Advocate Program

Molly grew up in a military family 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 two rabbits.   Her children, one of whom is dyslexic, attend private schools.   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, kids soccer coach, board member of Friends of the Library, and a certified dyslexic advocate.   She is passionate about offering guidance and sharing what she has learned with others as they navigate through the resources, accommodations, and action plans available for those with learning differences.

Meg has been an active educator for the past 22 years.  She started as a camp director in central NH, and has been a classroom educator in Park City since 2000, teaching grades K, 3rd, 4th & 5th.  She came to teaching with the hope of creating a different classroom experience for her students than she had as a child.  Growing up in rural Taos, New Mexico, Dyslexia was not recognized as a learning difference. On her own, Meg had to learn how to overcome the challenges in the classroom discovering strategies and resources that worked best for her.  Driven to succeed, Meg went to boarding school in England, passing O & A level examinations. She then returned to the states to earn a degree in History from Sarah Lawrence College, went on to study at Oxford University, earned a 2nd degree in Education from The Upper Valley Teacher’s Institute and in 2015 graduated with a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology from Northern Colorado University.  In 2018, Meg completed the Dyslexia Advocacy Certification to have an additional credential to help support students and families who are on the Dyslexia journey.  Meg’s passion for education is driven by the desire to make the classroom experience safe, fun and engaging for students of all learning styles and abilities.

When not working with PC READS or students & families, Meg spends time with her 2 children, husband and black lab pursuing outdoor adventures!  If not on the ski hill, or hiking trails, they can be found at the lacrosse field, ice hockey rink or dance studio.

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.

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.

I have been lucky to call Park City my home, since 2004. I am originally from the San Diego area, but like many…came to Park City for spring break in 2004, & realized that this is where we wanted to be, so after being a Californian all of my life, we made the move here that summer. My husband and I both work at Parley’s Park Elementary. I have spent 12 years helping struggling readers to be more successful…first at Jeremy Ranch Elementary, & just this year, making the move to Parley’s. It was a former Reading Specialist who inspired me to learn more about dyslexia, & to go on to get my Wilson Reading Certification from the University of Utah Reading Clinic. I tutor privately after school hours, & just recently earned my Dyslexia Advocate Certificate, thanks to a grant from PC Reads. I have also been trained in the Barton Reading program. My passion is helping families through the maze that is often associated with dyslexia, & in turn, to make sure that their children receive the proper instruction & accommodations that will make them more confident, & more successful. I am proud to have this opportunity to advocate through PC Reads.

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.

Christine Tiranno is the Program Manager of our Advocate Program. She became a Certified Dyslexia Advocate is 2017 and has assisted many families with developing action plans to ensure their children receive the support and resources necessary to succeed in school. Christine, her husband and two children, one of whom is dyslexic moved to Park City in 2014. Originally from a suburb of New York City, Christine graduated from Lehigh University with a BA in Economics and International Relations. A Madison Avenue veteran, she spent nearly 20 years as a national television buyer working with numerous Fortune 500 companies including AT&T, Dell, 3M and MetLife at WPP’s GroupM. Christine enjoys working with children and has taught alpine skiing to kids for ten years, both in Vermont and most recently at Park City. Her passion for kids and sport is evident as she can frequently be seen in the stands at local high school lacrosse and football games.

Originally from the Chicago area, Hillary moved to Park City with her family in 2010 by way of Vail and Tahoe. She graduated from Wittenberg University with a B.A. in English and minors in secondary education and global studies. Over the years, she has worked with children and teens teaching high school English for Eagle County School District in Vail, substitute teaching, tutoring both writing and ESL, and coaching soccer extensively. Currently, you can find her at Educational Advantage where she gets to spend her days with her favorite population—teenagers. Hillary is also a Certified Dyslexia Advocate assisting families to develop action plans in order to ensure that their children receive the support and resources needed to succeed in school. Hillary has experience sitting on both sides of IEP and 504 meetings as a teacher as well as a parent. She is the mother of two boys, one of which has dyslexia and the super powers that come with it.