Founded in October of 2013, Decoding Dyslexia TN was modeled after similar groups in other states. All began by parents seeking help for their children who were identified as dyslexic and who were struggling in the public school system. There seemed to be plenty of spaces for educators or reading researchers, but none dedicated solely to parents. Thus, the grassroots movement spread across all 50 states and even internationally! Each state Decoding Dyslexia chapter is independent, and each is ran slightly differently. In 2018, Tennessee’s chapter chose to become. a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

Mission:
Decoding Dyslexia TN is an organization made up of families, educators, and community members who seek to empower struggling readers, specifically those who have dyslexia, to achieve life-long success. Its purpose is exclusively educational, literacy-based, and charitable.

Vision:
The parents, advocates, and community members who make up Decoding Dyslexia TN seek to dramatically improve the quality of life for current and future generations of students who have dyslexia. We will raise awareness among the general public, promote programs that focus on finding individual student strengths, and empower families and educators to support their students by advising on best practices. Our end goal is to identify, remediate, and support students who have dyslexia.

2025 Board of Directors:
President: Julya Johnson
Vice President: Lori Smith and Alyssa Anderson
Treasurer: Sarah Lightner
Secretary: Robin Ramsey
Director-At-Large: Dori Richardson