About Us
The Reading League North Dakota
Our mission is to advance the awareness, understanding, and use of evidence-aligned reading instruction across North Dakota.
Meet Our Team
Meet TRL-ND President, Dr. Jessica Paulsen
Dr. Jessica Paulsen has spent the last 24 years in education, working in first grade classrroms to create joyful readers in North Dakota and Arizona. She holds degrees in English (Secondary Education Endorsement), Elementary Education, and Educational Leadership. Her dissertation explored the knowledge of pre-service teachers in the areas of Phonics and Phonological Awareness, and how that knowledge related to their feelings of self-efficacy in the classroom. She is currently a Reading Specialist at Lincoln Elementary in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Meet TRL-ND Vice President, Heather Chatham
Heather Chatham is Founder and CEO of Chatty Learners LLC, an educational and family engagement consulting firm. With over 25 years of experience in education, an MS in Reading Instruction, and Reading Science and Instructional Coaching Certificates from the University of North Dakota, she specializes in early reading brain development and foundational literacy skills by creating experiences with schools, programs, and community partners that foster connections and build brains ready for future reading success.
Meet TRL-ND Treasurer, Jessica Sporbert
A former school-based Speech Language Pathologist who transitioned to the role of an elementary MTSS coordinator for the Grand Forks Public Schools. My passion for evidence-based reading instruction came from working directly with students and teacher teams on dyslexia and developmental language disorder. I have my dyslexia credential and teach introductory courses in language based learning disoders (dyslexia/DLD) for the Univesity of North Dakota.
Meet TRL-ND Secretary, Erica Carney
Erica Carney joined the South East Education Cooperative as a literacy coaching specialist in 2020 after nine years at Northern Cass School as a high school English educator and Library Media Specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Science in English Education with a concentration in Communication from NDSU and a Masters of Education with a concentration in Library and Information Technology from VCSU. She has served on state committees for standards and assessment, is a LETRS facilitator, and is a literacy coaching specialist in the Reading Corps program.
Meet TRL-ND Board Member, Kaley Mills
Kaley Mills has spent the past 17 years in education, serving in a variety of roles including kindergarten educator, interventionist, instructional strategist, and currently the Director of Teaching and Learning for Westhope Public School. She also works as a Professional Development Specialist for the Central Regional Education Association, focusing on the Science of Reading.
Kaley has always been intrigued in how students learn to read best. After attending her first LETRS debrief day, she’s dedicated her career to supporting educators implement effective reading practices.
Meet TRL-ND Board Member, Kiley Hicks
Kiley Hicks has been an educator for over 17 years and currently serves as a Reading Interventionist at Central Cass Public School, working with students in kindergarten through fourth grade. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in literature from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Minot State University.
Kiley is passionate and dedicated to helping students build strong literacy foundations while collaborating with colleagues to strengthen instructional practices grounded in the Science of Reading. As a Board Member for The Reading League – North Dakota, she values the opportunity to collaborate with educators across the state and learn from others who are implementing evidence-based literacy practices.
Reimagine the Future of Reading
Help us bring the science of reading to every educator, parent, and child.