Board, Committee & Staff Members

Orton-Gillingham Academy’s

Board of Trustees

2023-2024

All board members are Fellows of the Academy

Janet George, President
Amy Lawrence, 1st Vice President
Linda Atamian, 2nd Vice President
Lynn Lamping. Treasurer
Beth McClure, Secretary
Josie Calamari
Colleen Chow
Sheila Costello
Gena Farinholt
Louise Freese
Carrie Malloy
Norma Jean McHugh
Dawn Nieman
Lisa Neuhoff
Trudy Odle
Cyndi Schultz
J. Concha Wyatt


OGA Staff

Alicia Sartori, MPA, Executive Director

Margaret Deister, Office Manager

Daniel Swift, Administrative Assistant


OGA Standing Committees

The Academy relies on the work of its committees to assist in governing the activities of the organization. Committees have agendas and rules, work on assigned tasks, and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees. Each of the committees’ reports on its progress, while the Board of Trustees makes decisions on committee recommendations.

Accreditation Committeereviews all applications and recommends qualified programs for accreditation/approval by the Board of Trustees. Membership on the Accreditation Committee is limited to Fellows of the Academy.
Amy Lawrence, Chair
Colleen Chow, Co-Chair
Laurie Cousseau
Gena Farinholt
Louise Freese
Janet George
Suzanna Greer
Ellen Hill
Carrie Malloy
Amy Lawrence
Pam Reynolds

Awards & Scholarship Committee – is responsible for nominating candidates for all Academy Awards & Scholarships.

Bylaws Committee – verifies the bylaws concur with the New York State Codes, the Certificate of Incorporation, and the practices of the Academy.

Counsel of Accredited Organizations – promotes the Academy’s mission with special attention to its accredited schools, camps, and clinics.

Development Committee – is responsible for the planning and implementation of fundraising.

Information Outreach Committee (IOC) – plans, prepares and sees to the timely distribution of Academy information.
Lynn Lamping, Chair, Newsletter Lead
Dawn Nieman, Newsletter Co-Editor
Shirley Bate, Newsletter Co-Editor
Heidi Bishop
Maryann Chatfield
Colleen Chow
Louise Doud
Pamela Krueger
Nancy Redding
Kathy Robinson
Grace Sharma
Susie van der Vorst

Nominating Committeenominates candidates to serve as members of the Board and as Board officers.Cynthia Schultz
Cyndi Schultz, Chair
Sheila Costello
Beth McClure
Trudy Odle

Program Committee – plans Academy conferences and programs. 
Amy Lawrence, Chair
Josie Calamari, Co-Chair
Carrie Malloy
Jennings Miller
Sue Palmer
Alicia Sartori

Standards Committeedetermines the curricular requirements for certification and accreditation.
Linda Atamian, Chair
Mary Briggs, Co-Chair
Ann Edwards
Lynn Lamping
Norma Jean McHugh
Deb Morris
Trudy Odle
Marcia Ramsey
Concha Wyatt

Standing Committees with Anonymous Members

  • Certifying Committee – reviews applications and recommends qualified candidates for approval by the Board. Membership on the Certifying Committee is limited to Fellows of the Academy.
  • Professional Ethics Committee – inquiries into complaints bearing upon alleged failure by individual members and Institutional members of the Academy to adhere to the professional standards of the Academy.