Bright MINDS Program


at 


Alameda International Junior/Senior High School

1255 S. Wadsworth Blvd.

Lakewood, CO 80232

303-982-6440


The Bright MINDS Program is grounded in EQUITY

It proudly serves as a No-Cost Public Education offering, helping students with Dyslexia at the secondary school level with research-based interventions and supports. 


In addition, a diagnosis of Dyslexia is not required for consideration of admission, thus eliminating potential financial barriers.

Alameda International's Bright MINDS Program featured on CBS Colorado 

February 6, 2023

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Alameda International's Bright MINDS Program featured in Chalkbeat

May 11, 2022

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Click here to apply through Enroll Jeffco

November 2020 Parent Information Night 

Please click the the icon below and enter the passcode: Zp8E^N?p to view a recording of the parent information meeting held on 11-18-20

Read Across America Day 

(March 1, 2024)


Grade 7 and 8 students in Alameda's Bright MINDS Dyslexia Prgram had a wonderful time reading to Patterson International preschool students in celebration of Read Across America Day, celebrated each year on March 2nd.  

The preschool students were SO incredibly excited to get a Pirate fidget toy as well as an Alameda Pirate Shirt at the end of the visit!

Bright MINDS students who participated did an absolutely incredible job in representing the best of Alameda International and the Bright MINDS Program.  In addition to demonstrating the IB Learner Profile traits of Principled, Caring, and Communicator, they were also admirable academic Risk-Takers by reading out loud to others!


Bright MINDS Program End-of-Year Field Trip (May 2022)


Students in the Bright MINDS Program had a wonderful time visiting the Colorado School of Mines in mid-May! 


While there, they enjoyed touring the Mines Museum of Earth Science, eating lunch at Mines Market, asking thoughtful questions of a very accomplished panel of graduate students who themselves have dyslexia, and discussing the college admissions process, as well as learning accommodations, with a school admissions officer. 


They ended their day working with school faculty to make ice cream using liquid nitrogen!      

 

We are grateful to the faculty, staff, and students at the School of Mines for their hospitality and for making this such a memorable experience!

See what Parents of our Students are Saying

BMP Parent Testimonials Dec 2021

 Click below to view the presentations that our 

Bright MINDS Program students created in honor of 

October Dyslexia Awareness Month!


October 2022 Dyslexia Awareness Project

October 2021 Dyslexia Awareness Project


Thanks for watching! 


Click the image below to visit 

Alameda International's website

General Information

The Bright MINDS Program Mission: To Educate & Empower

Alameda International’s Enhanced Dyslexia Support Program empowers bright, talented students who are challenged by dyslexia and related language-based learning differences.  Explicit, systematic, and intensive reading instruction, along with building-wide systems of support, are used to help students overcome obstacles to learning and thus more fully achieve their potential, resulting in enhanced feelings of academic and personal success.  Direct, individualized instruction and support in the areas of writing and executive functioning (e.g., study skills, planning and organization, task initiation/monitoring/completion) are also provided to students, serving to complement and reinforce the benefits of specialized reading instruction. 

As part of our mission To Educate & Empower, our Program's Call to Action also includes providing education to all stakeholders (e.g., students, parents, our community) around dyslexia awareness and empowerment via presentations at the local and state level. 

Support Systems

Students in the Bright MINDS program receive daily (grades 7 and 8; every other day for grades 9+) instruction in reading and writing as well as targeted interventions in executive functioning and self-advocacy skills.   Alameda International aims to recognize the unique gifts of your student and will embrace their differences while utilizing research-based instructional strategies to help them reach their full potential. The student will fully participate with their peers in AI’s  International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) framework taught by highly qualified content area specialists.   

Academic interventions and support are provided to ensure that language skill challenges do not prevent students from reaching their full potential.  These include: 

An International Baccalaureate (IB) World School



Program Staff

Todd C. Ognibene, Ph.D., NCSP

Program Coordinator and Primary ContactEmail: Todd.Ognibene@jeffco.k12.co.usPhone: 303-982-6440

Dr. Ognibene (Dr. O) is excited to serve as coordinator for the Bright MINDS program. He received his Ph.D. in Child Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver in 2002 and has been employed as an instructional coach and licensed school psychologist with Jeffco Public Schools since then, the first 10 years at the elementary level and the past 12 years at Alameda International. He is passionate about helping students overcome challenges related to their academic and social/emotional functioning, and helped develop the Bright MINDS Program. As a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. O maintains a small private practice specializing in the assessment of dyslexia and related learning disabilities, as well as attentional disorders and executive function skill deficits, among non-Jeffco School students. As a member of the Rocky Mountain Branch of the International Dyslexia Association, Dr. O enjoys keeping abreast of new advances in the field and discussing with others practical ways to implement evidence-based practice for the benefit of all students. He currently serves as Co-Chair for the Jeffco Schools' Dyslexia Advisory Committee. When not working, Dr. O enjoys spending time with his wife, their children and grandchildren, and pets. 



Andrea Arguello

Program AdministratorEmail: Andrea.Arguello@jeffco.k12.co.usPhone: 303-982-7952 

Andrea Arguello is an Assistant Principal who provides administrative guidance and oversight to the Bright MINDS Program. In her 10th year at Alameda International, her background includes teaching as a Learning Specialist and serving as the Special Education Department Chair. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education with an endorsement in Secondary Education from the Metropolitan State University of Denver and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Denver. Additionally, Andrea is highly qualified in English Language Arts (7-12), Social Studies (7-12), Elementary Education (K-6), Special Ed Generalist (5-21), and Reading. She is excited to provide administrative guidance and oversight to the Bright MINDS Program, as well as continuing to serve as its Instructional Coach, and has helped develop the Bright MINDS program from its inception. Andrea has a passion for teaching students how to read and realize their potential academically.  Andrea grew up attending Jeffco schools and has made her home in the community. Outside of teaching, she enjoys reading, golf and spending time with her family. 

Sarah Richards

Program Reading Interventionist Email: Sarah.Richards@jeffco.k12.co.us Phone: 303-982-8160

Sarah is one of the Wilson Level 1 Certified Dyslexia Practitioners in the Bright MINDS Program.   She has a varied international and domestic teaching background ranging in ages from 4th grade all the way to adult education.  She started out teaching Spanish and English in the United States, then earned her Master’s specializing in English as a Second Language while living in Germany where she spent several yearsShe is grateful to have completed her Wilson training with her own dyslexic daughter in preparation for the opening of the Bright MINDS Program.  Sarah is thrilled to be part of the team welcoming students with reading difficulties to help them experience success in an otherwise traditional school setting.  In her free time, Sarah loves to ski or swim- depending on the season- and spend time with her family.



Jessica Thurby

Program Learning Specialist/Reading Interventionist Email: Jessica.Thurby@jeffco.k12.co.usPhone: 303-982-8046 

Jessica Thurby is a Level I Certified Wilson Reading System instructor and is excited to be a part of the Bright MINDS program. She is a Special Education Learning Specialist at Alameda. She graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2017 majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Special Education concentrating in Childhood Communication. After graduating, she continued her education, doing additional coursework to get her license as a Special education teacher as well as an endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse education. She is passionate about helping students learn and find success. She wants all students to be accepted by their peers and because of that, she strives for opportunities of inclusion. When she is not working, Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband, reading books and going camping. 

Conference Presentations

How the Bright MINDS Program has used IDA-RMB's Assistive Technology Grant 

Grants Awarded 

The Bright MINDS Program is a proud recipient of a Fall 2022

Westerra Credit Union School Grant

The Bright MINDS Program was awarded a grant to pilot the use of a C-Pen for students with dyslexia.  

The C-Pen human reader alternative allows students with dyslexia (and other reading difficulties) to access written text in a variety of settings. 

Thank you for supporting our students, Westerra! 

The Bright MINDS Program is a proud recipient of a Spring 2021 

Assistive Technology Grant 

awarded by the Rocky Mountain Branch of the International Dyslexia Association! 

Grant funds were used to purchase iPads and apps to support students with Dyslexia in engaging more interactively with the reading interventions and in more easily accessing academic content. 

We are grateful for their support of our Bright MINDS Program students!