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A new chapter in educational access and opportunity began October 14 as Waubonsee Community College and the Valley of Chicago Scottish Rite celebrated the grand opening of the Children’s Dyslexia Center at Waubonsee’s Aurora Downtown Campus, 18 S. River Street. The Center provides free, specialized tutoring for children diagnosed with dyslexia, removing financial barriers and bringing critical educational support closer to families throughout Chicago’s western suburbs. The historic partnership also marks the nation's first Children’s Dyslexia Center located within a community college.
The grand opening brought together leaders from education, government and the community to celebrate the historic partnership and its impact on children and families. Waubonsee trustees and administrators joined elected officials, K–12 education leaders, civic partners, community members, and college faculty and staff in marking this significant milestone in expanding educational access and opportunity.
“Every great thing starts with a small step,” said Waubonsee President Dr. Brian Knetl. “When the Scottish Rite came to us, we were challenged to think beyond conventional community college boundaries. We want to serve as a convener, a hub, and a catalyst for community success. This partnership changes lives.”
For eight-year-old Liam Tecson of North Aurora, learning to read has not always been easy. After struggling with early reading milestones and feeling like he was being left behind, Liam was diagnosed with dyslexia, a learning difference that affects up to 20% of the population. For families seeking specialized support, the journey can involve costly tutoring options and lengthy waiting lists. Now, with the opening of the Children’s Dyslexia Center in Aurora, Liam and other children like him have a new opportunity to access individualized instruction designed to build confidence and strengthen reading skills.
“In preschool, we noticed Liam struggling with letters, and after a spelling test, he told me something no mother ever wants to hear, that he thought he was dumb,” said his mother, Amanda Tecson. “When we learned the Dyslexia Center was opening right here in Aurora, just 15 minutes from our home, we were overjoyed. With the right support, dyslexia can become Liam’s superpower.”
Located at Waubonsee’s Aurora Downtown Campus, the Children’s Dyslexia Center brings specialized educational support closer to families while introducing young learners to a college environment. Open two evenings per week from 4 to 7 p.m., the Center provides free, individualized tutoring through an intensive, two-year program for children in kindergarten through 12th grade. Instruction is delivered by specially trained tutors using the Orton-Gillingham approach, a structured, multisensory method designed to help students with dyslexia develop essential reading and literacy skills.
“As a faculty member, my goal is to open minds, build confidence, and empower students. As a Scottish Rite Mason, my values are rooted in service and uplifting those around us,” said Randall Hines, a Waubonsee Associate Professor of Computer-Aided Design and Drafting, 27-year Scottish Rite Mason and member of the Center’s Board of Governors. “Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence or effort. It is simply a different way the brain processes information. By establishing this facility at Waubonsee, we are creating a sanctuary of learning that sends a clear message: You belong, and your potential is boundless.”
For many families across Chicago’s western suburbs, accessing specialized dyslexia tutoring has meant lengthy commutes to existing centers in La Grange and Palatine, often during peak traffic hours. The opening of the Aurora location expands access to these critical services in Illinois’ second-largest city, bringing free, specialized instruction closer to children and families who need it most.
“Our biggest challenge in expanding services has always been finding physical space for our third location in the Chicagoland area,” said Mike Ehle, a former member of the Center’s Board of Governors and a 40-year Scottish Rite Mason. “Partnering with Waubonsee gives families a local resource to watch their kids grow. Watching a child discover that ‘I’m okay, and there’s nothing wrong with me’ means everything to us.”
The Children’s Dyslexia Center is sponsored by the Valley of Chicago Scottish Rite, part of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, and provides specialized, multisensory instruction designed to help children with dyslexia develop stronger literacy skills and greater confidence. In addition to serving children and families, the Center supports educators through comprehensive Orton-Gillingham training opportunities, including pathways to earning graduate college credit. Families interested in enrolling their children in free tutoring services and educators seeking training opportunities can learn more at chicagodyslexia.org.
Waubonsee Community College celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of a new Children’s Dyslexia Center, located inside Waubonsee’s Aurora Downtown Campus, 18 S. River Street.
Pictured Above (L to R)
Front Row:
Children's Dyslexia Center Board of Governors Chair Michael Behm; Waubonsee Community College Board of Trustees Daniel Jaquez; Waubonsee President Dr. Brian Knetl; Liam Tecson; Liam's younger sibling; Amanda Tecson; Waubonsee Associate Professor of Computer Aided Design and Drafting Randall Hines
Back Row:
Children's Dyslexia Center Board of Governors Joseph Malatia; Mike Ehle; Nora Herbst; Chester Tecson; and Children's Dyslexia Center Board of Governors Alan J. Betker
