Charles Haynes, HILL Faculty

Dr. Haynes earned his Ed.D. in Reading, Language, and Learning Disabilities from Harvard University, an M.S. in Communication Disorders from San Francisco State University, and an A.B. in English and American Literature from Harvard College. He is an Associate Professor at the Institute. He served as a dyslexia tutor, a classroom teacher, and a Research Coordinator and Director of Speech-Language Services at the Landmark Schools from 1971-1991. In collaboration with Landmark School colleagues, Dr. Haynes designed and implemented one of the nation’s first language-based curricula for children with expressive language impairments and dyslexia. Dr. Haynes also serves on the Board of Directors of the International Dyslexia Association, and Chairs the organization’s panel on ESL. He lectures nationally and internationally on spoken-written language relationships, expressive language intervention, and cross-cultural aspects of dyslexia.

Pam Hook, HILL Faculty

Pamela Hook received her Ph.D. in Communication Disorders/Learning Disabilities from Northwestern University, her M.A.T. in Reading from Harvard University, and her B.A in French from the University of Illinois. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate program and Coordinator of the Written Language Laboratory, where graduate students are trained to teach children and adults to read and write. Over the last 25 years, she has served as a consultant to public schools as well as schools for children with language/learning disabilities. Dr. Hook has been on the Executive Board of the New England Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and currently serves in the Eastern Massachusetts Region. She is presently a member of the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Learning Disabilities. She serves on several Committees of the Massachusetts Department of Education. 

Lesley Maxwell, HILL Faculty

Lesley Maxwell received her M.S. Communication Disorders from Boston University and her B.A. in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor, the Coordinator of Clinical Education, and the Director of the Language Laboratory in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate program. Ms. Maxwell joined the Institute in 1993, having served as a Speech-Language Pathologist for preschool students and multiple handicapped, visually impaired elementary students. Prior to joining the Institute, Ms. Maxwell trained teachers, provided in-service training to parents, and was a supervisor of an out-patient communications disorders clinic. She has had extensive experience as a consultant to schools and has served as a consultant to Good Start Early Intervention, Boston Public Schools, Speech and Hearing Associates, and Quality Care in Boston. 

Sharon Weiss-Kapp, HILL Faculty

Sharon Weiss-Kapp is an adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the MGH- Institute of Health Professions at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston Massachusetts and a Senior Clinical Associate in the Autism Language Program at Children’s Hospital Boston. She is co-author of the book Visual Language in Autism.

Ms. Weiss-Kapp is the author of the Kapp Reading Instruction, a multisensory, structured phonics reading program that is used in grades 1-3 , and a lead designer of educational software for Lexia Learning Systems.  She is a founding member of the Hanson Initiative for Language and Literacy (HILL).  Ms. Weiss-Kapp consults to numerous public and private schools and presents nationally and internationally on the topics of autism and literacy.