A charity for children with reading challenges has appointed a new executive director.

Kendra-Lee Pearman, an educational psychologist, has taken over from Glenn Faries, who held the post for five years.

Dr Pearman said the clinic’s mission had struck a personal chord.

She explained: “My only son was a child who learnt differently and who required individualised instruction to help him navigate through his schooling years.”

Dr Pearman has more than 15 years of leadership in the academic world and healthcare, including teaching, formal assessment and learning differences.

She worked for ten years at the Bermuda Hospitals Board, most recently as Director, Learning and Talent Development.

Dr Pearman earned a M.Sc in teaching students with special needs, from Wheelock College, Boston, to “assist him and help others who also learnt differently”.

She also has a B.Sc in elementary education and psychology from Atlantic Union College, Massachusetts, and a PhD in Educational Psychology from Andrews University, Michigan.

Her work at Atlantic Union included supporting students with learning differences.

Since 2009, she has been an adjunct lecturer at Bermuda College since 2009.

Dr Faries said he was retiring from full-time work for personal and family reasons.

He added he was “excited to see where Dr Pearman will be taking the organisation from here”.