From an early age, I was drawn to education. What began with babysitting and an early dream of teaching grew into a lifelong passion for helping children learn and thrive. After earning my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and obtaining my Early Childhood Education certification, I spent several years working in early learning settings. When my partner’s career took our family on the move, I continued to nurture my passion: first, by running a small Montessori-inspired preschool at home, and later by teaching English online to children around the world.

Those years lit a new spark: a deep fascination with how children learn to read. That curiosity led me to extensive study in evidence-based literacy instruction and to founding Lit Up Literacy (formerly Grasp Reading), where I could fully apply what I had learned.

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I’m certified in EBLI (Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction) and Reading Simplified, have trained in the Barton Reading and Spelling System, and hold a TEFL certificate. For over two decades, I’ve worked with children in many roles—tutor, educator, parent, and lifelong learner—and each experience has strengthened my commitment to “know better, do better” for every student.

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Originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, I now live in Fredericton, New Brunswick with my husband, our four children, and two dogs. At Lit Up Literacy, my mission is simple: to provide compassionate, effective, and personalized reading and spelling support that transforms into confidence and skills for every learner.

I came to Lit Up Literacy by way of a winding and fulfilling career path. I grew up in rural New Brunswick, where the Bookmobile was my gateway to the world of stories, and my love of language began early. English was always my favourite subject, and I graduated high school completely bilingual in English and French.

After moving to Toronto, I spent many years in communications and publishing before discovering my passion for teaching through culinary education. I loved helping students gain confidence as they learned new skills, and that joy in teaching has carried through to my literacy work today.

In 2020, I returned to New Brunswick. After spending time caring for my late husband, I began looking toward a new chapter focused on teaching and helping others learn. I now work as a supply teacher in the Fredericton area and continue to teach both cooking and literacy. I’m completing my EBLI certification and am thrilled to see my students light up as they gain new reading skills.

There’s always a stack of books on my nightstand, and I’m grateful that the library is much closer these days. I’m delighted to be part of the Lit Up Literacy team, helping others discover the same love of reading that started with the Bookmobile all those years ago.

Hello, I'm Dawna! My favourite thing to teach students is reading because I am a MAJOR bookworm.  Books are an alternative version of the travelling that I love so much.  Books are a portal to a million different worlds and dimensions that we can explore. There are no boundaries to the imagination, creativity and happiness we can obtain through books. The possibilities are endless and I love the feeling that anything is possible. I’m certified in EBLI (Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction) and hold my teaching certification in Ontario. I currently teach EBLI online, and I can’t wait to help students discover the magic of reading!