Literacy Advisory Council

New York City Public Schools has convened a diverse group of stakeholders to join the Literacy Advisory Council to help shape the direction of literacy in NYC. The council, which includes local community members, experts in literacy, public school staff, students, and parents, meets monthly to help inform and guide the rollout of citywide literacy initiatives.  

New York City Public Schools has partnered with the Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL) at Columbia University to facilitate the Literacy Advisory Council.

Goals 

In the 2024-2025 session, advisory council members will: 
  • Connect with other advisors to coordinate efforts related to literacy
  • Collect information on student and family experiences
  • Generate recommendations for improving literacy
  • Build awareness of new literacy initiatives 
  • Advise on the direction of NYC Public Schools’ literacy initiatives
  • Support the design of a long-term vision for literacy in New York City 

2024-25 Literacy Advisory Council Members

  • Elsa Cardenas-Hagan - Associate Professor, President of Speech Language Center, University of Houston
  • Robert Carroll - NY Assemblymember, Assembly District 44, 
  • Chris Caruso - Managing Director, School-Age Children, Robin Hood
  • Tim Castanza -  Founder and Executive Director of Bridge Preparatory Charter School
  • Carolyn Castro - Co-President, Citywide Council on Special Education
  • Resha Conroy - Founder, Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children
  • Claudia DeMegret - Parent/Community Member
  • Marielys Divanne - Executive Director, Educators for Excellence-New York (E4E-NY)
  • Hank Fien, Professor of Educational Innovation, Boston University and Director, Wheelock Institute for the Science of Education (WISE)
  • David Francis - Director, University of Houston, Center for the Success of English Learners (CSEL)/Director of Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics
  • Esther Klein Friedman - Retired Executive Director, Literacy and Academic Intervention Services, Division of Teaching and Learning (NYCPS); literacy learning specialist
  • Nadine Gaab - Founder/Professor of Education, GaabLab/Early Bird; Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Ruth Genn -  Co-Founder and Executive Director, Literacy Academy Collective; Advisor, Heckscher Foundation
  • Lynette Guastaferro - CEO, Teaching Matters
  • Danielle Guindo - Executive Director, Read Alliance 
  • Jan Hasbrouck - Consultant & Researcher, JH Educational Services
  • Tiffany Hogan - Director of the SAiL Literacy Lab; Professor, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at MGH Institute, Harvard University
  • Rita Joseph - Council Member District 40, City Council
  • Theodore Kamoutsis - Executive Director, The PROMISE Project
  • Devin Kearns - Associate Professor/Researcher, UConn School of Education
  • Rebecca Kockler - Executive Director of Reading Reimagined, Advanced Education Research & Development Fund (AERDF)
  • Katherine Kurjakovic - UFT English Language Learner Specialist, UFT
  • Yael Leopold, Principal, PS 125 The Ralph Bunche School
  • Rosemarie LoMonaco - Director of Operations, United Federation of Teachers (UFT) Teacher Center
  • Lavinia Mancuso - Coordinator, MyLibraryNYC at the Queens Central Library
  • Anyeli Matos - Ed.L.D. Candidate, Harvard Graduate School of Education 
  • Janel McD. Hemmings, Literacy Specialist, Manhattan-Regional Partnership Center, NYC PS Special Education Office
  • NeQuan C. Mclean - President CEC16 & Education Council Consortium
  • Debbie Meyer - Dyslexia (PLUS) in Public Schools Task Force; Decoding Dyslexia (NYC Chapter), Parent, Founding Member and Founding Board Member, Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children
  • Karol Ann Moore - Director of Research / Associate Vice President of Curriculum and Instructional Design, Neuhaus Education Center
  • Pati Montgomery - Founder, Schools Cubed
  • Shawn V. Morehead - Vice President for Grants, New York Community Trust
  • Molly Ness - VP, Academic Content, Learning Ally/more; author / consultant
  • Susan B. Neuman - Professor, Childhood Education and Literacy Development, New York University
  • Erika Newsome - Special Education Advocate; District 8 President's Council President 
  • Amber Oliver - Managing Director, Robin Hood Learning + Technology Fund
  • Katie Pace Miles - Associate Professor, Brooklyn College, City University of New York (CUNY)
  • Mary Paranac - Northeast Executive Director, Springboard Collaborative
  • Naomi Peña - Co-Founder & Director of Community Engagement, Literacy Academy Collective
  • Juvanie Piquant - Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Council Member Rita Joseph
  • Pilar Ramos - Principal, Arts & Letters 305 United
  • John J. Russell - Special Projects Advisor, The Windward Institute
  • Joan Sedita - Founder, Author, CEO, Keys To Literacy 
  • Emily Solari - Edmund H. Henderson Professor of Education, Director, Virginia Literacy Partnerships, University of Virginia
  • Kim Sweet - Executive Director, Advocates for Children of New York (AFC)
  • Ashleigh Thompson - University Dean for Education, City University of New York (CUNY)
  • Saskia Traill - President & CEO, ExpandED Schools
  • Elizabeth Truly - Consultant on Special Education Law and Policy, United Federation of Teachers
  • Mary Vaccaro - Vice President for Education, United Federation of Teachers
  • Kareem Weaver - Co-Founder and Executive Director, FULCRUM
  • Jade Wexler - Professor, Area Director of Special Education, University of Maryland
  • Kim St. Martin - Director, Michigan Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Technical Assistance Center 
  • Emily Phillips Galloway - Assistant Professor, Peabody College of Education and Human Development, Vanderbilt University 
  • Matt Zajic - Assistant Professor, Teachers College, Columbia University
  • Shari Levine - Executive Director, Literacy in Community 
  • Tanesha Grant - CEO, Parents Supporting Parents

  • Kit Tollerson - K12 Coalition