Ilene Heller

Board Member, Retired Educator

Ilene is a retired public school teacher of over 30 years. She received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from the University of Florida and her Master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University. Her focus has been as a reading specialist K-8, helping students who were on the spectrum, passed over, or needed additional assistance. Ilene received specialized training in multiple reading and mentoring techniques over the years, including: Reading Recovery, Literacy Collaborative, Corrective Reading, Success for All, and more. She was recognized for her success in teaching, being voted Teacher of the Year at Altamonte Elementary School.

Ilene’s heart has always been set on helping the children that needed it the most due to economic reasons, learning disabilities, and ESL. Ilene believes that in order to have the best chance for success, being able to communicate well at work and in society is a must. She joined the Adult Literacy League because she wanted to help adults seeking success to achieve fulfilment that comes from being literate.

Ilene comes from a family of educators with a father who was a principal and a mother who was a college CAP adviser. Ilene now works with her husband at his law firm and spends time with her family. Ilene is a mother of two sons, and a grandmother. In her spare time, Ilene studies Spanish, takes yoga, and travels both domestically and internationally with her husband, friends, and family.