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literacy champions program

2008 Literacy Champions

Dulany Alexander
ESL Teacher and Technology Coordinator
Operation Boot Strap
Lynn

Dulany Alexander is a master teacher, a skilled technology coordinator, a statewide policy advisor, and above all else, she is an impassioned believer in the mission of adult education. She is an inspirational communicator and has been instrumental in designing and writing the new ESOL Frameworks for the state of Massachusetts.
Contact Dulany Alexander

Sherry Alleman
Title I Director
Milford

Sherry is a veteran literacy practitioner and is highly respected throughout the entire school system for her energy and literacy efforts on behalf of students, teachers, parents and the community at large. Best known outside of Milford for her statewide work with the MRA, she has been instrumental in rallying reading teachers and collaborating with them to keep moving forward.
Contact Sherry Alleman

Sandy Blanes
Director of Center for ELLs Support Services
Cambridge College
Lawrence

In addition to her impact on adult students through her work with Cambridge College, Sandy has developed an innovative course of study called “English in Twenty Four Hours” that helps adults learn English for gainful employment with incentives to continue studying for even better jobs. She is an integral part of the Lawrence adult education community and has forged strong relationships with the business community.
Contact Sandy Blanes

Jean Canosa-Albano
Manager of Youth and Outreach Services
Springfield Public Library System


As Manager of Youth and Outreach Services for the Springfield City Library system her model and innovative work with teens and partnership with the local public schools has had measurable impact in the Springfield community. She is an established leader within the statewide library network and, as an advocate for youth services, she encourages and lobbies for the exchange of best practices between libraries. Her understanding of how technology and art impacts youth readership has led her to develop a teen library of reading materials in alternative formats to appeal to every reader.
Contact Jean Canosa-Albano

Martha Jean
ABE Teacher
Community Action
Haverhill

Martha Jean embodies all the qualities of a best teacher and employs them in her work with, not only students, but also fellow instructors throughout Massachusetts. She is that rare model teacher that sets forth high standards and keeps the bar raised for literacy educators in Massachusetts.
Contact Martha Jean

Wendy Manninen
Kindergarten Teacher
Manchester Elementary School
Director of Le Petit Chorale
Manchester

Wendy is a veteran North shore kindergarten teacher whose innovative work with music and sign language as a means to teach language skills to young students makes her stand out in the field of elementary education. Her work is highly visible throughout the Cape Ann area as she takes her students on the road!
Contact Wendy Manninen

Kristen McKenna
Project Director, Advantage Program
Attleboro ABE, Bristol Community College

Her innovative work with adult basic ed. learners at Bristol CC is designed to immerse them in the college culture, make them feel a part of the college community and therefore aspire to attain a higher level of achievement. And through partnering with local businesses to provide volunteer and intern positions for these students Kristin has created a program called The Job Club, the first like it in the state and a model for other community colleges.
Contact Kristen McKenna

Lynne Osborn
Volunteer Tutor
English at Large
Acton

The first volunteer in 4 years to receive this recognition, Lynne is a natural mentor and a leader in creating opportunities for adult learners in and around her Acton community. When she sees a need, she acts to fill that need and as a result has taken the lead in developing several new outreach learning programs that are now statewide models for the English at Large Volunteer program that she is apart of. Lynne is a model for volunteer efforts in literacy and for civic involvement.
Contact Lynne Osborn

Suzanne Paone
English Teacher
Holbrook Jr. Sr. High School
Holbrook

Suzanne is a young teacher whose enthusiasm and natural leadership have helped to rally and motivate an entire school community to think outside the box and collaborate to creatively meet financial and education challenges. She represents a new generation of leaders in education.
Contact Suzanne Paone

Anita Rodriguez
Principal
Mary K. Goode Elementary School
Middleboro

Ms. Rodriguez is a hands-on administrator who inspires and mentors both staff and students. She has taken a state-wide leading role in literacy education by boldly piloting a school-wide reading program that rescheduled the school day to feature a two hour uninterrupted block of time focused on literacy skills. This methodology has required buy in from all teachers in the school, parents and the community to trust in her leadership and is being touted as a model for other Massachusetts schools.
Contact Anita Rodriguez