Staff

Regional Directors:

NICHOLE GANGITANO

Regional Director, Silicon Valley

Nichole Gangitano joins Reading Partners after spending several years in the early care and education field, primarily focusing on early literacy intervention with preschool age children. From working one-to-one as an AmeriCorps tutor to overseeing the largest Jumpstart program in the nation, Nichole brings a large range of program management experience. Nichole has a BA in Child and Adolescent Development and a Master’s in Public Administration focusing in Nonprofit Administration both from San Francisco State University. Email Nichole: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

DESIREE PEREZ-BARAHONA

Regional Director, Bay Area

Desiree received her BA in Child Development with a Multiple Subject Teaching Option from California State University Los Angeles. Always wanting to be part of a community building team, she worked for the City of Los Angeles Commission for Children, Youth and Families and the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment before earning her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and teaching sixth through eighth grade English and History. She joined Reading Partners in 2008 as the Site Director at Washington Accelerated School in Pasadena. Email Desiree: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Program Managers & Coordinators
AmeriCorps Program
Outreach Team
Site Coordinators
Development Team

Program Managers & Coordinators:

MONICA BALBO

Program Manager, Reading Partners Plus

Monica’s passion lies in closing the achievement gap in urban public schools, particularly in the afterschool environment. Prior to joining Reading Partners, she was an AmeriCorps member and Campus Director with Citizen Schools. In her tenure there, Monica earned a Master’s in Education with a specialization in Out of School Time Leadership at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is excited to bring her knowledge and experience with afterschool education to Reading Partners and the ASES program. Email Monica: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

LINDSAY BARRETT

Program Manager, Silicon Valley

A recent West Coast transplant, Lindsay Barrett lived in the Boston area for the past 11 years. She earned a B.A. in Child Development from Tufts University and a Master’s in Literacy Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University. She is an experienced elementary teacher; most recently she was involved in starting and co-teaching an inclusive Kindergarten program. She was an active member of several curriculum writing and review teams in her prior school districts and is particularly interested in bringing high-quality literacy curricula and joyful reading experiences to all students. She is excited to be in the Bay Area and to join the Reading Partners team! Email Lindsay: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

LINDSEY KESSEL

Program Manager, San Francisco and Marin

Lindsey is an educator who is passionate about working with students from underserved communities. Before joining Reading Partners, Lindsey was an elementary special education teacher for five years at a Bay Area public school. She also led an after-school reading intervention program for struggling readers. Her experience as an educator focused on working with English Learners and students with language delays. She has a M.A. in Learning and Instruction from University of San Francisco, and a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from University of Colorado- Boulder. Email Lindsey: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

BEEJ SHAH

Program Manager, San Francisco and Oakland

After attaining her bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Michigan, Beej went on to teach at a charter school in the Detroit Metro area. From the classroom, she went on to the University of Pennsylvania where she earned a master's degree in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum before working at a non-profit in Washington, DC. There she was able to apply the knowledge she gained in her graduate program as she developed a reading curriculum for an after-school literacy program. She is passionate about working to educate students and instilling in them a love of reading. Email Beej: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MADORA SOUTTER

East Bay Program Manager

Madora is excited to be returning as a Program Manager for Reading Partners in the East Bay. After graduating from Yale University with a BA in History, Madora started teaching in the South Bronx as a New York City Teaching Fellow. During this time she simultaneously worked to earn her Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Lehman College. Since then she has taught elementary school in public, private, charter, and international schools in New York, San Francisco and Mexico. Most recently, Madora was a founding member at a new charter school in the Bronx where she was grade-level team leader and mentor teacher. She loves working in Oakland and looks forward to continuing to work with the students, teachers, and volunteers in the East Bay. Email Madora: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

CELENA WHITE

South Bay Program Manager

Celena was born and raised in San Jose, California and has had a passion for education since she was six and wanted to be a teacher. Celena has over eight years of experience working in the field of education including teaching English through the East Side Union High School District. She has also worked with an outreach program called Double Discovery Center at Columbia University assisting first-generation college-bound students in after-school tutoring, weekend workshops, and summer programming. Celena has an MA in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, English teaching credential from San Jose State University, and BA in English with a minor in Education from UC Davis. Email Celena: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

KATHERINE KOLLER

East Bay Program Coordinator

After serving as a site coordinator for two years, Katherine is thrilled to be joining Reading Partners’ program staff. She looks forward to supporting high-quality programming and strong school partnerships as RP expands their presence in the East Bay. Katherine is also excited about the opportunity to develop and collaborate with an amazing team of AmeriCorps site coordinators. Previously, she has worked as a recreation leader, a writing tutor and a workshop facilitator at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Katherine has a B.A. in English form UC Berkeley. Email Katherine: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

JON LEMKE

Program Coordinator

Jon Lemke joins Reading Partners' full time staff after spending three years managing supplemental education centers in Marin county. As a site coordinator last year he launched Reading Partners' first reading center in Marin. Having served as a tutor, director, and manager, Jon brings a broad perspective and great enthusiasm for education. Jon earned a BA in Psychology and Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Email Jon: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

JESSICA WALTERS

Program Coordinator, Reading Partners Plus

Jessica grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and eventually made her way to the beautiful Bay Area to attend school. She loves working with kids, and spent the past year running an after-school program for middle school students up in Marin as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. Email Jessica: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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AmeriCorps Program:

KRISTARAE FLYNN

AmeriCorps Program Manager

After graduating from UC Berkeley, Kristarae continued serving the UC Berkeley community by advising hundreds of Cal students. Her passion and experience with leadership development was transferred into the non-profit sector with her work in the AmeriCorps program Public Allies San Francisco. Kristarae enters Reading Partners with a drive for creating innovative programming that will develop our future leaders – those who will inspire others and support the communities who have identified a need for change. Email Kristarae: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Outreach Team:

SALLEHA CHAUDHRY

Outreach Manager

While tutoring at an orphanage in West Africa, Salleha realized her passion for the nonprofit world and the need for education in urban and rural areas. She worked as an ESL tutor during college, while raising awareness and supporting St. Judes Children's Research Hospital. Salleha earned a B.A. in International Systems and Health with a minor in Neuroscience from Knox College. After a successful term as an AmeriCorps VISTA member with Reading Partners, she now oversees all volunteer outreach strategy for the organization, with a particular focus on California. She enjoys creating new partnerships within our communities. Email Salleha: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

LAURA BURNS

Outreach Coordinator, South Bay

Laura graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2008 with a double major in Feminist Studies and Community Studies. After graduation she worked at the YWCA of Silicon Valley Rape Crisis Center as Prevention Coordinator where she scheduled and facilitated educational presentations to elementary through college-aged students and managed high school clubs to engage young men and women in the violence prevention movement. Through this position she realized her passion for teaching and collaborating with schools. Email Laura: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

GLENNIS COURSEY

Outreach Coordinator, San Francisco

Originally from Jackson, Wyoming, Glennis moved to the Bay Area where she earned a B.S. in Psychology and minored in Communications at Santa Clara University. While studying abroad in England, and during Semester at Sea, Glennis began to consider the significance of the phrase, Think Globally, Act Locally. This led her to volunteer at The Bill Wilson Center and in elementary schools which inspired her to spend even more time giving back. Email Glennis: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MARTA ROBINSON

Outreach Coordinator, Peninsula

Originally from New Castle, New Hampshire, Marta moved to the Bay Area to attend Santa Clara University where she earned her B.S. in Sociology and minored in Communications. Her area of study focused on the “knowledge gap” between underserved high school students and their future aspirations. Through tutoring in local underserved elementary schools and participating in a medical ethics internship, she realized the importance of education and all the value it holds in an individual’s life. She is extremely excited to serve as the Peninsula region’s Outreach Coordinator for Reading Partners this year! Email Marta: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ALEXANDRIA WYLLIE

Outreach Coordinator, East Bay

Alexandria is a UC Riverside graduate earning her B.A. in Psychology and Media and Cultural Studies. While there, her main focus was Child Development. The work that she did in the Media and Cultural Studies department opened her eyes to the marginalized population which in turn made her became increasingly aware of the marginalized youth population. While working in childcare, she realized her passion and love for helping children. Alexandria was raised in the Bay Area and is very excited to be part of an organization that gives back to the community that nurtured her. Email Alex: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

DORIAN MASTROGANY

Outreach Architect

Dorian graduated from UC Davis in 2010, where she earned a dual degree in History and Italian and minored in Gender Studies. Through participation in cooperative and peer education, she realized her passion for cultivating community-based education programs. Dorian has always loved reading, and is excited to encourage a similar enthusiasm in new generations of elementary school students. She joins Reading Partners as the Outreach Architect, providing outreach support to her home-state of California. Email Dorian: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Site Coordinators:

East Bay:

ASHLEY AGUILAR

Site Coordinator, Longwood

Originally from the North Bay, Ashley moved to Rhode Island in 2006 to pursue a degree in English from Brown University. During her time at school, Ashley volunteered at a local high school and taught health education to 9-12th graders for two years. Here, she discovered that she loved teaching and working with youth, and decided to pursue a career in education. After graduating, she moved back to the Bay Area to be closer to family and friends, and found Reading Partners! She is so excited to join the incredible staff of Reading Partners and work with children, teachers, and families in the East Bay. She can't wait for the school year to begin! Email Ashley: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

VILETI 'AKOLO

Site Coordinator, Cox Academy/REACH Academy

Vileti was born and raised in East Oakland, CA. She recently graduated from UCLA, receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. During her undergraduate career, Vileti was involved both on campus, and within the greater Los Angeles area. She served as a Tutor, Peer Advisor and Academic Success Coordinator for the Pacific Islander Education and Retention (PIER) Project. She also served as a member and Chairperson for the Pacific Islands' Student Association (PISA), an organization that promoted educational and cultural awareness of the underrepresented Pacific Islander population on campus. Always having an infinite passion to serve her community and other communities of color, Vileti returned to the Bay Area upon graduation to reunite with her close knit family, and later serve her hometown youth by working with Reading Partners. Vileti is extremely excited to be the Site Coordinator for Cox and Reach Academies. She is prepared to challenge herself while simultaneously providing constant positive energy and empowerment to the youth and community. Email Vileti: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

SERENA AQUINO

Site Coordinator, Hillside

Originally from Castro Valley, Serena is excited to be working in the community in which she was born and raised. After graduating from high school, she moved to Southern California to attend Pasadena City College where she studied Developmental Psychology. After graduation she moved back to the East Bay and worked as a tutor at both Sylvan Learning Center in Castro Valley and the Reading Partners reading center at Hillside Elementary. Today, Serena is looking forward to an amazing 2011-2012 school year at Hillside Elementary as the Site Coordinator! Email Serena: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ALIX BLACK

Site Coordinator, Learning Without Limits

Alix was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, then moved to the Bay Area to study Anthropology at UC Berkeley. While there, she worked as a student employee in the manuscripts division of the Bancroft Library and as the Coordinator for Outreach, Diversity, and Anti-discrimination in the Berkeley Student Cooperative. She developed a passion for working with youth of all ages through working in toy stores, in summer camps, and in various capacities with Youth Radio. As an avid reader from an early age, she can think of nothing more wonderful than helping to impart a love of books and learning to young readers. Email Alix: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

KRYSTINA CARO

East Bay Regional Site Coordinator

Krystina is a recent graduate of UC Davis with a Bachelors Degree in Sociology and a minor in Anthropology. Her interest in helping children become academically successful started when she began volunteering and tutoring for a nonprofit afterschool program in 2009. She also served as a Campaign Organizer and Education Coordinator for CALPIRG, educating her community on energy conservation. She spends her spare time searching for new music, movies and anything artistic. She hopes to pursue a teaching credential in the near future and is very excited to be a new member of Reading Partners. Email Krystina: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

KAITLIN DANSSAERT

Team Leader, Learning Without Limits Reading Partners Plus

Kaitlin loves to read, write, run, paint, play soccer, hike, work with children, and explore the world around her. She grew up in Solana Beach, CA and recently graduated from UC Davis with a B.A. in Comparative Literature and minors in Education and Spanish. She has worked as a summer camp counselor (Solana Beach Jr. Lifeguards), teacher’s assistant (Patwin Elementary), tutor (Woodland High School), and peer advisor (UC Davis). Kaitlin is very passionate about the importance of joyful learning and play both inside and outside of the classroom and hopes to bring sunshine and an everlasting love of reading into the lives of her students. Email Kaitlin: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ELIZABETH GUERRA

Site Coordinator, Learning Without Limits Reading Partners Plus

Elizabeth was born and raised in Oakland, California. She graduated from Oakland Emiliano Zapata Street Academy and is currently working on a degree in Liberal Studies, as well as her teaching credentials. She's been working in the school system for about seven plus years and has a huge passion for working in the community in which she grew up. Her ultimate goal in the future is to open a nonprofit geared towards helping the youth in Oakland in all aspects of life including education, health and fitness, and overall social well being. Email Elizabeth: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

CLAIRE HENRY

Site Coordinator, Riverside

Claire hails from Pennsylvania, but attended the University of Virginia where she graduated in three years with a BA in English. Before joining Reading Partners, Claire participated in the Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service at Georgetown University, which sparked her desire to work in the non-profit sector. She has a long history of working with children and literacy, and notably was involved in the Books Behind Bars program at UVA. She is excited to work at Riverside and get to know all of her students. Email Claire: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

JANELLE JOVELLANOS

Team Leader, Learning Without Limits Reading Partners Plus

Janelle graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Psychology. Before joining Reading Partners, she worked as a Technical Consultant for Information Services and Technology at UCB. Janelle has volunteer experience working as a research assistant at the UCB Infant Studies Center, Assistant Teaching at Sunrise Montessori Preschool in Sacramento, and currently volunteers at the Alameda County Crisis Hotline. To her, there is nothing more rewarding than helping a child succeed. Email Janelle: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

FRESHTA KOHGADAI

Site Coordinator, Lazear

Freshta grew up in Alameda County, going through the public school system where being resourceful was a big part of the community. She graduated from UC Davis in 2010 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Education. Her passion for helping communities through education brought her to Reading Partners. She is excited to gain valuable experience that will help her advance her career in education. Email Freshta: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

EMMA LAZ-HIRSCH

Site Coordinator, Brookfield

Emma is thrilled to be returning to Brookfield as Reading Partners Site Coordinator for the 2011-2012 year, eager to expand our tutor base and enroll more kids in our program. A graduate of Brown University with a BA in Urban Studies, Emma has previously worked or volunteered in diverse capacities at Wisconsin, Rhode Island and California schools, and brings experience organizing for local and national political campaigns and community development initiatives. With a love of literature that stretches back to infancy, Emma’s former aspiration was to be an author and illustrator of children’s books. She has decided that reading them with kids at Brookfield is way better. Email Emma: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MIA LOBACO

Team Leader, Learning Without Limits Reading Partners Plus

Mia grew up in Sacramento, California and attended college at the University of California, Santa Cruz where she received her B.A. in Sociology. She has always been interested in the field of education and spent the previous year as a mental health assistant at Martin Luther King Middle School in Berkeley, CA. She is excited to join the Learning Without Limits team and hopes to provide a positive after-school learning environment where kids can receive homework support, strengthen their literacy skills, and become excited about reading. She hopes to spark a love for reading in the students she is working with and engage them in interesting activities that help foster critical thinking skills. Her goal in the future is to pursue a masters in social work or obtain a teaching credential so she can continue to help those in need. Email Mia: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

RYAN LYLE

Site Coordinator, Think College Now/International Community School

Ryan grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and received her B.S. in Communication from Boston University. After graduation, she moved to Washington, DC where she worked in the U.S. Senate for a Democratic senator from her home state. It was during her time on the Hill that she began tutoring an elementary school student during her Friday lunch hour, opening her eyes to the wondrous world of education and youth development. Ryan is excited to be a part of Reading Partners and begin working in the Bay Area at Think College Now and International Community School. Email Ryan: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

GENIA MIRANDA

Team Leader, Learning Without Limits Reading Partners Plus

Eugenia grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from Loyola Marymount University in May 2010 in Business Administration and minor in Spanish. Her work experience with children include tutoring and soccer camp counselor. She is very excited to work with children and is ready to engage in this life changing experience. Email Eugenia: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

RUEBEN SALMERON

Site Coordinator, Berkley Maynard Academy

Rueben joins Reading Partners as a recent UC Berkeley graduate with a B.A. in American Studies with a focus on education, sociology, and psychology. His senior thesis was on the inequalities in education that contribute to the achievement gap seen in today’s schools with an emphasis on the inadequate funding of public schools in California. For nearly five years Rueben volunteered as a mentor and coordinator of a one-on-one mentoring program at Longfellow Middle School in Berkeley. He is excited to be working with Reading Partners and improve the state of California’s education system. Email Rueben: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MALLORY SERVAIS

Site Coordinator, Laurel

Mallory grew up near Baltimore, Maryland and earned her degrees in Anthropology and Conflict Management from the University of Maryland. She gained valuable teaching and conflict management skills during her time as an undergraduate teaching assistant, and as an intern for both the National Peace Corps Association, and Search for Common Ground. While there, she developed and launched a program for college-aged students called Students for Common Ground. Mallory is excited to gain more teaching experience as an AmeriCorps member and hopes hard work and dedication will help the students at Laurel improve their reading skills and ignite a passion for reading. Mallory’s favorite things include reading, sunflowers, vegan cupcakes, polar bears, running, and peace. Email Mallory: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

San Francisco/Marin:

CARLO DELGADILLO

Site Coordinator, Sherman

Carlo earned both his Bachelor’s degree in History and his Master’s degree in education from San Francisco State University. While a student, Carlo worked for University Housing at San Francisco State University and more recently, was a Youth Volunteer Coordinator in East Los Angeles where he was responsible for supervising and instructing volunteers in different roles. This is Carlo's first year with Reading Partners and as an AmeriCorps member. Email Carlo: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

HOPE FELDMAN

Site Coordinator, Bayside

Hope graduated from UC Davis in 2011 with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Education. She has a strong desire to help students with special needs and has spent a significant amount of time interning as a resource classroom assistant and volunteering in school mentoring/tutoring programs. Hope is thrilled to continue her work with children as a Site Coordinator for Reading Partners at Bayside Elementary. Email Hope: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

TARRYN JONES

Site Coordinator

Tarryn received her B.A in Religious Studies and Philosophy, along with a minor in Sociology and Anthropology at Ball State University in Indiana. After taking a trip to Negril, Jamaica with her University's Anthropology department to assist at a "second chance school," she discovered the joys of service and educating. It was that experience that led her to relocate to California, where she completed her first year of AmeriCorps service as a tutor, mentor, and after school teacher. This year at Reading Partners Tarryn is excited to bring her passion for education, love of service, and also her own experience as a tutor; she believes that this will provide her with the foundation for what will become a truly rewarding year with Reading Partners at Monroe Elementary. Email Tarryn: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MEGAN LAMB

Site Coordinator, Flynn Reading Partners Plus

Email Megan: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

TRACY LE

Site Coordinator, Alvarado

Tracy is a recent graduate from UC Berkeley with a B.S. in Nutritional Science and minor in Education. She has worked with children of all ages both inside and outside of school settings through programs such as Jumpstart for Young Children, Sage Mentoring, and Global Medical Brigades in Honduras. She is very excited to come into Alvarado Elementary everyday as the Reading Partners Site Coordinator. Email Tracy: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ANNE LITTLE

Site Coordinator, Sanchez

Anne is thrilled to return as a second year Site Coordinator at Sanchez Elementary. Originally from Austin, Texas, Anne moved out to California to attend Stanford University. She graduated in 2010 with a Bachelors degree in Human Biology and a Concentration in Child and Adolescent Functioning. Anne has always felt passionate about working with children and is excited to be a part of the Reading Partners team. Email Anne: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

JENNY NEWMAN

Site Coordinator, Hillcrest

Jenny received her B.A. in English and Studio Art from Kenyon College in Ohio. She recently relocated to San Francisco from Austin, TX, where she had been working at an art museum. Past experiences, tutoring through juvenile probation and creative writing programs motivated Jenny to work in education, and she is excited to continue to pursue that goal with Reading Partners as Site Coordinator at Hillcrest Elementary. Email Jenny: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

KELLY ORR

Site Coordinator, Flynn

Kelly has always had a passion for education. As a history major and Spanish minor at Santa Clara University she also had the opportunity to minor in Urban Education which confirmed her commitment to serve others and give back. Kelly, a Boulder, Colorado native, is currently the site coordinator at Flynn Elementary and is excited about the wonderful opportunity to work through AmeriCorps for Reading Partners in the San Francisco community. Email Kelly: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ZAC POXLEITNER

Site Coordinator, Daniel Webster

Zac grew up in a small town in Northern Minnesota and eventually made his way to Minneapolis-St. Paul where he earned his B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Family Studies. He recently moved to San Francisco after spending a year in an Americorps position tutoring and mentoring at-risk elementary youth in Santa Rosa, CA. He has carried his passion for learning, service, and education forward into his new position as Site Coordinator and hopes to help facilitate a positive change in his new community. Email Zac: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

BRITTANY PRINCE

Site Coordinator, Bret Harte

Brittany Prince is a returning Site Coordinator and is excited to be at Bret Harte for a second year. After she graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where she studied English, she then went on to earn her master’s in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University. She also lectures in the evenings at San Francisco State University, teaching African American Literature courses. Brittany believes literacy is fundamental to educational success and loves being a part of Reading Partners. Email Brittany: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

South Bay:

RAGAN ANDERSON

Site Coordinator, Horace Cureton

Ragan Anderson was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama and is brand new to the Golden State! She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee. Ragan spent last year teaching Secondary and High School English at a bilingual school in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, where she fell in love with education and working with children. She wanted to find a place where she could incorporate both of those in her daily life; Reading Partners was just the place! So now she is here, with an open heart and mind, ready to support and learn from all of the students, faculty, tutors and parents at Horace Cureton Elementary School! Email Ragan: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

CHRISTINA CASTRO

Site Coordinator, Horace Mann

Christina holds a M.A. in Hispanic Studies, a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from Villanova University. She has volunteered many years in her local community as well as worked on several social justice and outreach projects around the world. She enjoys drinking tea while reading travel magazines. She is excited to be a member of the Reading Partners family this year. Email Christina: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

BETHANY GROVE

Site Coordinator, Mt. Pleasant

Bethany graduated in May 2011 from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology/Anthropology and a minor in Spanish. During her time at Hendrix College, she was a student worker with the Office of Admission where she had the opportunity to meet many students and parents going through the college decision process. She has also spent time volunteering with her local library, former elementary school, and as a tutor with an academic outreach program. Sharing her love for reading (and sometimes Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton, one of her favorite children’s books) has been one of her favorite parts of these volunteer experiences. She is looking forward to serving as an AmeriCorps member with Reading Partners! Email Bethany: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

YURI HOBART

Site Coordinator, Kennedy

Yuri attended elementary school in Washington state, middle school in Japan, and high school in California. Upon graduating from UCLA with a B.A. in Communication Studies, she worked as a Communications Assistant at UCLA School of Law, and then worked for the Education Department at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Her interest in education policy grew after conducting research in Washington, D.C. on the low civic engagement among non-college youth. She recently made the move to the Bay Area to work with Reading Partners, and is very excited to explore the region and to pass on her enthusiasm for reading to students. Her favorite book is Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, and she is also often found re-reading stories of the Glass family by J.D. Salinger. Email Yuri: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ANDREW MULVANEY

Site Coordinator, Los Arboles

Andrew Mulvaney joins Reading Partners after graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a B.A. in Communication and Legal Studies. While an undergraduate, he volunteered at a local non-profit center offering recreational programs for children with special needs. He also competed as a varsity member of the Cross Country and Outdoor Track and Field teams. One of his strongest passions is in closing the achievement gap and he is excited to serve as an AmeriCorps member. Email Andrew: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MISSY SZLADEK

Site Coordinator, Montague

Missy Szladek joined Reading Partners upon finishing her Masters in Social Work from Fordham University in New York City. Prior to her Master’s program, Missy received her B.A. in Psychology from Montclair State University in New Jersey. Missy is extremely excited to be working as a Site Coordinator at Montague Elementary! Some of her favorite activities include cooking, kickboxing, reading, and watching the New York Yankees. Email Missy: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

KIMBERLY TRINH

Regional Site Coordinator, South Bay

Kimberly Trinh was born and raised in San Jose, California, and although her childhood dream was to become a teacher, she went on to earn her BS in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from UC Berkeley. While attending Cal, she worked at the Lawrence Hall of Science as a teaching assistant for summer camp classes. Upon graduation, she spent several years working in the computer networking industry, and in her spare time, Kimberly took Child Development classes at Mission College and also started volunteering with Reading Partners as a tutor at Montague Elementary. Having been an ESL student in kindergarten, Kimberly has a passion for helping children learn and love to read. Email Kimberly: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Peninsula:

LAUREN AKINS

Site Coordinator, Hawes

Lauren Akins joined Reading partners upon finishing her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Notre Dame de Namur University. Previous to starting the credential program, she received her B.A. in Liberal Studies with a Music Emphasis at Azusa Pacific University. Currently she is working on her M.A. in Education focusing on Curriculum and Instruction. Some of her favorite activities include cycling, cooking/baking as well as playing the piano. She is very excited to be working at Hawes Elementary as the Site Coordinator for the Reading Partners Center! Email Lauren: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NANCY BASORE

Site Coordinator, San Mateo Park

Nancy has used her enjoyment of children to pursue an extensive and varied career in education. Her initial interest was in science, having received her BS in Zoology and MS in Wildlife Biology. But after volunteering in an elementary school, she decided to change her path and obtained an elementary teaching credential. She subsequently went global, obtaining teaching positions in Australia and Germany before returning to the States. She has been both a tutor and site coordinator with Reading Partners. She is excited to be able to continue her interest in children and reading by working with Bay Area students and tutors in the Reading Partners program. Email Nancy: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

LINDA BOGUE

Site Coordinator, Selby Lane

Linda joins Reading Partners after getting hooked tutoring at our San Mateo Park School site. Although she is a life-long student of literature and collector of children’s books, this is a new direction for her after a career in strategic management of not-for-profit, healthcare organizations. Linda has an AB in literature and social sciences from Harvard and an MBA in decision sciences and public management from Stanford. She co-founded Alumni Consulting Teams, which matches volunteer Stanford Business School alums with Bay Area non-profits needing project assistance and special skills. She also built a partnership between the San Mateo Park neighborhood and the City of San Mateo to restore and maintain the local street treescape. Email Linda: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ROZEENA JHINNU

Site Coordinator, John Gill

Rozeena Jhinnu is the Reading Partners Site Coordinator at John Gill Elementary. She graduated from University of California-Davis, where she majored in Political Science. She has previously tutored first, second, and forth graders in reading and math. Her hobbies include playing soccer, walking with her dogs, and of course reading! Her favorite book as a child was Messy Room from the Berenstain Bears series. Currently, her favorite book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Email Rozeena: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

LAUREN SILK

Site Coordinator, San Miguel

Originally from the Seattle area, Lauren moved to the Bay Area four years ago to attend Santa Clara University. She graduated this past June with a BA in English and French and Francophone Studies, and looks forward to contributing her love of reading and languages to the Reading Partners team. She has been passionate about books since she first learned to read, and is excited to share her love of reading with her students at San Miguel Elementary. Prior to working with Reading Partners, Lauren worked as a nanny, a writing tutor, and a classroom volunteer at the French-American School of Silicon Valley. In addition to reading, she loves to cook, run, practice yoga and spend as much time as she can with her family and friends. Email Lauren: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

VICTORIA STRELNIKOVA

Site Coordinator, Mariano Castro

Victoria is joining Mariano Castro Elementary as a Site Coordinator with over two years of volunteer tutoring experience with Reading Partners. She finds that getting children excited about reading and learning as one of life’s most rewarding challenges. She earned her B.A. in Sociology from Notre Dame de Namur University, ’11 and is hoping to make an impact in California public education. Victoria is a Bay Area native, though residing in Burlingame she enjoys the Silicon Valley region of Mountain View. Born in the Ukraine, her first language is Russian. She loves to read, travel, and to attend visual and performing arts events. She is passionate about education reform and advocacy. Some of her favorite childhood books include: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Where the Wild Things Are, Goosebumps, and Russian folktales. Email Victoria: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Development Team:

ALLISON COHEN

Director of Development

Prior to joining Reading Partners in 2009, Allison was a Head Kindergarten teacher in Ann Arbor, MI. Concurrently, she worked as a Research Associate at the University of Michigan’s School of Education, studying the early literacy achievement gap in low-income pre-schools. Before making a career change into education, Allison worked as an Operations Manager for Capital Services, Inc., an events planning firm in Washington, DC. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and a Masters in Elementary Education from Johns Hopkins University. Email Allison: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

SARAH LIGHTFOOT

Development Manager

Sarah Lightfoot joined Reading Partners in 2011 after over four years at KIPP Bay Area Schools. There, she helped philanthropy grow from $1M to $5.3M through expanding foundation giving, launching a successful individual giving program including an annual event, and building a successful job-shadowing program to benefit students and engage corporate partners. As a founding team member of KIPP Bay Area Schools (second employee), Sarah brings valuable organizational expertise to RP. Sarah's development experience began with service as a VISTA volunteer in the Pacific Northwest, and includes work with Global Fund for Women, Breast Cancer Action, and Industrial Areas Foundation. Email Sarah: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it