Meet The Team
Chantal Karatas
Chantal is a specialist neurodiversity assessor and university lecturer specialising in dyslexia, dyscalculia, plus the wider suite of neurodiversity (ADHD, autism and dyspraxia). Chantal runs our West Midlands and South centres. She assesses across all ages for dyslexia and dyscalculia. She is a qualified maths and English teacher, as well as a specialist university study skills tutor and mentor (SpLD and autism). Odyssey is a supplier to the UK Government’s DSA scheme. Since 2014 Chantal has been a visiting lecturer on the PGCE programme at Wolverhampton University. She also lectured for four years on the MA Dyslexia Research and Practice and supervised trainee dyscalculia assessors on the MA Dyscalculia both at Chester University.
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Chantal has undertaken freelance contracts with the BBC, Oxford University, Warwick University, Aston University, the OU, QAHE, the NHS, Worldline, BMW as well as schools and colleges including BMETC and CADCOL in Birmingham. She has also worked with charities such as the Special Needs Circle in Derby and private clinics including the Oxford ADHD and Autism Centre. She has also been involved in legal expert witness cases alongside specialist SEND solicitors.
Teresa Determann
Teresa is a specialist neurodiversity teacher and assessor specialising in both dyslexia and dyscalculia. Teresa runs our Edinburgh centre. She undertakes teaching and assessing across all ages for dyslexia and dyscalculia. This includes writing diagnostic reports for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) and for the workplace. Teresa is a member of the British Dyslexia Association APC Reviewing Team which quality assures assessment reports and provides professional accreditation for specialist teacher assessors.
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Teresa has 30 years of experience working with children, young people and adults, teaching English, Maths and Study Skills, including for students in receipt of DSA. She also worked for 10 years as a SENCo in a sixth form college and prior to this taught in primary schools and in further education.
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Teresa has undertaken freelance contracts with Edinburgh University, Warwick University, Aston University, NHS Lothian and the OU. She has worked with charities including The Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Children First, local colleges such as Borders College and Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College, as well as numerous employers such as the Ambassadors Theatre, Succession Planning and Invicta Public Affairs.
Sim Topac
Sim works internationally as an English and Maths teacher. She has over 20 years of experience in education, teaching both children and adults. She has extensive experience teaching the primary years programme on the International Baccalaureate (IB). Her journey has encompassed diverse roles, from nurturing ESL learners to designing engaging curriculum frameworks. With a foundation in graphics design and computer graphics, her transition to education was driven by a passion for empowering minds. CELTA accreditation refined her pedagogical approach, ensuring a tailored and effective teaching style. Additionally, she is a speaking examiner for Cambridge international language exams and a proctor for international tests, further enriching her understanding of language proficiency and assessment.
Sim is fluent in five languages (English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Malay and Turkish). Her versatility extends beyond linguistics, fostering immersive and transformative learning experiences. Known for her boundless enthusiasm, care and passion, she blends creativity with practicality to ignite curiosity and instil a lifelong love for learning, with all her students.
Jodie Hoadly
Jodie is a specialist child, adolescent and parental mental health and well-being coach. She specialises in supporting students and their families who are neuro-diverse and experience anxiety. She completed her specialist training at the Charlie Waller Institute at Reading University where she graduated with a Post Graduate Diploma in Brief Evidence Based Psychological Treatments for Education Settings. She has worked for the NHS for 20 years, both in hospitals and in state primary and secondary schools.
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She offers a bespoke, individualised programme which is tailored to the child/young person or the family. The programme will consist of 10 core sessions, 1 to 1, which can be extended. She also offers group workshops and parental programmes, as well as whole school mental health training to ensure an holistic service.