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We are pleased to introduce our current board members. Listed in alphabetical order, they include:
Amy Forshey is serving on the Conference Committee. She has been a board member for the past 2 years, and
was an LDA member volunteer working with the Conference Committee for the past 4 years coordinating the
college students who volunteered during our annual conference. Amy lives in Marion and is an Assistant
Professor of Special Education and Coordinator of the Special Education Program at Indiana Wesleyan
University. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Special Education. She is very knowledgeable about
learning disabilities, Response to Intervention, and special education issues in post secondary education.
Sharon Harris is serving as Treasurer. She has been a board member for the past 8 years serving as
Secretary her first year and then as President for the past 7 years, as well as working with the Conference
Committee and answering the questions we receive from parents, adults and professionals through our website.
Sharon lives in Noblesville. She was a Learning Disabilities teacher and Behavior Consultant for Kokomo Center
Schools and retired last May after 43 years.
Candace Joles is serving as Secretary. She has been a board member for 1 year serving on the Awards and
Conference Committees. She is the Associate Director at the Blumberg Center, Indiana State University in Terre
Haute. Candace is very knowledgeable about learning disabilities and special education and brings a post-
secondary perspective to the board. Candace also has a family member with a learning disability.
Jerry Klawiter is serving as Membership Chair. He has been a board member for the past 5 years and has
served as the Awards Chair, Membership Chair and on the Conference Committee. Jerry is the parent of four
grown sons who were diagnosed with LD and ADHD as children, and also the proud grandfather of two
grandchildren. He is married to Kathy and lives in South Bend where they are raising their grandson who has
been diagnosed with a language processing disorder and Asperger's syndrome.
Kathy Klawiter is serving as Webmaster and Awards Chair. She has been a board member for the past 19
years serving as Secretary, Newsletter Editor, Website Editor, Communications Director, Conference Co-Chair,
and Conference Chair. Kathy also served for 10 years on her local LDA Chapter as Secretary, Newsletter Editor
and Chapter President, and during that time her chapter received the "Outstanding Indiana LDA Chapter of the
Year Award" in 1994, 1997 and 1999. With her knowledge in the areas of learning disabilities, attention deficit
disorders and special education, she continues to serve her community as an IN*SOURCE Parent Resource
contact. In 2005, Kathy was nominated by her fellow board members for her volunteer work for LDA at the state
and local levels, and won the National “Volunteer of the Year Award” by the Learning Disabilities Association of
America. From 2004 to 2010 she designed the State Conference Program Binder that was supported entirely
by vendor advertisements and donations, and won the "LDA of America's Proud Project Award" in 2008. Kathy is
the parent of four grown sons who were diagnosed with LD and ADHD as children, and is “Gram” to her
granddaughter and grandson. She and her husband Jerry live in South Bend and together they are raising their
grandson who has been diagnosed with a language processing disorder and Asperger's syndrome.
Mary Tremmel is serving as President. She has been a board member for the past 4 years serving as Vice
President for the last two years, as well as Legislative Chair and working on the Conference Committee. She also
served on her local LDA Chapter Board. Mary lives in Terre Haute and is the mother of two sons, one with LD
who is currently attending college, and one with ADHD. She works for the Terre Haute Tribune Star.
Patty Useem is serving as Vice-President and Newsletter Editor. She has been a board member for the past 2
years serving on the Conference Committee and Editor of our State Newsletter since last year. Patty lives in
West Lafayette and is the mother of a college student with auditory processing difficulties. She is very
knowledgeable in the area of learning disabilities and special education, and is the owner of Educational
Solutions Indiana which assists students who have LD with school and educational issues. She has a particular
interest in helping students with disabilities transition to college.
Cathy Weinmann is serving as the Board Member Nominating Chair and on the Conference Committee. She
has been a board member for the past 2 years, as well as a current member of the Professional Advisory Board.
Cathy received the 2007 "Outstanding Service Award" for her support of students with LD and ADHD in the state
of Indiana. Cathy has been a Speech/Language Pathologist for over 30 years. She currently works with private
practice clients, does contract work with Meaningful Day Services, and is manager of The Auditory Skills Center,
Indianapolis.
Chelsea Witt is a new Board Member this year. She is serving on the Conference Committee. Chelsea
graduated from the University of Indianapolis last year, completing a double major in Elementary Education and
Learning Disabilities, and is currently working at her first teaching job. She states that she believes that every
child should have a chance in school even if that means making modifications to help them to succeed.
Note: The By-laws of LDA of Indiana call for a majority of the Board to be parents of, family members of, or persons with Learning
Disabilities. Our Board is a great mix of family members and professionals working together to accomplish our mission.
Amy Forshey is serving on the Conference Committee. She has been a board member for the past 2 years, and
was an LDA member volunteer working with the Conference Committee for the past 4 years coordinating the
college students who volunteered during our annual conference. Amy lives in Marion and is an Assistant
Professor of Special Education and Coordinator of the Special Education Program at Indiana Wesleyan
University. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Special Education. She is very knowledgeable about
learning disabilities, Response to Intervention, and special education issues in post secondary education.
Sharon Harris is serving as Treasurer. She has been a board member for the past 8 years serving as
Secretary her first year and then as President for the past 7 years, as well as working with the Conference
Committee and answering the questions we receive from parents, adults and professionals through our website.
Sharon lives in Noblesville. She was a Learning Disabilities teacher and Behavior Consultant for Kokomo Center
Schools and retired last May after 43 years.
Candace Joles is serving as Secretary. She has been a board member for 1 year serving on the Awards and
Conference Committees. She is the Associate Director at the Blumberg Center, Indiana State University in Terre
Haute. Candace is very knowledgeable about learning disabilities and special education and brings a post-
secondary perspective to the board. Candace also has a family member with a learning disability.
Jerry Klawiter is serving as Membership Chair. He has been a board member for the past 5 years and has
served as the Awards Chair, Membership Chair and on the Conference Committee. Jerry is the parent of four
grown sons who were diagnosed with LD and ADHD as children, and also the proud grandfather of two
grandchildren. He is married to Kathy and lives in South Bend where they are raising their grandson who has
been diagnosed with a language processing disorder and Asperger's syndrome.
Kathy Klawiter is serving as Webmaster and Awards Chair. She has been a board member for the past 19
years serving as Secretary, Newsletter Editor, Website Editor, Communications Director, Conference Co-Chair,
and Conference Chair. Kathy also served for 10 years on her local LDA Chapter as Secretary, Newsletter Editor
and Chapter President, and during that time her chapter received the "Outstanding Indiana LDA Chapter of the
Year Award" in 1994, 1997 and 1999. With her knowledge in the areas of learning disabilities, attention deficit
disorders and special education, she continues to serve her community as an IN*SOURCE Parent Resource
contact. In 2005, Kathy was nominated by her fellow board members for her volunteer work for LDA at the state
and local levels, and won the National “Volunteer of the Year Award” by the Learning Disabilities Association of
America. From 2004 to 2010 she designed the State Conference Program Binder that was supported entirely
by vendor advertisements and donations, and won the "LDA of America's Proud Project Award" in 2008. Kathy is
the parent of four grown sons who were diagnosed with LD and ADHD as children, and is “Gram” to her
granddaughter and grandson. She and her husband Jerry live in South Bend and together they are raising their
grandson who has been diagnosed with a language processing disorder and Asperger's syndrome.
Mary Tremmel is serving as President. She has been a board member for the past 4 years serving as Vice
President for the last two years, as well as Legislative Chair and working on the Conference Committee. She also
served on her local LDA Chapter Board. Mary lives in Terre Haute and is the mother of two sons, one with LD
who is currently attending college, and one with ADHD. She works for the Terre Haute Tribune Star.
Patty Useem is serving as Vice-President and Newsletter Editor. She has been a board member for the past 2
years serving on the Conference Committee and Editor of our State Newsletter since last year. Patty lives in
West Lafayette and is the mother of a college student with auditory processing difficulties. She is very
knowledgeable in the area of learning disabilities and special education, and is the owner of Educational
Solutions Indiana which assists students who have LD with school and educational issues. She has a particular
interest in helping students with disabilities transition to college.
Cathy Weinmann is serving as the Board Member Nominating Chair and on the Conference Committee. She
has been a board member for the past 2 years, as well as a current member of the Professional Advisory Board.
Cathy received the 2007 "Outstanding Service Award" for her support of students with LD and ADHD in the state
of Indiana. Cathy has been a Speech/Language Pathologist for over 30 years. She currently works with private
practice clients, does contract work with Meaningful Day Services, and is manager of The Auditory Skills Center,
Indianapolis.
Chelsea Witt is a new Board Member this year. She is serving on the Conference Committee. Chelsea
graduated from the University of Indianapolis last year, completing a double major in Elementary Education and
Learning Disabilities, and is currently working at her first teaching job. She states that she believes that every
child should have a chance in school even if that means making modifications to help them to succeed.
Note: The By-laws of LDA of Indiana call for a majority of the Board to be parents of, family members of, or persons with Learning
Disabilities. Our Board is a great mix of family members and professionals working together to accomplish our mission.