Our board is ready to serve!
Members
Daniel Stone, B.A. M.S.
Daniel is a father of four children, one of whom is a speller. He has a B.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language and an MS in Biostatistics. He spent 18 years as an educator in various roles including teacher, mentor and lead teacher, middle school manager, and instructional coach. He has completed the practitioner training for Spelling to Communicate through I-ASC and is a Spellers Method trained practitioner. Daniel is dedicated to building a school where spellers can learn appropriate and challenging curriculum in an environment where neurodiversity and motor challenges are understood and embraced.
Melissa Stone, B.A., AT-ACP
Melissa works with Daniel to raise 4 amazing kids, one being a speller. She has been working with students who spell to communicate since 2020. She has a B.A. in Bible Exposition, worked as a disability ministry coordinator and is the current founder and owner of a spelling clinic in Mesa, AZ. She completed her practitioner training through I-ASC in 2022. She currently teaches and works as a practitioner with the national spelling organization, Spellers, to get families started on their spelling journey. She is passionate to see students gain an age appropriate academic experience in AZ where everyone fits!
Michele Thorne, M.S. C.A.S.
Michele is an autistic woman, the mother of two autistic children, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Care 4 the Caregivers, and Founder of Know It All Books. Michele's non-speaking son is a speller and the lack of support for spellers in the public school system motivated her to get involved with the Arizona Spellers' Academy. Michele is a Certified Autism Specialist, a Protective Factors Training, a Flourishing Families Practitioner, and a Stepping Stones Triple P Practitioner. She has participated in the Arizona Foundation for Women SHE Leads! and the Pilot Parents AZ Partner in Leadership Advocacy Training Programs.
Lora Tompkins
Lora is a 19 year old speller who has been communicating fluently for more than two years. She recently started college and plans to study Communications with the goal of becoming an advocate for nonspeakers worldwide.
Matthew A. Thorne, B.A.
Matthew has been in the financial sector with real estate for the last 25 years. As a father of a nonspeaking child, his experiences over the last several years have helped him come to understand the great importance for a school of this nature. A driving goal for him is to help develop opporunities for more nonspeaking children in our community. He is committed to leveraging his expertise to support and advance the mission of AZSA, fostering a more inclusive and compassionate community for individuals and their families.
Kimberly Barua
Kimberly is a mother of two, one of whom is a speller. She is passionate about spreading spelling to as many families as possible. She is a firm believer in presuming competence of every individual. She also brings years of experience in city planning and development
Mission:
AZSA presumes competence in nonspeaking, minimally and unreliably speaking individuals, providing access to age appropriate academics with a focus on spelling methods. We will provide a safe and fun environment for students to build social connections.
Vision:
Spellers at AZSA will have a well-rounded education and the opportunities they deserve.
