Judith Bliss, CEO
Judith Bliss founded MindPlay in 1986, with the goal of helping her son overcome his learning disabilities. Bliss personally understood the threat to academic success facing him because her own learning difficulties presented continual challenges -- in school and in life. When Bliss’ son graduated, she understood that her mission was not complete. Believing that the most effective instruction comes from experienced, innovative teachers, Bliss set out to create instructional products that combined effective research–based teaching practices and computer technology to help even more students succeed. Her search led to Jim Larrabee who had an unparalleled record of successfully teaching non-readers and those struggling to read. The result is My Reading Coach™, a software program that combines successful reading methods with state-of-the-art Embedded Teacher Intelligence™ technology. Since the first pilot was introduced in 1998, Bliss has been compiling research results on the program. Students ages 6 to adult, many who have been labeled ADHD, learning disabled, dyslexic or simply "unable to learn", have broken through their perceived limitations and learned essential reading skills. Bliss continues to achieve dramatics results for lifelong learners with MindPlay products, still firm in her convictions that everyone has the ability – and the right to read.
Kathie McStravick, Vice President of Sales
Kathie McStravick has over 20 years of experience in the K-12 educational software market. McStravick is recognized for increasing sales in territory. She demonstrated superb leadership skills by hiring and leading effective sales representatives and relating well to educators and management. Kathie has an extensive teaching and administrative background at both the middle school and college level. As a sales person, McStravick consistently exceeded her quota at Educational Resources before being promoted to National Director of Statewide programs. In 2001, she became regional manager for Brainchild Corporation with both internal and independent sales representatives reporting to her. She significantly increased sales in her territory. In 2002, she returned to Educational Resources as Director of National Sales and Strategic Alliances subsequently, starting up her own dealership in 2005. In her first year as an independent dealer, she dramatically increased the market share of her primary publisher.
Lisa M. Garcia, Director of Educational Services
Lisa M. Garcia earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with an ESL, Bilingual Education, and Middle School Endorsements, from the University of Arizona in 1981. During her 24 years as a classroom teacher in the Sunnyside School District, Garcia taught grades 2, 3, 6, 7, 8. In 1990 Garcia received her Master of Arts degree in Secondary Education (ESL/Math) from the University of Arizona. In 1993, she was featured in the Middle School Journal in an article entitled, “Portrait of an Outstanding Middle Level Teacher”. Garcia is a Crystal Apple Award recipient and a 1994 Middle Level Educator of the Year. From 1995 to 1997, she participated in an intergovernmental exchange program between the University of Arizona Department of Mathematics and Sunnyside School District as a “visiting scholar” and instructor to promote mathematics reform in teacher education. Garcia met Judith Bliss while serving as the Curriculum Specialist for Reading and Math for grades K-5 at Ocotillo Elementary School during the school’s initial installation of My Reading Coach™ (MRC). In 2004, Garcia received the Star Teacher of the Year Award at Ocotillo Elementary school and began consulting for MindPlay on the initial RAPS™ (Reading Analysis and Prescription System) assessment program. Garcia was instrumental in bringing the additional MindPlay Spanish add-on to My Reading Coach™.
Mark Brunt, Product Development
Mark Brunt joined the company in 1993 and has overseen the development of My Reading Coach™ educational software since its inception. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from the University of Arizona in 1978. Brunt credits this alternative academic orientation with his ability to “think outside the box” in an otherwise systematic computer programming field. His interest in computers began in 1983 when he bought a used TRS-80. His natural inclination for software development and passion for computers inspired him to return to school. He received his Masters of Business Administration degree in Management Information Systems from the Eller College at the University of Arizona in 1989. Brunt is motivated by the knowledge that his efforts contribute to a product that makes a difference in the lives of people. He claims that the testimonials of dramatic changes in the lives of students who use MindPlay educational software literally bring tears of joy to his eyes. Brunt currently lives in Tucson with his wife, family, and bevy of pets.
John E. Crowley, Chief Operating Officer Grand Canyon University
John Crowley is a turnaround and business growth expert. His most recent achievement is revamping the sales and operations of the Grand Canyon University increasing enrollments from 1,900 to 11,000 students while increasing revenues from 28 million to over 68 million in two years. Before joining the university, Crowley served as Chief Executive Officer of Educational Resources and Acquirex. Crowley started as Sales manager for Educational Resources and brought sales from 40 million to 80 million within 4 years. Crowley began his career in K-12 sales in 1986 as the National Sales Manager for the Educational Division of Lego Systems, after exceeding his quota as a sales representative for several different companies.
Jim Larrabee, M.Sc.
Jim Larrabee received his Masters of Science degree in Speech and Hearing from the University of Arizona, and completed reading courses from the university’s Special Education department. Larrabee worked as a reading teacher and speech pathologist for schools in the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) for more than 30 years. In 1970, TUSD’s Director of Special Education asked Larrabee to design a more effective and efficient way to teach articulation to younger children. That began his 25 year journey of fine tuning a reading program to help every student learn to read. In 1996, Larrabee was introduced to Judith Bliss, the CEO of MindPlay. Initially hesitant about seeing his teaching methods in software where entertainment and “guessing at answers” masqueraded as educational instruction. However, Larrabee connected with Bliss’ conviction of academic success for all students through improved reading skills. As a result, the company set out to model Larrabee’s reading instruction methods in a mastery-based, direct instruction “true teaching tool”. Larrabee believes that student results speak for themselves.
Michael Milone, Ph. D.
Dr. Michael Milone is an award-winning educational writer and publishing consultant. He has taught both regular and special education classes at all levels and is fluent in American Sign Language. He served on the board of directors of Edpress, the Association of Educational Publishers, and regularly contributes to both readingonline.org and Technology & Learning magazine. Dr. Milone met Judith Bliss in 1994 while collaborating on a project for another publisher. Dr. Milone subsequently collaborated with MindPlay to build the unique comprehension and vocabulary assessment pieces of My Reading Coach™. Dr. Milone is past chairperson of the Technology and Reading Committee of the International Reading Association and has served on the Instructional Technology Committee of the National Council of Teachers of English and the Task Force on Technologies in Education of the American Psychological Association. He coordinates the technology awards program for the Educational Press Association of America. Dr. Milone currently serves on the Research Advisory Board of Renaissance Learning, the Literacy Assessment Committee of the International Reading Association, and the Education Advisory Team of rocknwrite.com.
Marsha “Marci” Goforth, B.S. Speech Pathology/Audiology
Marsha Goforth, known to friends and colleagues as “Marci,” graduated from the University of Houston with a B.S. in Speech Pathology/Audiology and Elementary Education in 1972. She worked for 20 years as a Speech Pathologist/Resource Teacher in the Texas public school system. During the last five years of her public school career she served as the Elementary Dyslexia Specialist for Victoria Independent School District (VISD). Goforth met Judith Bliss of MindPlay in 2003 when she became a certified trainer for VISD using My Reading Coach™ educational software. Goforth collaborated with Bliss on training ideas and eventually assisted in revising the product’s teaching manual. Although officially retired in June 2004, Goforth works part-time as an Early Intervention/Dyslexia Specialist for VISD, and as an educational consultant for other Texas school districts and MindPlay.
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