Working with Catrina Hays with the Wilson Reading program was a real success for our son. During the time he worked through the program, he gained needed skills for decoding words and reading, and developed confidence in his growing abilities. He loved working with Catrina, and found she was always encouraging, helped him feel comfortable with the learning process, and kept the entire learning experience very positive. She was funny, kind, and treated him with respect. Above all, Catrina helped reading make sense for our son.
– Candice K., Joel’s mom

Catrina Hays is the most phenomenal teacher I have ever had! I would not be where I am today if it was not for her. A couple of years ago, I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa, and now I am currently working as an assistant teacher along with trying to obtain my master’s degree in Special Education. She gave me the tools and the confidence that I needed to get to this point in my life.

Before Catrina, I despised school and found it extremely challenging due to my learning disability. At the time, I felt like no one could help me. Catrina was able to teach me in a unique way that fit my learning needs. She showed me my strengths and weakness and how to use them to my advantage. I learned that I learn best through pictures. Catrina showed me how to study using visuals; for example, when I was trying to study for the Constitution, we drew pictures on flashcards of each part of the Constitution. Not only did I learn a lot through Catrina, but she made learning enjoyable. When we were learning angles, she had us jumping around the room creating a 90, 180, 360 degree angles and more.  I loved going to school when I had her as a teacher. I would even stay in for recess to study and get homework done with her. All the strategies she has taught me I use with my students. She is the one who changed my life and inspired me to become a teacher.
– Brittany S., former student

After about a month of graduate school, today I sat down with my box of colored pencils and wrote myself a schedule for the rest of the semester. It’s sort of like a giant syllabus, integrating all of my classes and telling me what I need to have done week by week. This made me thing of you because, well, I’m pretty sure you were the one who taught me how to do that. This particular trick got me through high school, and I think it is going to get me through this PhD. I just wanted to thank you for this, along with the ton of other super useful things that you taught.
– Katy D., former student

I just wanted to thank you again for your encouragement to go for the certification and for your detailed instruction, guidance and personal pointers which you have given me. I wish you could see the tremendous change that has occurred in the lives of many of my students once they learned to read and spell accurately. I have truly been amazed.
– ​Marcia W., teacher