literacy champions program

Dawn Avery is a 6th grade teacher of Language Arts and Sciences at the Grover Cleveland Middle School in Dorchester. Ms. Avery was recruited by the Boston Public Schools and targeted to develop a full- inclusion program at the Cleveland Middle School. She teaches in an environment consisting of regular education and special need students. Some of her students may have severe special needs such as autism or Down syndrome and Ms. Avery spends a great deal of time and energy making modifications so that she can meet the needs of her diverse student population.
One too she incorporates into her Language Arts curriculum, which as been utilized by many of her colleagues, is writing modified novels. She takes the suggested reading novels for the sixth grade curriculum and re-writes them on a readability level that meets the needs of her students. The full- inclusion program is highly regarded and Ms. Avery’s students learn to appreciate one another for what makes each of them who they are and learn from each other academics, social skills and daily living skills.
Contact Dawn Avery.

“Ms. Avery is a young teacher who demonstrates the very best that education has to offer”

Barbara Lindsay is the Elementary Literacy Coordinator for Westwood Public Schools. As a teacher she works with at-risk first and second grade students, bringing them the joys of reading. At the district level, Ms. Lindsay provides leadership to the Elementary Literacy Program by developing standards, providing resources and collaborating through workshops with classroom teachers.
Ms. Lindsay is first a teacher, employing her skills as a Literacy Specialist to start first and second grade students on the road to reading and writing. Students who demonstrate the greatest difficulty in becoming readers are referred to Ms. Lindsay. Using all the tools of her trade, including delightful books, colorful charts , word games and assessments, students take their first tenuous steps into literacy and end with giant leaps and great enthusiasm for the journey. Though proud of their enormous gains as readers and writers, students love Ms. Lindsay and the work they do with her that they don’t want to graduate from her program.
Contact Barbara Lindsay.

“Parents who held their breath as their children struggles to learn to read and write beam with pride as their child’s growing skills and confidence and have effusive praise for Ms. Lindsay”

Ms. Blood is the adult service librarian for Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood and has directed the adult literacy program since 1985. An affiliate of the Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts, the program provides free, private, individualized and confidential tutoring for adults, especially learning disabled adults who often have no where else to go to learn to read. Under Ms. Blood’s direction, what was a small program has grown to a full department, which attracts committed tutors and devoted and successful students.
Ms. Blood’s work with adults who needed to improve their literacy and conversational English skills, as well as her library work with children, inspired her to establish LIFT (Learning Involves Families Together), a family literacy program. LIFT brought children and their parents, who participate in the adult literacy program, together for instruction and reading activities, introduces both to the treasures of the library and provided ways for adults and children to share the joys of reading together.
Contact Bettina Blood.

“Tina is a constant advocate for people in need of tutoring. She combines professional expertise, organizational skills and genuine compassion for people.”

Susan Klaw is the Director of Family Literacy for Boston Excels, a comprehensive collaboration between the Home for Little Wanderers and the Boston Public Schools. Ms. Klaw directs Family Schools in two Boston public elementary schools in which immigrant parents study English as a second language in the schools their children attend. She continually designs curriculum, which serves the dual purpose of teaching ESOL and teaching parents about education.
In effect, the elementary school attended by their children has become the literacy curriculum of the parents. As the parents learn English, they are simultaneously learning how to read with their children, help with homework, talk to teachers, and process information on important benchmarks such as MCAS. Ms. Klaw also directs a Family Math Program in which parents have become Math Ambassadors and help design monthly Family Math Challenge problems for parents and their children to work on at home. Her specialty is embedding a family approach within elementary school communities.
Contact Susan Klaw .

“The Family School has opened new doors for me, helping me to see a new world. I feel like I have a new family.”

Ms. Kelly has worked in the field of adult literacy since 1984, inspired by her early experience as a Literacy Volunteer in New York City. Ms. Kelly holds masters degrees in Education and in Social Work and her combined experience and training in both areas, and as a fundraiser have been instrumental in keeping Read/ Write/ Now open to new ways of supporting literacy development and helping adult learners accomplish their goals.
Read/ Write/ Now, based in the Springfield Library system, is effective in great part due to the involvement of learners in making decisions about their own learning. Action research projects with a focus on topics of interest to participants (i.e. community health issues, the impact of violence on learning) have been energizing additions to the program. Read/ Write/ Now publishes and celebrates adult learners’ writings on a regular basis; one student author, Nina Yates, has had her moving autobiography published with Peppercorn Press. Ms. Kelly’s efforts to address the literacy challenges in her community were recognized nationally in 1998 with a highly coveted Lila Wallace Readers Digest Fund award.
Contact Janet Kelly.

“Beyond Janet’s highly professional capabilities, there is a warmth and kindness in her demeanor that inspires adult to preserve and achieve their basic education goals as family members, workers and community members.”

The ILC provides the “Gift of Language” to immigrant and refugee adults to help them lead prosperous lives in the United States and become productive parents, workers and community members. Ms. Portnoy is a certified teacher in Adult Basic Education and a sought after lecturer on adult education and immigrant issues. An active member in local civic and educational organizations, she has received numerous awards locally and nationally in recognition of her outstanding work on behalf of immigrants, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2001.
An immigrant herself, Ms. Portnoy’s career was influences by early memories of coming to America and the ensuing struggles of her family to learn English and make a life for themselves. Her passion and understanding of the challenges, coupled with vision and determination, have made her a vocal leader whose commitment to the immigrant experience has earned her the respect of her peers in the field and of everyone she meets.
Contact Diane Portnoy.

“They come with the hopes and dreams of learning English, to find a job, talk with their children’s teachers, continue their education, buy a home, start a business, and become a citizen. Thanks to Diane and the ILC, those hopes and dreams come true.”

Ms. Seavey has been a public school educator for thirty- eight years. During her tenure as staff developer, consultant and mentor, Ms. Seavey has facilitated system-wide incentives in the area of literacy that impact the whole community. With student waiting lists for model programs like the before-school daily MORING READING PARTNERS, READERS LUNCH CAFÉ, READER’S THEATER and PARENTS AS PARTNERS, Ms. Seavey puts into practice her belief that the acquisition of early literacy skills and continued development is shared collaboration between school and home. Her commitment to this belief is demonstrated by the opportunities and environment created under her leadership.
The LITERACY ROOM at the South Elementary School is a mecca of literacy for a diversity of students, parents and teachers and a vibrant testimony to her efforts. Holding a strong belief that teamwork is a key element in providing a dynamic literacy program, her leadership approach is inclusive and recognizes the important contributions of colleagues and the parent community.
Contact Elly Seavey.

“I would often as my students which elementary teacher they most remembered. Most often Ms. Seavey would be fondly mentioned along with her memorable phrase, ‘There is no vacation from education.’

NATHANIEL STINNETT
Volunteer Literacy Tutor
Boston

Since 2000, Mr. Stinnett has provided literacy services to the guests of the Pine Street Inn homeless shelter as both professional teacher of ABE/ESL and volunteer literacy tutor. Through the Pine Street Inn’s LEAP Program, he has helped the residents of the shelter study for the GED test, apply for jobs and learn English. Mr. Stinnett has worked to tailor his curriculum to the unique needs of Boston’s homeless community, incorporating aspects of 12-step programs and confidence- building exercises into the learning process.
A student himself, Mr. Stinnett is currently in his second year at Boston College Law School. His contributions to the Pine Street Inn community have not been limited to the classroom. When proposed budget cuts threatened to curtail significant program activity, Mr. Stinnett preformed extensive volunteer advocacy at the state wide level, fully assisting in Pine Street Inn’s efforts to maintain current service levels.

“He shows a tremendous passion for his work, not only by challenging your mind, but also by showing compassion and understanding. He inspires me to work harder and try my best.”

Ms. Kwiatek provides outstanding leadership in the area of literacy both within her school and throughout the entire school district. In her two key roles she has been able to effect significant changes in curriculum, parent involvement, professional development and instructional practices. A hallmark characteristic of Ms. Kwiatek is her enthusiastic willingness to share her expertise, and it has been an important goal of her school district to educate both parents and the public about her curriculum initiative in the important field of literacy.
Her many roles include mentoring new teachers, screening and early intervention of students, reading assessments, class instruction and MCAS preparation. Beyond her work with students and teachers, she helps parents support their children’s reading skills at home.
Contact Debra Kwiatek.

“The reading room is located at the intersection of two hallways appropriately nicknamed “Main and Broadway”, which indicates the amount of traffic to Deb’s room.”

As Educational Program Manager, Ms. Duval oversees Adult Basic Education for over 300 students in a medium security correctional facility. She has developed individualized and creative instructional strategies for every student, designed to ensure success in the classroom in the correctional environment as well as in post- release community based programs. Ms. Duval has been instrumental in the development and distribution of a theme based correctional education curriculum and is involved in several curriculum projects for Adult Basic Education with the Massachusetts Department of Education. Ms. Duval developed and coordinates the Mother/Child Connection, a unique model program that offers literary support to incarcerated mothers and their children.
Collaboration is a most effective part of Ms. Duval’s literacy efforts. The establishment of partnerships with cultural, educational and civic organizations throughout the stated has enabled her to provide funding and opportunities for both staff and learners with in the corrections community. Ms. Duval currently serves as president of the Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education. She recently accepted a national award from the Point of Light Foundations.
Contact Andree Duval.

“Her work is characterized by initiative, creativity, sound financial sense, facility in effective collaboration, thoroughness and a delightful sense of humor.”