Tracie Luley

Chairperson
Tracie is a Financial Advisor for Ameriprise Financial Services, and joined the board in 2015. She shares her expertise and time with Specialty Tutoring because her family has personally experienced the lasting difference that customized tutoring can make in the life of a child.

Joe Ensley

Treasurer
Joe is the Application Development Manager at Broadridge Financial Solutions. He connected with our mission as the leader of a 2015 United Way Day of Caring group. He joined the board in 2016 because of his passion for community service and desire to apply his MBA to real world situations.

Sandy Riley

Secretary
As Director of Operations & Volunteer Coordinator for Entheos Audiology Cooperative, Sandy advocates for those with hearing loss, helps start non-profit hearing clinics & leads humanitarian hearing trips in developing countries. She joined the board in 2020 and also volunteers for Hear Care Connection and Camp Watcha Wanna Do.

Jake Pickett

Jake is the Marketing Communications Manager at Fort Wayne Metals. He volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Project Linus, Special Olympics, and chairs the Polar Plunge event. Jake joined the board in 2022 because he believes every child, regardless of their life situation or background, should have access to a meaningful education and quality resources.

Gina Kostoff

A life-long resident of Fort Wayne, Gina holds degrees in political science, history, and speech communication. She is Special Projects Manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters. Gina joined our board in 2021, and she’s served on several boards previously, most recently as Chairperson of Brightpoint.

Karen Stockstill

Director Emeritus
Karen is one of the two founders of Specialty Tutoring. She holds a master’s in education and is a firm believer in the effectiveness of cognitive-based tutoring and making it accessible to all. She moved from Ft. Wayne in 2001 and retired from her Reading Specialist position in 2015, where she mentored at-risk teenagers in MO.

In 1999, Jeanne Widdicombe and Karen Stockstill recognized the need in our community for professional, affordable, one-on-one help for children struggling with learning. The two co-founders combined their education & enthusiasm and researched cognitive-based programs designed to analyze & address learning difficulties. They co-founded Specialty Tutoring as a not-for-profit corporation in 1999, using two borrowed preschool classrooms and their desire to make kids believe in their ability to learn!

Specialty Tutoring grew exponentially over the next two decades in response to the community’s needs and a multitude of spirited children & dedicated tutors passed through the doors of the ‘little yellow tutoring house’ on Coldwater Road.  Jeanne served as Executive Director from 2001 through 2023, guiding the learning center’s growth and emphasizing the importance of sustainability, a well-trained & dedicated staff, and accessibility of services.

From 2021-2023, a successful capital campaign was run resulting in a new & larger learning center being built on Dawsons Creek Blvd.  Adrienne Rogers (a 20year Specialty Tutoring veteran) took on the Executive Director reigns in 2024, when Jeanne transitioned to CFO. Adrienne previously lent her talents to helping manage programs, scheduling, the fundraising campaign, and our community collaborations and she leads us confidently into a future of being there for the kids who need us!