About Us
We exist to ensure everyone can read and write so they can live their best life.
About Our Team
Changing the world one reader at a time.
Our team consists of educators who are in schools every day, who are committed to evidence-based tools and resources in the science of reading.
We see you. And we’re here for you.
Teaching is a struggle when students cannot read and write. We know how hard you work and how much you care.
You deserve a team that understands your daily challenges and who knows what works, and what doesn’t.
We’ve worked with hundreds of educators to help them regain their confidence and fall in love with teaching again. We can help you, too!
Our Values
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Wellness is the freedom to move fluidly through the cycles of being human; it is a state of action, not a state of being. We prioritize self-care and work-life balance so we can help others. We do not work during time off. We share, celebrate, and support others’ personal hobbies, interests, achievements, & goals.
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We seek feedback, continually rethink, and disown “because we have always done it this way” reasoning. We believe in moving ever forward - in continued self-initiated learning and advancement to serve others in our mission.
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We pursue worthy goals, put forth our best effort, and follow through on commitments and projects so that we are proud of the work we do. We are committed to science and evidence-based practices.
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We contribute meaningful work to our team and those we serve. We seek out and fulfill opportunities to give back to and share with others. We share our failures and successes with others so all can learn and grow.
Meet the Root Literacy Design Team
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Heather Ballantine
FOUNDER & CHIEF VISION OFFICER
Heather is a Rhode Island Department of Education approved provider of professional learning in the science of reading and Structured Literacy. She works part-time as a Literacy Coach at The Compass School in Kingston, RI. Heather has experience as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, consultant, and coach. She is OGA certified at the Associate Level and is a certified reading specialist. An endometriosis survivor, she is fierce advocate for the disease.
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Dawn Carusi
LITERACY PARTNER
Dr. Dawn Carusi has extensive field experience as a special educator, classroom teacher, elementary & secondary reading specialist, regional literacy facilitator, MTSS/RTI coordinator, adjunct professor, and literacy consultant with LETRS, 95 Percent, and Root Literacy Design. Dawn is passionate about teacher preparation and supporting the needs of all learners – especially those who struggle.
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Brandee Lapisky
SCHOOL LEADER IN LITERACY
Brandee serves as the Director of The Compass School, a K-8 charter school in Kingston, RI. During her twenty years in education, she has served as a teacher, principal, school director, education consultant, conference presenter, and member of multiple non-profit boards. Her work focuses on fostering student engagement and cultivating a positive school culture.
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Sarah Craft
TEACHER IN LITERACY
Sarah is a 3rd & 4th grade teacher at The Compass School in Kingston, RI, where she once attended as a student. She has experience teaching early childhood and elementary education in urban and suburban settings. She has been working with Root Literacy Design to implement the science of reading and Structured Literacy since 2020. Sarah is passionate about helping students fall in love with learning and tackling challenging skills.
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Amy Goldblatt
TEACHER IN LITERACY
Amy is a 3rd & 4th grade teacher in a multi-age classroom at The Compass School in Kingston, RI. She has been working with Root Literacy Design to implement the science of reading and Structured Literacy in her classroom since 2020. She most enjoys teaching students how to read, recognizing that doing so gives them the tools they need to unlock all opportunities that come their way in life.