Leading The Way At SDS25
From nationally recognized authors to front-line mental health advocates, our 2025 keynote speakers are reshaping the conversation around dyslexia, inclusion, and the future of education.
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Dr. Katherine Pannel is a nationally recognized psychiatrist and passionate advocate for integrating mental health into the fabric of education. As a clinician, educator, and speaker, she helps schools and communities understand the deep connection between emotional wellness and academic success. Her work offers both clarity and compassion, making her a trusted voice in the movement to support the whole child.“Mental health is education. If we don’t support the mind, we cannot unlock the child’s potential.”
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Jonathan Mooney is a dyslexic writer, speaker, and social entrepreneur who didn’t learn to read until age 12. Now a best-selling author and sought-after voice in inclusive education, he’s been featured by the New York Times, NPR, HBO, and Fast Company. Through humor, heart, and radical insight, Mooney challenges how we define intelligence and calls us to reimagine what it means to learn and thrive.
“I didn’t learn to read until I was 12. But I did learn to change the world with my story.”
Experience Jonathan Mooney and Dr. Katherine Pannel in person at SDS25.
Lunch Panelists
Lynn Hosemann
Mississippi’s Second Lady
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Lynn Hosemann is a bold and compassionate advocate for Mississippi’s children with disabilities. As a grandmother to eight, including one with nonverbal autism and another with Down syndrome, Lynn was quickly immersed in the world of special needs and became a tireless voice for inclusive care and support. She serves on the board of Canopy Children’s Solutions and brings both lived experience and statewide influence to every table she joins. With her unmistakable heart, grit, and vision, Lynn is a powerhouse presence at the Southeastern Dyslexia Summit.
Rob Roberson
Mississippi State Representative;
Education Committee Chairman
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Rob Roberson is Chairman of the Mississippi House Education Committee and a powerful advocate for student-focused reform. A veteran, attorney, and first-generation college graduate, he brings both personal grit and legislative expertise to the fight for better schools. With deep roots in Starkville and a passion for public service, Rob is a leading voice for educational equity across Mississippi, and a key contributor to the Southeastern Dyslexia Summit.
Katherine Pannel, DO
President;
Mississippi State Medical Association
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Dr. Katherine Pannel is a psychiatrist and the President of the Mississippi State Medical Association, known for her passionate advocacy at the intersection of mental health and education. As a clinician, thought leader, and statewide voice for whole-child care, she is reshaping how schools and systems support struggling learners. With unmatched clarity and compassion, Dr. Pannel brings both expertise and urgency to the Southeastern Dyslexia Summit.
Lanie Roussel
Deputy Director;
Children’s Justice Division
MS Attorney General’s Office
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Lanie Roussel serves as Director of the Children’s Justice Division for the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, where she leads efforts to protect and advocate for the state’s most vulnerable children. A lifelong champion for child welfare, Lanie brings both legal expertise and personal experience as a former foster parent and adoptive mother. Her work bridges courtroom strategy with deep compassion, making her an essential voice at the Southeastern Dyslexia Summit.
Breakout Speakers
Lisa Authement, PhD
Health Psychologist
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Dr. Lisa Authement received her Doctorate in Clinical Health Psychology from Palo Alto University and has served as an Active Duty Psychologist for the United States Air Force. Currently, she is the Senior Pain Psychologist for Gulf Coast Veterans Affairs, focusing on how biological, social, and psychological factors influence health and wellness.
She is considered an expert in the intersection of health and behavior, working with doctors and patients to deliver whole-person treatment. She provides diagnostic assessment and interpretation, individual and group therapy, educational classes, and multidisciplinary treatment planning. Specialties include pain management, sleep enhancement, smoking cessation, weight management, and health promotion/illness prevention.
Dr. Authement was granted the Phillip Rennick Award and has authored five publications.
Laurie Weathersby
Language & Intervention Specialist
Rankin County School District
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Laurie Weathersby is the Language and Intervention Specialist for the Rankin County School District. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Mississippi State University, her master’s degree in Dyslexia Therapy and her specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Mississippi College.
Laurie served as a first-grade teacher and an elementary school interventionist where she was selected as Teacher of the Year. Laurie served as the District Interventionist and Dyslexia Coordinator for the Rankin County School district before transitioning to the Mississippi Department of Education where she worked for 8 years as the Elementary Intervention Specialist and the Bureau Director of Intervention Services.
Sorrel Duncan, M.Ed. CALT, LDT
Multisensory Math Practioner
Lighthouse Academy for Dyslexia
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Sorrel Duncan, M.Ed. CALT, LDT completed her Master's degree in Dyslexia Therapy at William Carey University in 2021. She is a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) with the Academic Language Therapists Association (ALTA) and a Licensed Dyslexia Therapist. Sorrel is also a Multisensory Math practitioner through ASDEC and is working toward certification as a qualified MSM instructor. She is one of the founders of Lighthouse Academy for Dyslexia and is honored to be part of this amazing team.
Sorrel Duncan lives in Ocean Springs, MS, with her husband, Kory. Their three children are spreading their wings in area colleges and careers. Sorrel is passionate about equipping dyslexic students with the tools they need to maximize their full academic and life potential.
Jonathan W. Shook, MD
Pediatrician & Medical Director
Hattiesburg Clinic Connections
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Jonathan W. Shook, MD, is a physician with Hattiesburg Clinic Connections.
Dr. Shook provides medical evaluations, medication management and other treatment services for children and teenagers who struggle with learning, attention or behavioral concerns.