Meet the Staff
The staff of Rocky Mountain Camp are hand-picked professionals dedicated to the academic success and personal achievements of each student.
Joyce Bilgrave – Founder
M. Ed Fellow: Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators
Mrs. Bilgrave’s four decades of academic and camp experience span the United States. She is co-founder and former director of the Jemicy School of Baltimore, Maryland, a nationally acclaimed program of excellence for dyslexic students. She co-founded and directed Camp Bombadil, a day camp for dyslexic students, and Big Rock Creek Camp, a conference center and outdoor science program in the Angeles National Forest of Southern California. In addition, Mrs. Bilgrave was instrumental in founding the following schools for dyslexic children: Rawson-Saunders School, Austin, Texas; Durango Mountain Camp and the Liberty School in Durango, Colorado.
M. Ed Fellow: Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators
Mrs. Bilgrave’s four decades of academic and camp experience span the United States. She is co-founder and former director of the Jemicy School of Baltimore, Maryland, a nationally acclaimed program of excellence for dyslexic students. She co-founded and directed Camp Bombadil, a day camp for dyslexic students, and Big Rock Creek Camp, a conference center and outdoor science program in the Angeles National Forest of Southern California. In addition, Mrs. Bilgrave was instrumental in founding the following schools for dyslexic children: Rawson-Saunders School, Austin, Texas; Durango Mountain Camp and the Liberty School in Durango, Colorado.
M.J. Bilgrav – Executive Director
B.A., B.S. Certified: AOGPE, Certified IDA Language Therapist, Durango, CO
M.J. Bilgrav is a co-founder and the executive director of Rocky Mountain Camp, and she is certified by the Orton-Gillingham Academy as a certified language therapist. Before moving to Durango in 1996, she was the co-founder and co-director of Pacific Quest Outdoor Adventures which specialized in group outdoor adventure education programs in Hawaii and the Pacific. M.J. has been teaching dyslexic students for the past 25 years. Until recently, she taught English and math at a small private high school that boasted a 60% dyslexic population. She is currently head of the OG tutoring department at The Liberty School in Durango where she also tutors. She has been tutoring at RMC since the beginning.
Contact MJ at 970-385-1778 or mjbilgrav@gmail.com
B.A., B.S. Certified: AOGPE, Certified IDA Language Therapist, Durango, CO
M.J. Bilgrav is a co-founder and the executive director of Rocky Mountain Camp, and she is certified by the Orton-Gillingham Academy as a certified language therapist. Before moving to Durango in 1996, she was the co-founder and co-director of Pacific Quest Outdoor Adventures which specialized in group outdoor adventure education programs in Hawaii and the Pacific. M.J. has been teaching dyslexic students for the past 25 years. Until recently, she taught English and math at a small private high school that boasted a 60% dyslexic population. She is currently head of the OG tutoring department at The Liberty School in Durango where she also tutors. She has been tutoring at RMC since the beginning.
Contact MJ at 970-385-1778 or mjbilgrav@gmail.com
Academic Staff
Coral Herrin – Outdoor Pursuits Director/Administrator
M.A. Curriculum and Instruction
This will be Coral’s third year at RMC. She has had a variety of roles with RMC. Coral has been in education for 16 years, she currently teaches at Evergreen Country Day. She has taught everything from Kinder through 8th grade, and across many subjects including computer science, student support, after school programs, and theatre. Outside of work and camp, Coral enjoys spending time with friends and family, dancing, and camping.
M.A. Curriculum and Instruction
This will be Coral’s third year at RMC. She has had a variety of roles with RMC. Coral has been in education for 16 years, she currently teaches at Evergreen Country Day. She has taught everything from Kinder through 8th grade, and across many subjects including computer science, student support, after school programs, and theatre. Outside of work and camp, Coral enjoys spending time with friends and family, dancing, and camping.
Andrew Costigan – Director of Academics
Andrew Costigan has worked with learners with dyslexia since 2002, first at the Kildonan School in Amenia, New York, where he received Orton-Gillingham training. He has also worked at the Durango Mountain Camp, Wolf Creek Camp, and the Rawson-Saunders School, each with specialized programs addressing dyslexia. He is in his fourth year as the Academic Director of Rocky Mountain Camp. He holds a BA in English from Vassar College and a Master’s in Human Development from the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. He studied Educational Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin. During the school year, he teaches college readiness at Austin Community College in the Student Development Department. In his free time, he likes music and backpacking.
Andrew Costigan has worked with learners with dyslexia since 2002, first at the Kildonan School in Amenia, New York, where he received Orton-Gillingham training. He has also worked at the Durango Mountain Camp, Wolf Creek Camp, and the Rawson-Saunders School, each with specialized programs addressing dyslexia. He is in his fourth year as the Academic Director of Rocky Mountain Camp. He holds a BA in English from Vassar College and a Master’s in Human Development from the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. He studied Educational Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin. During the school year, he teaches college readiness at Austin Community College in the Student Development Department. In his free time, he likes music and backpacking.
Bethany Chamberlain B.S.; Child Development. O.G. Tutor
Bethany is an educator and knew at a young age that she wanted to work with kids that struggled in school as she too did in elementary school. She grew up in South Dakota and received a Bachelors of Science degree with a major in Child Development. She went on to get her fifth year teaching credential in California and taught fourth grade in the South Bay for eight years took. She took time off to raise her four children and devoted five years as a founding board member of Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen. She pondered why some kids pick up reading quickly and others must work so hard. She decided to learn more about reading struggles and became OG trained with Ron Yoshmoto and Jocyce Bilgrave and was an academic tutor in 2013 at RMC. We welcome her back this year. Currently she is a private tutor, a real estate broker, and teaching skiing at Keystone. In her free time she likes to spend quality time with her family and husband tromping outdoors, mountain biking, running, and horse back riding.
Bethany is an educator and knew at a young age that she wanted to work with kids that struggled in school as she too did in elementary school. She grew up in South Dakota and received a Bachelors of Science degree with a major in Child Development. She went on to get her fifth year teaching credential in California and taught fourth grade in the South Bay for eight years took. She took time off to raise her four children and devoted five years as a founding board member of Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen. She pondered why some kids pick up reading quickly and others must work so hard. She decided to learn more about reading struggles and became OG trained with Ron Yoshmoto and Jocyce Bilgrave and was an academic tutor in 2013 at RMC. We welcome her back this year. Currently she is a private tutor, a real estate broker, and teaching skiing at Keystone. In her free time she likes to spend quality time with her family and husband tromping outdoors, mountain biking, running, and horse back riding.
Danielle Corriveau M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, M.A. Public Communications; B.A. Psychology and Sociology, O.G. Tutor
This is Danielle’s third year tutoring at RMC. During the school year she loves teaching writing and phonics as enrichment through Denver Options. She also is the author of Trail Mix: Stories of Youth Overcoming Adversity, a nonfiction book about youth facing some of life’s most difficult challenges and finding new hope through programs based in the wilderness. She trained in OG through the Institute for Multi-sensory Education and Dyslexia Training Institute, but by far her favorite training came from Joyce & MJ Bilgrave. When she is not playing with letter sounds and words, she loves spending time with her husband and two sons. Together, they all soak up Colorado’s beautiful landscape through camping, hiking, mountain biking, skiing & golfing. She’s thrilled to be spending the summer at RMC.
This is Danielle’s third year tutoring at RMC. During the school year she loves teaching writing and phonics as enrichment through Denver Options. She also is the author of Trail Mix: Stories of Youth Overcoming Adversity, a nonfiction book about youth facing some of life’s most difficult challenges and finding new hope through programs based in the wilderness. She trained in OG through the Institute for Multi-sensory Education and Dyslexia Training Institute, but by far her favorite training came from Joyce & MJ Bilgrave. When she is not playing with letter sounds and words, she loves spending time with her husband and two sons. Together, they all soak up Colorado’s beautiful landscape through camping, hiking, mountain biking, skiing & golfing. She’s thrilled to be spending the summer at RMC.
Ed Porritt: Writing Teacher
This summer will be my (“Mr. Ed”) fourth year teaching writing with RMC (and I privately tutored some RMC students last summer). In 2017 I retired after teaching grades 7-12 and operating my own high school. Since “retiring” I have taught 5th and 6th grade for teachers on leave. I’ve dedicated 30 years to feeding my hunger for learning and fostering students’ success, particularly those who face learning or behavioral challenges. I am a year-round academic coach, tutor, and mentor for students in grades K through 12 and from as far away as NYC. It feeds my soul to help students thrive. When I’m not teaching, I love to bike. This year marks my 7th completion Ride the Rockies. Along with some century rides, have climbed over 250,000 vertical feet over the last 15 years. (The fun part is going down.) I also love to ski, garden, read, and travel. Most of all, I love to play with my puppy and laugh with my family and friends.
This summer will be my (“Mr. Ed”) fourth year teaching writing with RMC (and I privately tutored some RMC students last summer). In 2017 I retired after teaching grades 7-12 and operating my own high school. Since “retiring” I have taught 5th and 6th grade for teachers on leave. I’ve dedicated 30 years to feeding my hunger for learning and fostering students’ success, particularly those who face learning or behavioral challenges. I am a year-round academic coach, tutor, and mentor for students in grades K through 12 and from as far away as NYC. It feeds my soul to help students thrive. When I’m not teaching, I love to bike. This year marks my 7th completion Ride the Rockies. Along with some century rides, have climbed over 250,000 vertical feet over the last 15 years. (The fun part is going down.) I also love to ski, garden, read, and travel. Most of all, I love to play with my puppy and laugh with my family and friends.
Phoebe Di Carlo
Phoebe DiCarlo joins us with over 25 years of Professional Services experience. She has a Masters Degree from UCCS in Special Education and is an IDA Certified Dyslexic Practioner. She has worked in public and private environments. Her experience with marginalized children gives her a special insight into how to reach the exceptional ability in every child. She is excited to work with the Dyslexic Camp in Evergreen Colorado.
Phoebe DiCarlo joins us with over 25 years of Professional Services experience. She has a Masters Degree from UCCS in Special Education and is an IDA Certified Dyslexic Practioner. She has worked in public and private environments. Her experience with marginalized children gives her a special insight into how to reach the exceptional ability in every child. She is excited to work with the Dyslexic Camp in Evergreen Colorado.