Meet Our Board of Directors
Dena Kitchens – President
Dena Kitchens graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelors in Special Education and has worked for many years in the areas of Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Music and Arts Education and Christian Education. In all settings, Dena has found herself to be passionate about the children in her class whose needs are different than other children, often asking for particular students who had been struggling in other classes.
When LDA GA received a grant from the Learning Disabilities Foundation, Dena was instrumental in helping to develop the KNOW YOUR CHILD curriculum, assisting in developing an understanding of Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences.
Currently, Dena is pursuing her call in Christian Education, and graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary with a Masters of Practical Theology. Her dream is to develop curriculum to reach all learners, especially those that do not fit the cookie cutter mold.
Lauren Bell – Vice President
Lauren Bell is the founder and director of Hammond Bell Educational Services, a specialized tutoring company that focuses on interventions for dyslexia, dyscalculia, specific learning disabilities, and ADD/ADHD. After graduating from The Pennsylvania State University, Lauren gained experience as a special education teacher across private, charter, and public settings for 10 years before transitioning to private practice.
Committed to the Orton-Gillingham approach and the science of reading, Lauren advocates for evidence-based methods to elevate reading and spelling skills. Through Hammond Bell Educational Services, Lauren and her team deliver personalized, multisensory learning experiences to students in Georgia, overcoming geographical barriers and fostering confidence in every learner.