What is

Vertical Take-Off (VTO)?

VTO assists teachers, therapists, and tutors in accelerating the pace of literacy acquisition by individualizing assessment and practice.

This tool will provide individualized practice for students based on what is taught in class. As users read aloud, the app listens and adapts in real time—adjusting the difficulty level and phonics focus based on individual performance.

Behind the scenes, our AI analyzes each session for accuracy, fluency, and phoneme-level progress, providing detailed audio feedback and objective reports. This data helps educators, therapists, and families track growth and tailor instruction for faster, more effective results.

Meet Our Visionary Founder:

Leta Palmiter, Ed.S., CALT, C-SLDS

Leta Palmiter founded VTO Reading with one mission in mind: to close the gap between what students need and what schools can realistically provide. After decades of working directly with students who struggle to read, she saw a painful pattern—too many learners falling through the cracks simply because there wasn’t enough time, support, or individualized practice.

VTO was born out of that frustration—and hope. Leta wanted a way to extend the power of effective therapy beyond the clinic and classroom. What if students could practice the right skills, at the right time, every day—even when a teacher or therapist wasn’t sitting beside them? What if we could use technology not just for access, but for acceleration?

VTO combines the science of reading with the precision of AI to give every child the chance to read with confidence. For Leta, it’s more than a product—it’s a promise: that reading is a human right, and every learner deserves the tools to succeed.

Meet Our Team

  • Leta Palmiter

    Leta is an accomplished education professional with extensive experience as Executive Director of the Illuminations Center for Dyslexia, a former National LETRS Professional Learning Facilitator, and an Adjunct Professor of Special Education. She holds advanced degrees in dyslexia therapy and instructional leadership, along with certifications as a CERI Dyslexia Specialist and Certified Academic Language Therapist. Leta has a strong track record in delivering professional learning, conducting research, and publishing. Her first book, Mississippi Rising: The Story of How the Last Became First in Literacy Growth, was published in 2022.

  • Ben Stasa

    Ben Stasa is Co-Founder of VTO Reading, CEO of Cylotron and a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Mississippi State University. With over seven years of experience managing large-scale engineering projects and a background in AI, microelectronics, and signal processing, Ben brings deep technical and strategic expertise to the VTO platform.

    A registered patent attorney and co-founder of Cylotron, Ben led the effort to secure VTO’s patent-pending status. His work bridges innovation and impact—helping turn research into real-world tools that accelerate literacy for all learners.

  • Brad Baker

    Brad is the co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of Cylotron. A service-disabled veteran and purple heart recipient, Brad has a master's degree in computer science and 6 years' experience in full-stack software development covering artificial intelligence processing platforms, Internet-scale data collection, and other areas. He leads overall software development efforts for the VTO prototype.

  • Hollis Phillips

    Hollis is lead software engineer. He possesses a robust blend of technical skills and leadership experience. His prior role as an Analyst Intelligence and Sr. Backend Engineer directly aligns with the grant requirement for expertise in the design and development of education technology products. He is committed to learning and applying the latest methodologies, which is vital for the evolving field of education technology.

  • Kelley M. Davis

    Kelley serves as Curriculum Director for the Illuminations Center for Dyslexia, bringing over 25 years of experience in education. She is National Board Certified with a BS and Master’s in Secondary Education-English from Mississippi State University-Meridian. Kelley has taught English Composition, AP Literature, mythology, and debate, and led her school’s English department. She has extensive knowledge of intervention protocols, FERPA compliance, and data systems. At pilot sites, she will manage security vetting and implementation and support marketing through her strong network of school contacts.

  • Marty McIntyre

    Marty is VTO's Marketing Team Lead, brings over three decades of experience in graphic design, digital marketing, and web development. She is the owner of MK/MCI Design, and board president for Illuminations Center for Dyslexia. With a robust skill set in Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, and social media management, Marty's expertise extends to web design, branding, and video production.