We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jenna Pelaez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jenna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.
Mindful Reading Center was born from a shared passion—and a little bit of boldness.
As longtime educators we (Jenna Pelaez and Alyssa Lora-Locascio) had spent years working with students (including Alyssa’s own son) who struggled with reading, writing, and confidence. We saw firsthand the life-changing power of structured literacy instruction, but we also noticed a gap: students needed more than just the right method—they needed the right environment. A calm, joyful, and compassionate space where they felt seen, heard, and supported.
We both happened to be a part of the same cohort to become certified in the Orton Gillingham method of teaching children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities. That’s when we had the idea to start our own tutoring center.
Starting was equal parts exciting and overwhelming. We were still teaching full-time in the public schools. We knew how to teach—but running a business was a whole new world.
Some of the steps we took to get started were:
Clarifying Our Mission:
We weren’t just starting “a tutoring center.” We wanted to build a community rooted in science, heart, and play. That meant multisensory learning, mindfulness, and even therapy dogs!
Finding a Space:
We started small—just one cozy office room, a few beloved books, and a lot of rugs and pillows. It wasn’t fancy, but it was ours.
Building Systems from Scratch:
We learned to create schedules, billing systems, intake forms, and registration processes on the fly. We spent nights building our clientele, weekends writing lesson plans, and days teaching at our full-time jobs.
Spreading the Word:
At first, it was all doctor referrals and word of mouth—former students, local families, friends of friends.
Listening and Adjusting:
We stayed close to our families and really got to see what worked and did not work for our struggling learners. Every new challenge—whether it was scheduling, pricing, or teaching methods—made us rethink and refine.
Challenges Along the Way
We’ve had our share of tough moments:
Balancing Teaching and Business: It’s hard to wear both hats at once. We had to learn when to step back from instruction and focus on growth. We’re still working on this one!
Finding the Right Team: Hiring is emotional when you care deeply about the work. We didn’t just want skilled teachers—we wanted kind, curious humans who believed in kids who were also Orton Gillingham certified.
Letting Go of Perfection: Not everything goes according to plan (especially in the early days). We learned to trust our instincts and embrace the messiness of building something new.
What We Might Have Done Differently
Looking back, we might have:
Asked for Help Sooner: Whether it was bookkeeping or marketing, there’s no need to figure it all out alone.
Invested in Stronger Systems Early On: Automating scheduling and billing sooner would have saved a lot of time.
Protected Our Time: Boundaries are hard when you’re building something personal—but they’re essential.
Our Advice to Anyone Starting Out
Start with your “why.” Let your mission guide every decision—from how you decorate your space to how you answer the phone.
Stay student-centered. When you truly care about kids and families, word spreads.
Don’t wait for perfect. Just begin. Your vision will evolve as you go.
Find your people. A supportive partner, a great CPA, and a few encouraging friends can make all the difference.
Mindful Reading Center is now more than we ever imagined—thanks to the families who believed in us, the students who inspire us daily, and the teachers who bring heart and brilliance to every lesson. We’re still growing, still learning, and still grounded in the same mission that started it all: helping kids thrive through science, connection, and playfulness.
Jenna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
At Mindful Reading Center, we believe that every child deserves to feel confident, capable, and supported in their learning—especially when learning feels hard.
Founded by Jenna Pelaez and Alyssa Lora-Locascio, Mindful Reading Center grew out of a shared passion for helping struggling readers thrive. With decades of combined experience in education, we specialize in multisensory literacy instruction, using the Orton Gillingham approach to support students with dyslexia, specific learning disabilities, and other reading challenges.
How We Got Started
Both of us began our careers as teachers in the public school system, and over time, we saw a clear need: students with learning differences needed explicit, evidence-based instruction—and they also needed compassion, patience, and connection. Traditional tutoring often missed the mark. It focused on performance, not process. We wanted to create something different.
So in 2018, we took the leap and opened our own practice, starting with one small room, a handful of students, and a big vision: to build a center where kids could learn to read in a way that honored both the science of reading and the emotional experience of learning.
What We Do
1:1 Structured Literacy Instruction
Using Orton Gillingham and multisensory methods to teach reading, spelling, writing, and comprehension.
Summer Camps
Hands-on, movement-based, and therapeutic, our camps balance learning with fun.
Specialized Writing Support
For students who struggle with organizing their ideas, grammar, or written expression.
Assessment and Progress Monitoring
We conduct informal assessments to tailor instruction and track growth.
Therapy Dog Sessions
Yes—our certified therapy dogs, Luna, Ginny, Queso, and Philly, are part of the team! They help ease anxiety, encourage confidence, and bring smiles to every session.
Mindfulness and Movement Integration
We incorporate breathing, movement, and sensory breaks to support regulation and focus.
Who We Help
Most of our students are in grades K–8 and have:
Diagnosed or suspected dyslexia
ADHD or executive functioning challenges
Difficulty with phonics, decoding, spelling, or comprehension
Anxiety related to school and performance
Many of them come to us after struggling in traditional classrooms or working with tutors who didn’t understand the science of reading. We provide a safe, supportive space where progress feels possible.
What Sets Us Apart
What makes Mindful Reading Center different isn’t just what we teach—it’s how we teach.
We blend science and soul. Our instruction is grounded in research but delivered with heart.
We individualize everything. No two learners are the same, and neither is our instruction.
We create a calming, welcoming space. Our environment matters just as much as our method.
We honor the whole child. Learning is emotional. We support kids’ confidence, self-advocacy, and wonder.
What We’re Most Proud Of
We’re proud of the growth our students achieve—but even more, we’re proud of the resilience and joy we see along the way. Watching a child go from not wanting to walk into another classroom or tutoring center to having them run into our space with a huge smile and ready to see their favorite familiar faces (furry and not) is everything.
We’re also proud of the community we’ve built: families who trust us, colleagues who collaborate with us, and a team of educators who are deeply committed to making learning accessible and meaningful.
What We Want You to Know
If your child is struggling with reading or writing, you’re not alone—and it’s not too late.
At Mindful Reading Center, we’re here to help. We’re not a quick fix or a cookie-cutter program. We’re a team of dedicated professionals who believe that with the right approach and a lot of encouragement, every child can succeed.
Whether you’re looking for year-round support or a summer boost, we’d love to meet you and be part of your child’s learning journey.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
We (Jenna and Alyssa) first met while working in a small suburban school district in New Jersey. Although we were colleagues, we didn’t truly get to know each other until we joined a cohort of teachers pursuing certification in the Orton-Gillingham method—a structured, multisensory approach to teaching students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.
It was during our final semester of training that a developmental pediatrician—after seeing Alyssa’s son for a visit and learning about her new endeavor—suggested she begin offering instruction out of his office. He recognized what we were starting to see more clearly ourselves: that schools, despite their best efforts, often couldn’t meet the needs of students with dyslexia and related learning differences.
Inspired by that encouragement and recognizing that Jenna also had a background in yoga and mindfulness, Alyssa approached her with an idea:
What if we started something of our own—something that blended science-backed reading instruction with emotional support, movement, and calm?
From that moment on, we never looked back.
We began building a practice from the ground up—starting with just a few students, a shared vision, and a lot of heart. Our goal was simple but ambitious: to create a nurturing, research-based center where children could feel safe, families could feel supported, and learning differences were seen not as deficits, but as invitations to teach differently.
Today, Mindful Reading Center is the result of that dream. We’ve grown into a full-service learning support center offering structured literacy intervention, writing support, summer camps, mindfulness, movement, and even therapy dogs. Our work is rooted in deep compassion and a belief that with the right instruction and environment, every child can thrive.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Working with struggling readers isn’t just about teaching phonics or decoding strategies. It’s about building trust, helping children feel safe enough to take risks, and understanding that learning differences often come with emotional layers like anxiety, shame, or frustration. You need to lead with heart just as much as with science.
Another critical skill is collaboration. We work closely with families, schools, specialists, and other professionals. Being able to listen, communicate clearly, and partner with others makes a huge difference in a child’s success.
Finally, we believe that curiosity and humility are essential. The field of literacy is always evolving, and so are our students. What worked for one child may not work for another. Staying open to new research, reflecting on your practice, and being willing to adjust your approach is what helps you grow—and what helps your students succeed.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about what you know. It’s about how you connect, how you adapt, and how deeply you care.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mindfulreadingcenter.com
- Instagram: @mindfulreading
- Facebook: Mindful Reading Center
Image Credits
Breathe Artistic LLC