2020 Board of Directors 

  

Since its beginnings in December of 2014, Alabama Game Changers (AGC’s) rapid growth has highlighted the huge existing need that is present in our community.  Over the last five  years, this has necessitated both restructuring and growths of our Board to help us better achieve our mission and goals.  AGC’s Board is currently being expanded to a 12 Member Board (3 non-voting) focusing on adding members that bring much needed strengths to this current organization.  One hundred percent of members make personal financial gifts to the organization annually and are personally aware of the impact that illiteracy can have on an individual, one’s family, and in our community at large.  Our Board has one member who is first generation born in U.S. to Greek immigrants.  The Board gender breakdown is currently 70% female and 30% male.  In 2018, our board welcomed our first dyslexic board member.  In 2020, our board added our second dyslexic board member.

  

     

Karen Belcher – Chairman of the Board (Co-Founder) 

• Board Certified in Pediatric Nursing, practicing for 30+ years 

• Mother of a dyslexic child adopted from Guatemala 

  

Calah Ray, O.D. - Director, Vision

• Doctorate in Optometry specializing in Pediatric Optometry

• Graduate of UAB School of Optometry, with Vision Therapy experience for eye tracking needs 

• www.vestaviaeyecare.com  

• Daughter of a Public School Special Education Teacher 

  

Fran Spina - Director 

• Pharmacist 

• Long-Standing Literacy Advocate affiliated with The Literacy Council of Alabama 

• Member of the Dyslexia Advisory Council - appointed by the State Board of Ed.

• Mother of a dyslexic child  

  

Irene Grubbs, Esq.  -  Legal and Grant Writing Director 

• Retired Attorney for Judicial Branch, Federal District Court of Northern District of Alabama and Alabama Supreme Court 

• B.A. in English, J. D., and B.S. in Speech Language Pathology 

• Literacy Tutor trained in Orton Gillingham program by an Orton Gillingham Fellow

• Private Practitioner with Marsh, Rickard, & Bryan

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Jill Reed Stewart - Director

• Registered Nurse for 22 years

• Associate Vice President for UAB Medicine-Quality, Patient Safety, and Clinical Effectiveness

• Health Literacy Advocate

• Mother of a dyslexic child

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Lee Hagler - Director, Technology and Web Securities

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering

• Over 20 years in Information Technology with Southern Company Services/Alabama Power

• Dyslexic himself, diagnosed as a teenager

• Father of a dyslexic child

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Mary Doyle, M.D. - Director

• Local Pediatrician - Brookwood Neonatology

• Previously worked 17 years in private practice at Mayfair Medical Group

• Graduate of Washington and Lee University then UAB Medical School. 

• Completed residency at Children's Hospital of Alabama.

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Robert Appelbaum - Director 

• B.S. in Computer Science from UAB

• Over 15 years with IBML, currently VP WW Business and Solution Development

• Diagnosed as a child with dyslexia and experienced early intervention    

• Awarded in 2009 Birmingham Urban League’s Multi-racial Friendship recognition

 

Steven Ray - Director 

• M.A. in Educational Administration 

• Currently works as an Assistant Principal in Jefferson County

• Formerly served as a 6th grade History Teacher 

  

NON-VOTING MEMBERS:

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Stephanie Denton, M.D.  (Co-Founder)

• Local Pediatrician -  Children’s Medical Group and Brookwood Neonatology 

• Founder of The Literacy MD, LLC

• Member of the Dyslexia Advisory Council - appointed by the State Board of Ed.      

• Serves on Board at International Dyslexia Association-Alabama

• Mother of a dyslexic child 

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Dianne H. Matheson, M.D. 

• Local Pediatrician

• American Academy of Pediatrics, Board Certified

• Private practice in Shelby County for 30 years

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Angela Pruden Fletcher - Ex Offico Member 

• Executive Director/Events Chair of Alabama Game Changers  

• M.A. in Business Education, retired career tech high school teacher 

• Member of the Dyslexia Advisory Council - appointed by the State Board of Ed.      

• Serves on Board at International Dyslexia Association-Alabama

• Mother of a dyslexic child   

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We are happy to have three of our Board Members to also serve on the Dyslexia Advisory Council - appointed by the State Board of Ed., which include:  Stephanie Denton, Fran Spina, and Angela Fletcher

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