helping parents navigate unfamiliar aspects of education, such as attending in-person or virtual IEP meetings.
Guiding homeschool parents to ensure their students receive the best education, particularly those demonstrating learning difficulties.
Lighthouse to Literacy was developed with you in mind—whether you are new to teaching or have years of experience in teaching children to read. We understand the challenges you face in reaching every child, often with insufficient tools and limited training. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and resources needed to make a significant impact in a child’s life. We believe in your potential and are here to support you every step of the way, even if that means joining you in the trenches.
Why are we so passionate about this mission? We have witnessed the damage done to children who lose faith in themselves. We have also seen the remarkable transformation that occurs when a child learns to read. Providing a child with the ability to read is one of the greatest gifts a teacher can give to a student. We know you can make a difference in a child’s life and are here to help!