literacy champions program

Susan Bécam
ESL/Literacy Coordinator
Newton Free Library
Newton

Susan Bécam has created a vibrant and successful ESL volunteer tutoring program at the Newton Free Library through her outstanding leadership, exceptional creativity and just plain hard work. The Legacy for Literacy program which has blossomed under her tutelage has become an intrinsic part of the library's mission with 200 volunteer tutors helping 275 adults learn English and become active members of the community.
Contact Susan Bécam.

RONA F. FLIPPO, ED.D,
Associate Professor of Education
Graduate College of Education, University of Massachusetts
Boston

Rona Flippo is both a scholar of literacy education and a professional practitioner whose research and published work impacts the lives of teachers and children in Massachusetts and nationwide. As a teacher, she involves her teacher education students in research, writing, professional projects, and presentations, encouraging them to share their innovative ideas for teaching and assessing reading with other leaders and teachers in the field.
Contact Rona Flippo.

Debbie Goss
Reading Specialist
Horace Mann Middle School
Franklin

An extraordinarily humble person, Debbie Goss models outstanding practices, creates powerful programs, leads literacy initiatives in her school district and quietly steps back and lets others shine. She is guided by the belief that every student can be a reader and every teacher can be a teacher of reading and that belief is reflected in the many programs, activities and opportunities within her school environment.
Contact Debbie Goss

Haydee Hodis
Literacy Coordinator
Springfield Public Library
Brightwood Branch

As the manager of branch libraries, Haydee Hodis believes in Outreach as a way to make the library a visible participant in the community, building partnerships with local business, social agencies and/or institutes of higher learning. She has demonstrated initiative and creativity in developing new services and programs to engage a diverse population and to promote library resources.
Contact Haydee Hodis.

Isabel B. Phillips, Ed.D.
Reading, Language & learning Abilities Consultant
Weston

Isabel Phillips is first and foremost, a teacher of literacy, and has taught reading to students of all ages who come from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. But it is her passionate interest in research and scholarship that has led her to focus on those who struggle to learn to read and write, the factors that impede their learning and the development of effective ways to teach these students in our public schools.
Contact Isabel Phillips.