To achieve the goal of quality special education through adequately trained teaching personnel, Riverside School provides in-service training and certification for all of its teachers through The Riverside School Teacher Training Program. In addition, teachers from central Virginia public and private schools are invited to participate in training classes in order to improve their teaching of children with learning disabilities. This educational program establishes and maintains professional and ethical standards for the teaching staff through the process of examining, approving, recognizing and accrediting those individuals who have demonstrated competence as practitioners and instructors of the Orton-Gillingham Approach.

The Academy of Orton-Gillingham Educators and Practitioners http://www.ortonacademy.org/ has an excellent program for membership and certification of teachers of students with dyslexia. The director and principal’s goal has always been, and continues to be, that all teachers and tutors at Riverside will become certified by the academy within three years.

Academy levels of membership:
• A Subscriber has taken an initial Orton-Gillingham course
• An Associate Member has been certified as meeting Academy standards to function as an Orton-Gillingham practitioner under the supervision of a Fellow
• A Certified Member has been certified as meeting Academy standards to function independently as an Orton-Gillingham practitioner
•A Fellow has been certified as meeting Academy standards as an independent Orton-Gillingham practitioner and as an instructor of teachers in the Orton-Gillingham Approach.