Marissa Kiepert, Ph.D.

Dr. Marissa Kiepert (Truong) is an educational therapist specializing in literacy development, dyslexia intervention, and supporting children with diverse learning needs. She is passionate about helping children develop strong foundational skills while also nurturing the confidence, self-awareness, and positive relationship with learning that can support them throughout their academic journey.

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Dr. Kiepert founded A First Foundation, LLC more than 15 years ago with a mission to promote early literacy and healthy, whole-child development. Since then, she has supported hundreds of children and families through parenting groups, enrichment classes and camps, educational evaluations, and individualized intervention. She takes a holistic approach to literacy development, recognizing that effective intervention extends beyond academic skills to consider the cognitive, emotional, motivational, and behavioral factors that influence how a child learns. She also believes strongly in partnering with parents and empowering them to play an active role in their child’s education.

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Dr. Kiepert has received specialized training in the assessment and treatment of dyslexia and is certified as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI), a subsidiary of the International Dyslexia Association. She is also a certified structured literacy teacher and holds a private teaching certificate in nursery school and kindergarten. Her training includes a range of evidence-based approaches for reading, writing, spelling, self-regulation, and executive functioning, including Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Fundations, Lindamood-Bell LiPS, UFLI Foundations, Reading Simplified, Lively Letters, Handwriting Without Tears, The Zones of Regulation, and Seeing My Time.

 

With a career spanning more than 25 years, Dr. Kiepert’s professional path has intersected the fields of education and psychology. She has worked in childcare centers, schools, universities, educational testing organizations, and private practice, serving as a teacher, administrator, professor, learning specialist, educational therapist, and consultant. This breadth of experience has provided her with a unique perspective on the many factors that shape a child’s development and educational experience and allows her to approach each child as a whole person rather than focusing solely on areas of difficulty.

 

Dr. Kiepert earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Temple University, her Master’s degree in Psychology from Villanova University, and her B.A. in Psychology from Gettysburg College. Her research and writing have appeared in peer-reviewed journals, books, and online publications and have explored topics including cognitive processes, early literacy development, and effective teaching strategies. She is a member of the International Dyslexia Association, Association of Educational Therapists, and Specialists of Schools.

 

In addition to her professional expertise, Dr. Kiepert brings a deeply personal perspective to her work. As a mother of two children, now ages 16 and 13, with diverse learning needs, she understands firsthand the joys and challenges that can come with navigating a child’s educational journey. These experiences have strengthened her commitment to advocating for children and families and have reinforced her belief that children thrive when their strengths are recognized, their challenges are understood, and they are given the right support at the right time.

 

Dr. Kiepert understands that finding the right educational support can sometimes feel overwhelming for families. She strives to make that process collaborative and approachable, providing families with thoughtful guidance, practical strategies, and individualized support grounded in both research and real-world experience.

 

Outside of her professional work, Dr. Kiepert enjoys collecting children’s books—especially those that remind her of her own childhood—and spending time at the beach with her family. While earning her master’s degree at Villanova University, she fell in love with the Main Line and is proud to call the area home.