Advocate Program

Elissa Aten is Co-Founder and Executive Director of PC READS. She is also a Certified Dyslexia Advocate and assists families with developing action plans to ensure that their children receive the support and resources necessary to succeed in school. She and her husband have lived in Park City for 10 years and have two children, one of whom is dyslexic. Elissa is a strong proponent of public education and previously served as a Park City Education Foundation (PCEF) Board Member. Her involvement with PCEF included volunteering as Fundraising Chair for Running with Ed, a 38-mile annual relay race held in Park City. Originally from upstate New York, Elissa graduated from Dartmouth College and then spent two years teaching middle school math in Baltimore, MD with Teach for America. After teaching, she received her J.D. from Boston College Law School, practiced law in Boston and later worked as an Associate Director of Career Services at Boston College Law School. Elissa enjoys being an active Dartmouth alumna and is currently serving on her Class Executive Committee. Elissa and Elliott spend most of the winter weekends on the ski slopes, either watching their children ski race or looking for hidden powder stashes.

Courtney grew up in Mill Valley, California before her family moved to Park City in 1993. Courtney received a bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from the University of Colorado Boulder and worked on several local, state and national political campaigns. A lifelong learner, Courtney shifted her focus to education and returned to school to earn a Masters of Science in Child Development and a Masters of Science in Special Education from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. She taught preschool and special education in Boulder, Colorado and worked for the Park City School District as a reading aide while raising her family. Courtney and her husband joined her family in Park City in 2007. When not on the golf course or skiing, Courtney and her husband are busy raising 3 sons, 2 dogs, 4 cats and 1 fish. Courtney is excited to be a certified dyslexia advocate and to help families navigate their IEP and 504 journey.

Molly grew up in a U.S. Navy Pilot household moving around and experiencing a wide array of school systems from inner-city public busing schools, Department of Defense schools, and private boarding schools.   Graduating with a BS in Finance from Virginia Tech, Molly went on to continue her travels living in 5 states/countries before settling in Park City in 2007 where she lives with her husband, two kids, a dog, a cat, and a rabbit.   Her children, one of whom is dyslexic attend schools in the Park City School District.   Since moving to Park City, Molly’s passion to keep learning and help her children do the same has led to forays as a ski instructor, bike mechanic, nordic ranger, soccer coach, board member of Friends of the Library, and a Certified Dyslexia Advocate.   She is passionate about sharing what she has learned with others as they navigate through the resources, accommodations, and action plans available for those with learning differences.

A native of Alberta, Canada Stacey move to Utah in 1991 to work as a pediatric nurse at Primary Children’s Hospital and enjoy the Utah powder. Stacey has been a nurse at PCH since 1991 and currently works as a clinical education instructor.  She also is a substitute nurse in the Park City school district Stacey lives with her husband and 12-year-old daughter who was identified as dyslexic in second grade. Stacey has been involved with PC READS since 2014 as and is excited to help families navigate the system as a certified dyslexia advocate.

Leah is a northern New Hampshire native where she grew up skiing and hiking in the beautiful White Mountains. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work, Leah went on to work as a therapist in psychiatric hospitals, counseling centers, nursing homes, and schools. 

Leah relocated to Park City in 2013 with her husband, 2 sons, and 2 dogs. After moving to Utah, both boys were diagnosed with Dyslexia and ADHD. It was a long undertaking navigating the IEP process within the public school district. With the help and guidance of PC READS, Leah’s eldest son was granted an IEP in 3rd grade and has remained on one through his 8th grade school year. Leah was also a board member of PC READS for 3 years. 

Becoming a Certified Dyslexia Advocate was a natural progression after obtaining an IEP for her son, working directly with reading tutors and becoming much more familiar with the special education programs offered in the public school district. 

Bari Nan has lived in Park City since 2001, when she and her husband, Jeffrey traded NYC subway rides for chairlift rides. Their two sons, one of whom has dyslexia, were born in Utah, and attend PCSD schools.

She received her B.A. in English Literature from Brandeis University, and has worked as a writer and editor for national magazines, interviewing celebrities and covering entertainment, health and fitness, beauty, and food, at Glamour, Self, YM, and Good Housekeeping. Bari Nan’s work has appeared in dozens of print and online outlets, including Woman’s Day, More, Babble, Plenty, Prevention, Coastal Living and Parenting.

 Her professional life expanded to include a boutique marketing agency, ProForma Peak, which she owns with her husband. Most weekdays, you can find her working on PR and Marketing for the Park City Institute.

It could be argued that her concurrent—and equally fulfilling—career is volunteering. In addition to time spent in her children’s classrooms, and at their extra-curricular activities, Bari Nan has held positions on the boards of Temple Har Shalom, Park City Cooperative Preschool, Jeremy Ranch PTO, Ecker Hill PTO, Treasure Mountain PTO, PCSD District PTO, and School Community Councils at Jeremy Ranch Elementary School, and Ecker Hill Middle School. She also volunteers as a teacher at the Temple Har Shalom Religious School, teaching Hebrew and Judaic Studies to 4th and 5th grade students.

Becoming a Certified Dyslexia Advocate was not a role she anticipated, but she instantly recognized it as a natural fit with her experience as a parent of a dyslexic student, and with her wider-ranging commitment to children and education, diversity and inclusion. She is grateful for the opportunity to extend the support her family has received from PC READS, to other families.