Penny Parker-Smith has always loved words — reading, storytelling and writing. But her passion for literacy became deeply personal when her own daughter began struggling with reading and spelling in kindergarten, first and second grade.

Like many parents, Penny wanted answers. She began learning everything she could about dyslexia and discovered the Barton Reading & Spelling System, an Orton-Gillingham-based program designed to help students who struggle with reading, spelling and decoding.

After becoming trained in the Barton system, Penny used the program to teach her daughter to read. Seeing the confidence and progress that came from the right kind of instruction changed everything. Penny knew she wanted to help other children experience that same hope.

She went on to work with at-risk readers at a private school in Riverside using the Barton system. Today, Penny serves families as a private reading and spelling tutor and is also a vendor with Mission Vista Academy, a local homeschool charter.

Penny understands that struggling readers are often bright, capable and creative children who simply need a different approach. She appreciates the unique strengths and personalities of each student and works to create a calm, encouraging learning environment where children can build skills, confidence and a stronger foundation for reading.

Before becoming a literacy tutor, Penny attended CSUF, Westmont College and RCC, and worked for nearly 12 years as a Registered Nurse in a local hospital. Her background in caring for others continues to shape the patient, compassionate way she works with students and families.

When she isn’t tutoring, Penny enjoys spending time with her husband, young adult children, three cats and a dog, lifelong friends, trips to the beach, meeting new people and frozen bananas.