About Us

Sunburst Academy exists to help students with Learning Differences reach their full potentials. To accomplish this we diminish the student’s learning obstacles, help them uncover their brilliance, and remove the stigma of Learning Differences.

We help students diminish their learning challenges with

  • Individualized One-on-One Concepts Programs

  • Executive Function & Life Coaching

  • Listening Therapy

  • Bridging Sessions

  • Tutoring built around their learning styles.

Throughout the entirety of a student’s individualized program and therapies, we help them find and embrace their significant talents and brilliance. Once a student realizes the enormity of their talents, they have a renewed excitement for learning that helps them reach their full potentials.

Sunburst Academy hosts informational seminars, educational meetings and community gatherings to dispel myths and increase knowledge about Learning Differences. Through these meetings, we work to reveal the gifts and remove the stigmas of Learning Differences.


Sunburst Academy is a 501(c)3 with a talented and active Board of Directors and Specialists. Meet them below:

Sunburst Academy Board of Directors, President: Melissa Cunningham

Melissa Cunningham holds a BSc in Biochemistry & Biophysics and is a licensed Advanced Listening Therapist. She is the mother of two boys and the wife of a wonderful man on the autism spectrum. After years of working in research laboratories studying cancer biology and diagnostics, she decided to become a stay-at-home mom. During this time she spent her extra time volunteering for non-profits in various capacities from being a member of the board to coordinating auctions. She and her husband also realized during this time that their eldest son had some challenges. He was diagnosed in 2nd grade with dyslexia and in 5th grade with Aspergers (now referred to as Autism 1).

The years spent as a scientist led Melissa to look for a correction to the cause of her son's challenges, rather than simply tools for the symptoms. During this search, she found Davis Dyslexia Correction® and Janell Warkentin. Her son has since completed two programs with Ms. Warkentin--a Dyslexia Correction Program and an Autism Concepts Program as well as a Listening Therapy program. The child who once struggled with peer relationships and writing anything on paper is now a very successful student, who will be attending college next year as a 9th grader, and who also holds a weekly D&D club for his peer group.

Sharing these life-changing programs has become Melissa's passion and she is thrilled to be a part of Sunburst Academy's work.

Sunburst Academy Board of Directors, Secretary: Bryan Orton

Bryan grew up in Gresham, Oregon, and had substantial struggles in school—particularly with reading. Two high school teachers had a dramatic impact on him, which altered the course of his life by helping him overcome his reading and writing challenges. Bryan went to Mt. Hood Community College for two years and in 1990 graduated from Portland State University with a BA in history and social science. In 1992, he earned his Masters of Arts in Teaching from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Bryan has over twenty-five years teaching experience in a variety of settings to include middle school, high school, overseas, prison, and alternative education. He has an unorthodox approach that reaches many discouraged learners.

Sunburst Academy Board of Directors, Social Media: Rachel Andrews

Bio coming soon

Sunburst Academy, Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: Janell Warkentin

Janell is a Licensed and Certified Davis® Corrections Program Facilitator and Davis® Autism Approach Facilitator/Coach. She herself is a corrected Dyslexic. She is acquainted with massive confusion around the written word, the diminishing feeling that accompanies struggling with speech and reading. These experiences give her an understanding of what individuals are going through that have learning differences.

Janell taught 9th grade English in an exclusive school in Khabarovsk, Russia for two years. While being a student of Russian culture. She was a part of an international team who built shelters for street children, bringing clothing, food and education to homeless children. Upon returning to the United States she began a career as a professional horse trainer and clinician. It was during this time that Janell was introduced to the Davis Dyslexia Correction method that would change her life.

During her first Davis Program, Janell's speech became clear and her reading struggle dissipated. For the first time in her life, she could express herself confidently and easily share her creative ideas and solutions with the world. It is the blend of living with learning differences, educational experience, and empathy gained through training horses and riders that makes Janell an exceptional facilitator.


Sunburst Academy Board of Directors, Member-at-Large: Daniel Cunningham

Bio coming soon