Marissa Kiepert Truong, Ph.D., owner
Dr. Truong (“Dr. T.”) is an educational therapist specializing in early literacy. She has received training in the assessment and treatment of dyslexia and holds a certification as a structured literacy dyslexia interventionist from the Center for Effective Reading Instruction, a subsidiary of The International Dyslexia Association. She launched A First Foundation, LLC over 10 years ago with the mission to promote early literacy and healthy whole child development. Since its onset she has helped hundreds of children and families through parenting groups, enrichment classes & camps, and individualized intervention. Dr. Truong has a special interest in supporting literacy development through a holistic lens and involving parents in their child’s education.
Her 25-year career path has intersected the fields of education and psychology. She has worked at childcare centers, schools, universities, educational testing companies, and in private practice. Dr. Truong’s research and writings have appeared in peer-reviewed journals, books, various online media outlets and have spanned such topics as cognitive processes, early literacy development, and effective teaching strategies.
Dr. Truong received her Ph.D. in educational psychology from Temple University, her Master’s in psychology from Villanova University, and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Gettysburg College in psychology. She is a certified structured literacy teacher, holds a private teaching certificate in nursery school and kindergarten, and has been trained in a multitude of evidence-based methods for learning reading, writing, spelling, self-regulation, and executive functioning skills including Wilson Fundations, Lindamood Bell LiPS, Reading Simplified, The Zones of Regulation, Handwriting without Tears, Seeing My Time, and Lively Letters from Reading with TLC. She is a member of the International Dyslexia Association, Association of Educational Therapists, and Specialists of Schools.
As the mother of two children, now ages 13 and 10, who have various learning needs and life-threatening food allergies, she is an advocate for special education and children with disabilities. On a personal level, Dr. Truong enjoys collecting children’s books, especially those from her own childhood, and trips to the beach with her family. While working on her master’s degree at Villanova University, Dr. Truong fell in love with the Main Line and is proud to call it “home.