Welcome from Pat Sekel


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Welcome from Pat Sekel


Dear Friends,

sekel

Welcome to The IDA Florida Branch website!   I am Pat Sekel, IDA Florida’s newly elected President, but I am certainly not new to IDA. I have dedicated most of my professional life to serving “our kids.” I am passionate about effective reading instruction, particularly for individuals with dyslexia. Before moving to Florida over three years ago, I served twice at the Austin Area Branch as President along with being quite active for several years with IDA, serving on many committees. If you would like to read about my professional background, I welcome you to read my bio on this webpage.

With a new year comes a fresh start with a webpage facelift that links us directly to The International Dyslexia Association and is structured to make accessing information easier and quicker.  We are delighted to be “Powered by G Speech” which can serve as your guide through our written content.  I hope you will take the time to peruse our very informative and evolving website, bookmark our site, and visit regularly. Here you can find information on conferences, read our newsletters, find research, and contact us if you have a question. If you find an item that you feel may be of benefit to the Branch, please send to info.fl@dyslexiaIDA.org. This is YOUR website and we want to make it as useful as possible!

Are you searching for a way to support individuals with dyslexia? If you are reading this, odds are you have some connection to this learning different population. I invite and encourage you to consider volunteering – no matter how little or much time you can spare – to strengthen our organization. We have multiple opportunities to serve in a wide variety of activities from the newsletter to social media and even marathon running. We have a spot for your talent!

Finally, we want to personally invite each of you to attend one or more conference opportunities scheduled in 2017. On March 24-25 the third biennial Southern Regional Conference will be held in Greenville, SC, with Mary Ann Wolf keynoting.  The IDA Florida annual conference will be held at The Daytona Beach Shores Resort and Spa on September 22-23, with Margie Gillis and Mary Wennersten keynoting, a timely update on the status of a possible Florida dyslexia law, a wide array of exhibitors, fabulous views of the ocean, and multiple opportunities to network, reconnect, and meet new friends and professionals. We are fortunate the annual IDA conference will be in Atlanta, November 8-11. Make it into a road trip and take your colleagues!

IDA Florida is YOUR organization. I urge you to consider sharing your time and talents with our vital organization. We cannot complete our work without you. I hope to meet you at the conference!

Pat Sekel, Ph.D., CALT, QI, CDT/IDA
President
International Dyslexia Association
Florida Branch