Our Board
President
Sharon Madger – Chardon
Sharon has been a Certified Parent Advocate for children with learning disabilities for twenty years. She was a board member of the local LDA (Learning Disabilities Association) chapter and has participated and spoken for many of the local chapters. She has written several articles regarding learning disabilities that have been published on the http://wrightslaw.com blog and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree.
She raised three sons with various degrees of learning disabilities, successfully navigating through the school systems. Her goal is to pass along strategies, lessons learned, and resources, to help others with their own children/students.
Treasurer
Petra Glasser – North Olmstead
Petra is an instructional assistant with the TRIO Student Support Service at Cuyahoga Community College, Western Campus. She works as a tutor, coach, mentor and/or any other role to help students complete their classes as they learn to be well-rounded successful graduates. Her dedication and motivation derive from an innate sense of service, but her passion for special education was born from a more immediate source. Like so many others who find themselves drawn to special education, Petra’s journey into that specialized field has been the inspiration for many career decisions since. As a self-admitted lifelong learner, Petra believes that every student deserves an exceptional education and has dedicated her life to ensuring that every student has the means to reach their full potential. Doing her part to fulfill this goal, she works diligently to help create a better future for tomorrow’s graduates.
Secretary
Mindy Montello, M. Ed. – Newbury
Career & Workforce Development Curriculum Strategist | Learning Innovation Leader
Mindy Montello is an accomplished workforce development leader, educator, and curriculum strategist with over 15 years of experience designing and delivering innovative learning programs for youth and adult learners. With a strong foundation in both pedagogy and andragogy, she specializes in aligning curriculum with industry demands, organizational culture, and evolving labor market trends. A 4MAT-certified educator, Mindy is known for implementing inclusive, multi-modal instructional strategies that engage diverse learners in virtual, hybrid, and traditional environments. She played a key role in the development of Ohio’s state-wide WebExams and has guided students to success in credentialing.
Mindy holds a Master of Education in Career Technical & Workforce Development from Bowling Green State University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management & Administration from Franklin University. She is a committed advocate for students and families navigating IEP and 504 plans.
Board Member
Holly Roe – Hinckley
Holly is the founder and Executive Director of The LD Edge Network which provides affordable assessments and tutoring to adults with learning disabilities. She is also an advocate for training tutors and teachers in the Orton-Gillingham/Wilson Reading system methods for people with dyslexia and coordinates training for this bi-annually. She has been involved in creating inner-city tutoring programs for K-12 and in 2015 began working with adults with specific learning disabilities.
Board Member
Dave Saunders – South Vienna
Dave is an adult with learning disabilities and has been a member of LDA from the beginning, when his mother helped to start the Ohio affiliate. He’s been holding the Ohio affiliate together for a decade and is very excited to see new energy.
Board Member
Leann DiAndreth-Elkins, Ed.D.
Dr. Leann DiAndreth-Elkins is a seasoned special education professor, researcher, and administrator of disability services. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in special education for four different universities. Currently, as an Assistant Professor in Special Education at Fairmont State University, she has significant experience working with students with disabilities and supporting their transition from high school to college.
Dr. Elkins professional experiences include working with struggling students and students with disabilities from kindergarten through college. As the Executive Director of Disability Resources Services at Muskingum University, she oversaw the PLUS Program, providing comprehensive academic support services for students with learning differences to foster the development of skills for success in college, and ADA Services, ensuring students with disabilities receive equal access to college programs and services. She previously developed Texas Tech University’s TECHniques Center, providing students with disabilities transition support, tutoring, and academic coaching. She taught in 4th and 5th grade inclusion classrooms, conducted research with the University of Texas at Austin’s early mathematics intervention project by providing training for K-2nd grade teachers, and served a middle school as a Co-teaching Coach to support teachers’ development of effective strategies for co-teaching in inclusion classrooms.
Dr. Elkins earned an Ed.D. and M.Ed. in Special Education from Texas Tech University, and her M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education and B.S. in Elementary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Board Member
Dawn Hairston
Dawn is a parent, advocate, and professional driven by both personal experience and a passion for supporting children with learning differences. As a mother of two children with ADHD—one of whom also has dyslexia—she understands firsthand the challenges, frustrations, and victories that come with navigating neurodivergence and learning disabilities.
Her background in education includes working at a school for children with significant emotional and learning challenges, where she developed a deep appreciation for individualized support and the importance of meeting each child where they are.
Today, Dawn works in sales, intentionally choosing a career path that provides the flexibility needed to support her children and advocate for their success. She is committed to helping other families feel seen, supported, and empowered as they navigate their own journeys with learning disabilities.
The LDA of Ohio 