About Debbie Sexton
Debbie Sexton is a highly experienced reading specialist with a Master’s degree in Reading Education and more than 25 years of helping students achieve literacy success. She is LETRS trained and UFLI qualified, grounding her instruction in evidence-based reading practices and strong early-literacy pedagogy.
Her teaching style is hands-on and multisensory, thoughtfully integrating technology tools to enhance learning. Debbie believes deeply in the power of targeted tutoring, finding joy in providing immediate feedback and celebrating each student’s progress.
Credentials
- Master’s degree in Reading Education
- LETRS — Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling
- UFLI — University of Florida Literacy Institute Foundations
- 25+ years of classroom and tutoring experience
Approach
Every student gets a custom plan built around what they actually need:
- Evidence-based reading instruction. Structured literacy and the science of reading inform every lesson — not guesswork, not generic worksheets.
- Multisensory teaching. Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic approaches that match how each student learns best.
- Targeted, immediate feedback. Mistakes get addressed in the moment so misconceptions don’t set in.
- Technology-integrated. Digital tools that strengthen instruction without replacing the human connection.
Who Debbie serves
Elementary through high school students across the Portland metro area, with sessions available online for students anywhere in Oregon. Particularly strong fit for:
- Struggling readers (K-5 especially)
- Students with dyslexia or reading-based learning differences
- English language learners building literacy
- Students preparing for high-stakes reading on standardized tests
- Families looking for evidence-based literacy support outside the classroom