Meet Our amazing reading specialist tutors

Dr. Mindy Smith, owner of Lavender's Bleu, has had a passion for instilling a love of reading in children and adults over her 35+ years in education. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Tulsa, her Masters’ Degree in Reading Education from Northeastern State University and her Doctorate in Curriculum Instruction/Educational Leadership with an emphasis on Reading from Oklahoma State University. 

Over the course of her career, she has worked with students of all ages, starting as a primary grade teacher, then a reading specialist, district reading teacher trainer and then moving on to higher education; teaching reading education courses at NSU for the last 15 years of her teaching career. This desire to make books come alive, instill a love of reading and help struggling readers was the motivation behind opening Lavender’s Bleu Children’s Bookstore and Reading Tutoring Center in 2018. However, after 3 years, the tutoring center had outgrown the space. The need for expansion led to the move to our new Reading Tutoring Center in November 2021. It truly is her dream come true to get to help so many children to become successful, engaged readers! 

Dr. Amanda Wilson is a certified reading specialist with additional certifications in mild-moderate disabilities, elementary education, and early childhood education. She earned her bachelor’s and doctorate from Oral Roberts University and holds two master’s degrees from Northeastern State University. Amanda’s passion for teaching began at a young age, starting with babysitting and continuing through her high school’s Teacher Cadet program, where she gained valuable experience working with children.

In addition to tutoring at Lavender’s Bleu, Amanda also trains aspiring educators at ORU, sharing her expertise and dedication to helping the next generation of teachers. One of her greatest joys is teaching children to read and watching them gain confidence as they discover the world of literacy.

Darla Cooper is a highly skilled Special Education Specialist at Lavender Bleu, dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students. She holds certifications in mild-moderate disabilities, elementary education, English as a Second Language, and early childhood education. Darla earned her bachelor’s degree in Family Relations and Child Development from Texas Tech University and her master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with a focus on emotional disturbance and behavior disorders. 

Her commitment to excellence was recognized in 2014 when she was named the Oklahoma Parents’ Center Educator of the Year. In addition to her tutoring work at Lavender Bleu, Darla serves as the Director of the Special Services Advisory Team at Epic Charter Schools, leading teacher training initiatives for special education.

Outside of her professional life, Darla cherishes time with her husband, John Paul, and their four adult sons—Carson, Michael, Matthew, and Christian—who are her greatest joy.

Denetta is an accomplished and deeply dedicated educator with 34 years of experience specializing in diverse learning needs. She established her academic foundation with a Bachelor’s degree in Hearing Impaired Education from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, later earning a Master of Education from Grand Canyon University. A highly credentialed professional, Denetta holds teaching certifications in Mild-Moderate Disabilities, Severe-Profound Disabilities, Hearing Impaired Education, Elementary Education, 6th-12th English, and middle school Math. Demonstrating her rigorous commitment to instructional excellence, she also achieved prestigious National Board Certification in English Language Arts in 2010.

Throughout her distinguished career, Denetta has impacted students across a broad spectrum of educational environments. Her versatile background includes teaching in special education resource rooms, leading self-contained elementary classrooms, and instructing middle and high school departmentalized English, including Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Her classroom leadership and dedication to student success have earned her high praise, notably resulting in her being named Teacher of the Year at Liberty Mounds High School in both 2009 and 2013.

In addition to her tutoring work at Lavender Bleu, Denetta serves as a special education teacher with Epic Charter Schools, where she coordinates specialized instruction for students with a wide variety of learning needs.

Outside of her professional life, Denetta cherishes time spent with her large blended family and six grandchildren. She also finds balance and joy in her personal hobbies, which include tending her garden and spending quiet time in the deer woods.

Kirstin has been a special educator for over 25 years, serving students with a range of gifts and needs. Kirstin’s love for teaching began early in her undergraduate career when she worked as a paraeducator and in-home service provider for students with autism. This experience led Kirstin to pursue and obtain her Master’s degree in special education from the University of Iowa. Kirstin is a nationally board-certified teacher and is also a certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner. She holds certificates in elementary education, administration, mild-moderate disabilities, and severe-profound disabilities.
Kirstin was honored to be named The ARC of Eastern Iowa’s teacher of the year in 1998, Jenks West Intermediate’s teacher of the year in 2007, and Jenks East Intermediate’s teacher of the year in 2016. She has also presented at several state and national conferences.
Kirstin currently serves as Jenks Public Schools’ District Teaching and Specialist for Special Education. In this role, Kirstin works directly with teachers and students, provides professional development and training, and is a key member of the district’s leadership team. 
Kirstin is an avid reader who loves supporting learners as they unlock the keys to literacy. The best moments of her career have been the little “a-ha” moments when a student demonstrates a new understanding of a reading concept or skill. The joy of watching a child gain confidence while building reading skills is second to none.

A self-described “Jedi Writer Librarian” (because why not), Laura Raphael, MA, MLIS, has over 30 years of professional writing experience, from ad copy to alumni magazines, straightforward articles to complex curriculum, including credits in “Children & Libraries,” “This Land,” “Library Journal,” and a regular “Books” column for Tulsa Kids magazine. A former Children’s Librarian at the South Broken Arrow Library, she has directed Children’s Services for the Tulsa City-County Library since 2016. Laura’s first career was as a middle school English teacher, and that interest has never left her. She has successfully tutored K-8th grade students in reading and writing, taught college composition courses, and written curriculum guides for a variety of authors. She is finishing her Reading Specialist certification at NSU-BA and is thrilled to be part of the Lavender’s Bleu team.

Shelby Welborn is a dedicated and passionate teacher with seven years of experience teaching 1st and 2nd grades. A 2018 graduate of Northeastern State University with a degree in Early Childhood Education, Shelby is committed to fostering a love for reading in students of all ages. She believes reading opens doors to endless possibilities and loves helping each student discover what excites them most about books. Shelby recently married and is thrilled to bring her enthusiasm and expertise to every tutoring session. She can't wait to work with you and support your reading journey!