Our Team
Educators Supporting Educators
Grounded in respect and shared experience, we work alongside fellow educators to translate learning science into practical, classroom-ready approaches. We believe meaningful progress happens when educators support one another and bring evidence into everyday practice.
Practitioner-Led, Research-Engaged
The Southport CoLAB team brings together experienced educators, curriculum developers, and instructional leaders who remain deeply engaged in classroom practice. We understand the realities of teaching because we have lived them as teachers, school leaders, and practitioners who have planned lessons, supported learners, and navigated the daily challenges and rewards of the classroom.
The Southport CoLAB team brings together experienced educators, curriculum developers, and instructional leaders who remain deeply engaged in classroom practice. We understand the realities of teaching because we have lived them as teachers, school leaders, and practitioners who have planned lessons, supported learners, and navigated the daily challenges and rewards of the classroom.
Turning Evidence into Everyday Practice
As scholar-practitioners and translational leaders, we bridge classrooms and research. Through ongoing collaboration with leading institutions and experts in neuroscience, cognitive science, literacy, and executive function, we ensure our work reflects current research.
We bring scientific rigor and the humility of educators to everything we develop. Our expertise is not only theoretical; it is lived, tested, and refined in real classrooms and strengthened through sustained engagement with researchers and institutions.
"As a cognitive science researcher, I can study how the brain learns. As an educator, I understand that it is teachers who show us how learning actually unfolds in real classrooms. The depth of practical knowledge educators bring – earned through years in classrooms – is not supplemental to our work; it is foundational. When educators support educators, research becomes relevant, solutions become practical, and neuroscience and cognitive science become something teachers can truly use to support every student."
– Dr. Benjamin N. Powers, Founder and Executive Director
Meet the Team
Dr. Benjamin N. Powers
Executive Director, The Southport School
Founder & Executive Director, The Southport CoLAB
Dr. Powers has established himself as a thought leader in the education of students with language-based learning differences and ADHD. His influence extends to various roles, including President of The Dyslexia Foundation, Affiliated Research Scientist at Haskins Laboratories, and Director of Yale's and UConn's Haskins Global Literacy Hub.
Dr. Powers' service on multiple not-for-profit boards is evidence of his commitment to empowering all learners. Through these platforms, he continues to advocate for inclusive educational practices and support systems that address the diverse needs of all students, particularly those with learning differences.
His work has been transformative in breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for students who traditional educational models have historically underserved. By championing evidence-based approaches and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, Dr. Powers continues to drive positive change in education, ensuring that all students, regardless of their learning profile, have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Dawn Brookhart, M.A.T, M.Ed.
Chief Operating Officer
Dawn Brookhart, M.A.T., M.Ed., is an educational leader with three decades of experience helping schools, districts, and state agencies connect research, policy, and classroom practice. Her work focuses on building sustainable, evidence‑based systems that support student success.
A passionate advocate for the science of reading, Ms. Brookhart supports literacy improvement nationwide through professional learning, instructional coaching, and implementation science. She is an IMSLEC-accredited Orton-Gillingham teacher, the Co-Founder and Vice President of The Reading League Pennsylvania, and co-author of Instructional Leadership in Student‑Focused Coaching: Creating Effective Systems to Cultivate Student Success. Ms. Brookhart founded Pennsylvania’s first public‑school dyslexia and reading training academy.
Before joining The Southport CoLAB, Ms. Brookhart served in leadership at AIM Institute for Learning & Research, where she helped guide the organization’s growth from a startup to a nationally recognized leader in literacy education. She has helped schools achieve top rankings from U.S. News & World Report and the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program and is committed to helping leaders and educators build clarity, trust, and shared responsibility for lasting student success.
Jeffrey Ruggiero
Executive Director of Academic Programs & Research
Jeffrey Ruggiero, an educator with over 35 years of teaching and administrative experience in special education, currently serves as Executive Director of Academic Programs and Research at both The Southport CoLAB and The Southport School. With advanced degrees in learning differences and school administration, he strives to design and implement effective instructional programming for students with dyslexia, language-based learning issues, and ADHD.
As a certified Orton-Gillingham Associate Practitioner and Dyslexia Practitioner through the International Dyslexia Association, Mr. Ruggiero combines his knowledge of reading and language learning with his study of executive functions to develop an academic program that promotes student engagement and empowers all learners.
Bob Cunningham, M.Ed.
Senior Advisor, Strategy & Philanthropic Partnerships
Bob Cunningham, M.Ed., is a strategic leader with experience supporting organizational growth, innovation, and long-term planning across education and related sectors. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with leadership teams to help organizations strengthen operations, expand partnerships, and advance mission-driven initiatives. He brings a collaborative, thoughtful approach to strategic development, with a focus on sustainable impact.
Mr. Cunningham was a founding team member and Executive Director for Learning Development at Understood and a general and special education leader at several independent and public schools. He has been an executive, board member, and advisor for dozens of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. He has taught at Columbia University’s Teachers College and served as a research fellow at Yale University.
Mr. Cunningham is committed to helping educational organizations build strong systems, develop impactful products and services, foster meaningful partnerships, and create opportunities that positively impact educators and students.
Theresa Collins
Director, Orton-Gillingham Training and Instruction
Director, Orton-Gillingham Training and Instruction
Accredited OG Fellow
Theresa Collins is an Accredited Training Fellow of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators and an IDA-Certified Dyslexia Therapist. Currently, the Director of Orton-Gillingham Training and Instruction at The Southport School, she has been an Orton-Gillingham practitioner for over 30 years.
Ms. Collins first developed her interest in learning differences while pursuing her BA in Psychology at Colgate University. She later earned her MS in Educational Psychology from the State University of New York at Albany. She has presented at the annual conference of the International Dyslexia Association, the New York and New Jersey branches of the IDA, the annual conference of the Academy of Orton- Gillingham Practitioners and Educators, the annual conference of the Assistive Technology Industry Association, Learning Ally’s Spotlight on Dyslexia, and the Assistive Technology Conference of New England.
June Heeter
Partnership Director
June Heeter is a lifelong educator and leader with more than 30 years of experience teaching kindergarten, first grade, and fourth grade. Throughout her career, she has served in district leadership roles, including K–2 Writing Lead, supporting curriculum development and instructional improvement efforts.
Before joining The Southport CoLAB, Mrs. Heeter served as an Integrated Literacy Facilitator and Senior Literacy Engagement Specialist at AIM Institute for Learning & Research, partnering with schools, districts, educational service agencies, and state departments of education to advance evidence-based literacy practices. She worked closely with educators and school leaders to strengthen literacy instruction, support implementation efforts, and expand access to high-quality professional learning opportunities.
A CERI-certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist and Pennsylvania-certified PK–12 Principal, Mrs. Heeter is deeply committed to building partnerships that support educators and improve outcomes for all students. Her experience leading professional learning initiatives and collaborating with school communities reflects her belief that meaningful change happens when educators are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to create lasting impact.
Audra Hoag
Program & Outreach Director
Audra Hoag is an educator and school leader with experience supporting students with learning differences through research-informed and student-centered instruction. She is an Associate certified in Orton-Gillingham and a Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner with Level 1 Certification in the Wilson Reading System.
Before joining The Southport CoLAB, Ms. Hoag served as a teacher, Writing Department Head, and Head of Lower School at The Southport School, where she worked closely with students, educators, and families to support literacy development, executive function skills, and individualized learning. Her work has focused on helping create classroom environments that empower students and support long-term growth.
Drawing on her experience as both an educator and administrator, she is committed to helping schools and teachers access practical, evidence-based strategies that support diverse learners and strengthen student outcomes.
Laurie Hagelman
Coaching & Client Success Manager
Laurie Hagelman is an experienced educator with over 14 years of teaching experience and leadership at both the district and state levels within the Alaska Department of Education.
Ms. Hagelman holds advanced degrees in Elementary Education and Educational Literacy. A dedicated advocate for education, she has extensive training in the Science of Reading and has developed professional development courses for teachers and families. Ms. Hagelman is committed to delivering high-quality professional learning experiences, guiding partners through implementation and sustainment, and fostering lasting relationships, impact, and client satisfaction.
Emily Svedin
E-Learning & LMS Manager
Emily Svedin is an educator with more than 15 years of experience, serving districts, states, and international education communities. Her specialization in instructional coaching and professional development helps educators meet the needs of students with diverse learning profiles.
Holding advanced degrees in Elementary Education and Educational Psychology, Ms. Svedin possesses expertise in online learning, structured literacy, and education for twice exceptional students. She is committed to creating impactful, accessible, and sustainable asynchronous professional learning experiences that equip educators to implement evidence-based practices effectively.
Laurie Cousseau
Accredited OG Fellow, Consultant
Laurie Cousseau is an Accredited Training Fellow of the Orton-Gillingham Academy (AOGPE), a Certified Dyslexia Therapist (IDA), and a Certified Academic Language Therapist (ALTA) with more than 25 years of experience supporting students with dyslexia and related language-based learning differences. She holds an MA in Clinical Reading and is a licensed K–12 Reading Specialist. Her extensive background spans independent and public school settings, higher education, and professional development programs, where she has trained educators in structured literacy instruction grounded in the science of reading.
Ms. Cousseau has served as Director of the Kildonan Teacher Training Institute in New York and Associate Director of Teacher Training at the Key Learning Center in North Carolina. A frequent presenter at national and international conferences, she also founded the Green River Literacy and Learning Center in Massachusetts, providing accessible, evidence-based instruction for individuals with language-based learning differences.