A Tribute to Dr. Heggerty
Michael Heggerty, Ed.D. served as a classroom teacher for 28 years and was the definition of a lifelong learner, earning two master’s degrees and a doctorate. As a first grade classroom teacher, Dr. Heggerty began developing his own phonemic awareness curriculum to help his students, and in 2003, he formed Literacy Resources to publish the original version of his lessons. Sadly, Dr. Heggerty passed away in 2013, but his legacy in elementary education lives on through his curriculum and we are proud to continue that work today.
Dr. Heggerty’s depth of knowledge and his commitment to helping all students learn to read are just two attributes that made him so special. Through the publication of his curricula, educators across the United States and around the world have witnessed the power of systematic phonemic awareness instruction, and its impact on teaching students to read.
Our mission is to equip teachers with effective and engaging products and professional learning opportunities that help prepare and empower all students to become lifelong readers.
We are Passionate
We care about the work that we do and the role that we play in closing the literacy gap. We are passionate about our jobs, and it shows in the products and professional development that we deliver.
We are Accessible
All of our products were created by teachers, and we work hard to ensure that our prices are accessible and our team is approachable. We’re here to do whatever we can to help teachers succeed.
We are Pioneers
Dr. Heggerty was ahead of his time, developing this curriculum before the research caught up with him. We will continue to innovate new curriculum, products, and services that support teachers and help every student in their pursuit of reading.
We are Experts
If you know better, you do better. We are committed to ensuring that our resources are aligned with effective reading instruction, sharing our own research and expertise with the world, and continuing to explore and learn every day.
We are Responsive
The job of a teacher is demanding, and we are dedicated to supporting our schools and educators in any way that we can. We’re a small, yet proactive, team of professionals who pick up the phone, reply to emails, listen to our customers, and respond to their needs.
Team
Alisa VanHekken
Chief Academic Officer
Hometown: Lombard, Illinois
Favorite Teacher: Dr. Michael Heggerty
Favorite Book: The Dot by Peter Reynolds
Andrew Follett
Chief Executive Officer
Hometown: Woodbury, Minnesota
Favorite Teacher: Ms. Nordstrom
Favorite Book: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Angela Young
Customer Support Associate
Hometown: Bellwood, IL
Favorite Teacher: Mr. Marvin Wolterstorff
Favorite Book: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Deja Jones
Order Fulfillment Associate
Hometown: Broadview, IL
Favorite Teacher: Mr. Daniel Zundel
Favorite Book: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Erica Suarez
Literacy Specialist
Hometown: Mount Vernon, Washington
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. VanWagoner
Favorite Book: Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Jeremiah Kaye
VP of Finance & Accounting
Hometown: Oak Park, Illinois
Favorite Teacher: Mr. Steve Goldberg
Favorite Book: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkein
Katherine Coyle
Order Fulfillment Associate
Hometown: Bloomingdale, Illinois
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Debbie Schlunge
Favorite Book: The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas
Kelsi Lundvall
Literacy Specialist
Hometown: West Chester, PA
Favorite Teacher: Teacher Clint
Favorite Book: The Boy Who Spoke to the Earth by Chris Burkard
Kemi Adeodu
Learning & Engagement Specialist
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Favorite Teacher: Ms. Judith Boyle
Favorite Book: The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
Laura Castro
Literacy Specialist
Hometown: Algonquin, IL
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Gullickson
Favorite Book: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Lori Jurjovec
Literacy Specialist
Hometown: Harmon, IL
Favorite Teacher: Ms. Lamkin
Favorite Book: Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Paterson
Marc Lonergan
Director of Operations
Hometown: Appleton, Wisconsin
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. McGreevey
Favorite Book: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkein
Marjorie Bottari
Literacy Specialist
Hometown: Elmhurst, Illinois
Favorite Teacher: Ms. Madden
Favorite Book: Grace, Not Perfection by Emily Ley
Mary Beiser
Customer Support Manager
Hometown: Bellevue, Kentucky
Favorite Teacher: Ms. Sally Meng
Favorite Book: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Omero Montalvo
Order Fulfillment Manager
Hometown: Country Club Hills, Illinois
Favorite Teacher: Mr. Gary Shipe
Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Pam Cameron
Order Fulfillment Manager
Hometown: Country Club Hills, Illinois
Favorite Teacher: Mr. Gary Shipe
Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Pateese Terry
Customer Support Associate
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Favorite Teacher: Ms. Spooner
Favorite Book: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Ryan Knott
Customer Support Associate
Hometown: Neenah, WI
Favorite Teacher: Herr Pfefferle
Favorite Book: Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
Sarah Albanna
Customer Success Specialist
Hometown: Ferndale, MI
Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Vinton
Favorite Book: Corduroy by Don Freeman