Literacy Tutoring
Like our owner, all Altitude Tutoring literacy practitioners are highly qualified, certified in the EBLI speech-to-print approach, and have extensive experience with teaching neurodiverse students. We use the label "tutoring" because that is what most families are used to calling support outside of school, but what we do is different. We provide specialized literacy intervention, not repeated practice in isolated skills or homework support. Our goal is to teach your child to read and write proficiently while increasing his/her confidence.
At Altitude, our online literacy practitioners excel at teaching students of varied abilities. The expertise acquired from years of teaching reading, writing, and spelling to students who learn differently enables Altitude to produce effective, efficient results in a caring and supportive online environment. Every child is treated as an individual and instruction is adjusted to meet specific needs.
We understand that choosing someone to work with your child is an important decision and you have many options. We are here to answer any questions you have, so don't hesitate to contact us. We are honored to partner with families to help their children learn, persevere, and achieve. As your educational partner, Altitude is available for homeschool testing and to advise families on educational strategies. We are also here to answer questions and give suggestions related to your child’s academic needs. We take pride in delivering the highest quality of service to our students and their families.
Meet Our Tutoring Team
Brandy Gulliford, M.A. Ed., M.S., C-SLDI
My name is Brandy Gulliford, and I am the founder and owner of Altitude Tutoring. With 25 years of experience in education, I have taught hundreds of students to read, write, and spell. I hold certifications as a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist (C-SLDI), EBLI Instructor, and Orton-Gillingham Practitioner. I earned a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology from the University of Florida. Additionally, I am licensed in Elementary Education, Gifted Education, and English for Speakers of Other Languages. My teaching experience spans both Florida and Colorado, and I received highly effective ratings for all teacher evaluations throughout my 20-year public education career. Furthermore, I was chosen as Teacher of the Year by KBCO radio station in Denver and received the Teacher of the Year award at my elementary school.
Ashley Cole, M. Ed.
Hi, my name is Ashley Cole. I am a passionate educator who is highly experienced in increasing the literacy skills of students with varied abilities. I am dedicated to building relationships and increasing student and family engagement to promote student success. I earned a Master of Education in Reading from Stetson University in DeLand and I am a Certified Evidence Based Literacy Instruction (EBLI) Instructor. Additionally, I am licensed in Elementary Education, Reading, and English for Speakers of Other Languages. My teaching experience spans both Florida and Maryland. I am honored to partner with you to help your child grow in foundational literacy.
Nicole Mastrangelo, M. Ed.
Hi, my name is Nicole Mastrangelo and I have two decades of educational experience teaching students with special needs including dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, and autism. I am a Certified EBLI Instructor and Orton-Gillingham Associate Level Practitioner. I also earned a Master of Education in Reading from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. Additionally, I am a licensed Reading Specialist for all levels. As a Reading Specialist, I am highly experienced in the special education process, teaching varied abilities, assessment, and IEP development. I am honored to partner with families to help their children read, write, and spell more effectively.
Brandi Brunson, M. Ed.
Hi, my name is Brandi Brunson. I am a reading interventionist with nearly a decade of classroom teaching experience prior to beginning my reading interventionist role. I am an EBLI Certified Instructor and I earned a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Northwest Missouri State. Additionally, I am a certified teacher and building administrator. Additionally, I completed Science of Reading coursework through Mount St. Joseph University. Along with my career in education, I spent 9 years working in the child welfare system with vulnerable children and families. Seeing the real life impacts of sub-literacy is the true "why" behind my passion for literacy instruction for students of all ages. I am honored to partner with children and their families to improve literacy.
Tami Nickerson, M. Ed.
Hi, my name is Tami Nickerson and I am a dedicated educator with nearly 20 years experience in education. After earning my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, I began my career teaching fourth grade, where I quickly realized my deep passion for helping struggling readers. Seeing many of my students perform well below grade level inspired me to pursue a Master’s in Literacy Education and devote my career to effective reading instruction. For the past five years, I have served as a Science of Reading coach, supporting educators in implementing evidence-based practices to strengthen literacy skills. I am nearing the end of my EBLI training and certification (March 2026). I am committed to partnering with families to provide targeted, research-based support that helps every child thrive in literacy.