The hardest part of starting a blog isn’t writing the first post–it’s deciding where to begin. I have officially been Houston Branch IDA’s (HBIDA) new president for a little over a month and I have so much to say, so many to thank, so much passion behind our mission to share. As I take a breath, I’d like to introduce myself and then let you all know what is in store for the next few months for HBIDA.
Hi! My name is Mallary Lattanze and I am originally from Atlanta, GA, but now proudly call Houston, TX my home. Over the course of my nearly 13 years in Houston, I have spent the past decade serving the dyslexia community. I became a Certified Academic Language Therapist through Neuhaus Education Center, served seven years in Houston ISD as a dyslexia interventionist or leading the district’s dyslexia curriculum instruction, and landed on being part of one of Houston’s dyslexia private schools, The Briarwood and School as their Director of Admissions. My passion for serving dyslexics and their families stems from my own journey overcoming dyslexia. I have served on the HBIDA advisory council and board for over five years, including roles as conference chair and vice president.
Dyslexia is a journey that’s both overwhelming and empowering, and I’m excited to take you along as I share the incredible plans HBIDA has for 2025.
Last month, we started with our annual board retreat reflecting on our accomplishments in 2024 and also our missed opportunities. I appreciate everyone’s honesty and their heart to make a greater impact. We have on the calendar two of our annual events, the Spring Conference in March and Fall Symposium in September. Jenny Cantrell, our Conference Chair has put a lot of thought into bringing a multifaceted group of speakers and talent to Houston for educators, parents, administrators, and all to learn.
For the first time, I hosted an onboarding meeting for our 2025 Advisory Council with just the president and current council members. This was a great opportunity to set the new year with expectations and our shared commitment to our mission. Council members learned about the board committee chairs and a brief description of each committee and how they (as an advisor) may serve this year. We wrapped up with answering and clarifying questions.
I'm excited about the possibilities this year holds and the positive changes on the horizon! As you’ve likely noticed, we have a fresh new website, thanks to the talented team at Stansfeld LLC, and a redesigned logo, created by our advisory council member, Ashley Ackerman. Our board and advisory council are focused on exploring new opportunities to raise awareness and foster greater collaboration within our community. We look forward to connecting with you this year—whether through one of our events, a scholarship application, or simply reaching out with a question or need for support. Together, we can build a stronger and more connected dyslexia community. Thank you!
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