Mission & Team | Tools 4 Reading

Our Mission

Our Misson

We strive to equip educators with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to implement effective reading instruction in their classrooms.

Our tools and professional learning experiences are grounded in research, easy to implement, and designed to improve literacy instruction.

Our Leaders

Mary E. Dahlgren, Ed.D.

Founder and President

Since founding Tools 4 Reading in 2010, Mary Dahlgren, Ed. D., has focused on offering practical tools and training opportunities to bridge the gap between the science of reading and classroom practice. These tools include Kid Lips Cards and the Kid Lips Instructional Guide, Sound Wall Solutions, Phoneme/Grapheme Cards, as well as professional development classes, including The Reading Teacher’s Top 10 Tools and sound wall classes.

Dr. Dahlgren has more than 35 years of experience in the field of education, having served as a dyslexia therapist, elementary classroom teacher, international literacy consultant, and author. Additionally, Dr. Dahlgren served as a national LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) trainer for 18 years.

Dr. Dahlgren’s longstanding interest in early childhood and elementary education has compelled her to spend much of her career working directly with classroom teachers to embrace the science behind reading. She provides training on how to provide the best first instruction along with implementation of effective interventions for struggling readers.

Tools 4 Reading and its founder, Dr. Dahlgren, have been recognized nationwide for their innovative classroom products. The impressive achievement has led to the acquisition of Tools 4 Reading by 95 Percent Group, LLC in 2023, a notable addition to their expanding lineup of top-tier educational products. Dr. Dahlgren will maintain an advisory position and offer her expertise in supporting and strategizing the integration of Tools 4 Reading solutions with the 95 Percent Group's existing offerings. Additionally, she will offer guidance on issues pertaining to the science of reading, professional development, training, and other related matters.

Dr. Dahlgren earned her Doctor of Education from Oklahoma State University in 2002.

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Antonio A. Fierro, Ed.D.

Chief Academic Advisor

As Chief Academic Advisor for Tools 4 Reading, Dr. Antonio Fierro is able to apply his many years in the classroom and as a literacy expert to helping schools and districts teach reading to every student, regardless of previous experience or native language. His vast experience contributes invaluable insight into our products and services.

Antonio is a former Texas State Teacher of the Year and was a member of the LETRS cohort of literacy consultants led by Dr. Louisa Moats for almost 20 years.

Antonio has contributed to several literacy curricula for English learners along with Tools 4 Reading President Dr. Mary Dahlgren. He is the co-author of Kid Lips, our curriculum that teaches the articulatory features of English phonemes to young children with additional support for English learners. His areas of interest include early literacy instruction, improving the learning experience of pre-service teaching candidates, and the research and practice that impacts English learners. Antonio is also dedicated to advancing the knowledge base and understanding of dyslexia and other reading disabilities as his son, Antonio Jr., has dyslexia. Antonio currently sits on the board of The Reading League.

Judith Dodson, M.Ed.

Trainer Relations and Learning Consultant

Judi Dodson is a highly respected author and literacy expert with more than 20 years as a trainer of teachers and special education teacher. She joined Tools 4 Reading recently as the company’s first-ever Trainer Relations and Learning Consultant.

Dodson is the author of 50 Nifty Activities for 5 Components and 3 Tiers of Reading Instruction. She also is the author of the upcoming Venture Town Series, eight books designed for arrival in late fall/early winter 2023 from Tools 4 Reading.

Judi believes that literacy is a social justice, equity, and inclusivity issue, which adds passion to her work with teachers and students and is driven by instilling in children a lifelong love of learning.

Dodson consults on issues related to school change, teacher knowledge, and literacy achievement. She has served on the board for the Rocky Mountain Branch of the International Dyslexia Association in Colorado and was formerly on the board for Horizons at Colorado Academy, a summer program in Denver for children from high-risk schools.

She also is president of Peruvian Hearts, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and development of leadership of young women in Peru, giving them the necessary resources to break the cycle of poverty and become leaders in their country.