Meet Welsley

Hi everyone! I'm Welsley Jongko, mom of two boys, wife of Aaron and obsessed with helping kids learn to read. My journey started as a child when I knew I wanted to become a teacher, but also struggled with reading. I have very distinct memories of looking like I was reading, when in actuality I had no clue what was happening on the page in front of me. Failed AR test after failed AR test and prayers I would not get called on to read aloud... flash forward to college where I somehow managed to work really hard to find my way to University of Georgia, despite struggling to read. I went through the education program, accepted my first job as a 4th grade teacher and had no clue how to teach my students to read. I followed a curriculum, but it did not address their needs. So, I decided to get my masters in Reading Education. This, along with going through Striving Readers training, gave me the first insight into how kids learn to read and what was missing in my teaching. A few years later + a husband, and a change of school and city, my principal sent me to IMSE Orton Gillingham training. I became obsessed and no lie, it was the first time I realized that maybe I was dyslexic. As I taught OG to my students, I also became a better, faster reader! Flash forward again, new city, new school (same district), new baby, I became a literacy coach and started LETRS training. My eyes were open wide to the science of reading! All these things I knew kids needed were finally being confirmed in science and research. All the things I needed as a kid were finally taking shape in education. I am a firm believer in the science of reading and the right to literacy for all!