Reading Success by Fourth Grade
Copy of People & Partners

Who We Are

Bringing People Together to Learn, Share and Advocate for Early Literacy

Reading Success by 4th Grade has established the importance of this academic milestone and continues to make progress towards the ambitious goal of all children reading proficiently by the end of 3rd grade, and there is much more work to be done.

Leadership Advisory Board

The leadership and accountability for this work cannot sit solely at the Library. The community as a whole must embrace and own this goal and commit to holding all of us accountable for its success.

The Leadership Advisory Board, which was created in 2014, engages a diverse group of leaders in the community who work to increase the number and strength of powerful voices for children in Springfield.
Paul Belsito

Paul Belsito

Executive Director, The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation
Jamina Scippio-McFadden

Jamina Scippio-McFadden

Director of UMass Center at Springfield University of Massachusetts, Springfield
Laura Mendes

Laura Mendes

Director of Literacy, Elementary, and Early Childhood Springfield Public Schools
Paul Robbins

Paul Robbins

Founder, President 

Paul Robbins Associates
Calvin Hill

Calvin Hill

Vice President for Inclusion and Community Engagement Springfield College
Paul Foster

Paul Foster

Chief Information Officer Springfield Public Schools
Molly Senn-McNally

Molly Senn-McNally

MD, Continuity Clinic Director - Department of Pediatrics and Asst. Professor of Pediatrics Baystate Health Systems and University of Massachusetts Medical School- Baystate
Talia Gee

Talia Gee

Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Jean Canosa Albano

Jean Canosa Albano

 Assistant Director for Public Services Springfield City Library
Rosemary Hernandez

Rosemary Hernandez

Regional Director Clarendon Early Educational Services
Chris Martin

Chris Martin

Team Leader and Platoon Sergeant Rovithis Realty and United States Army
Jesse Lederman

Jesse Lederman

City Councilor at Large Springfield City Council
Lakisha Coppedge

Lakisha Coppedge

Founder at Coppedge Consulting
Mary Walachy

Mary Walachy

Retired, The Irene E. &and George A. Davis Foundation

Advisors

In transition to the community from the Davis Foundation, Reading Success reached out to a core group of people who would continue to serve as advisors in their sector. Their leadership in their field and in the community is invaluable expertise to the initiative. 

Workgroups & Partners 

School Readiness Work Group:
Align prenatal to kindergarten systems to increase access and equity for families and children. Build primary capacity of 0-5 educators and caretakers to enact literacy practices through positive relationships.

Out of School Time Work Group:
Align out-of-school (OST) systems, including before/afterschool care and summer schools, camps, and programs to increase access and equity for families and children. Build primary capacity of OST staff and programs to enact literacy practices through positive relationships.

Family Literacy Advocates:
Build and sustain a network of parents, grandparents, and primary caregivers of children who share best practices and resources with other families. Engage and empower families to be experts in developmental stages and early literacy practices so the advice we share is of highest quality. Advocate for and with families on literacy topics.
Shared Interest Group: Intersection of Health and Education
Build and sustain relationships and open communication among early education and healthcare partners. Build capacity for providers in both systems to optimize family support, child development, and school readiness. Support families who are not in the early education system to encourage optimal development and school readiness. 

Shared Interest Group: Community and Data Usage
Build and sustain relationships across data and information management sectors to reinforce data-based decision making in Springfield. Continue work on Community Data Warehouse and work to incorporate fluid birth to 3rd data that is valid and usable for programs to enact literacy practices through positive relationships.

If you are interested in joining one of our workgroups, please contact us.

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