Community+Members

Community MembersPlease create brief profile to introduce yourself to the other members of the study.

Amy Breon: I am an Educational Consultant at BLaST. I conduct trainings in on a wide-range of topics including Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS), Reading Apprenticeship, Co-teaching, Progress Monitoring, and PowerTeaching. I have worked 13 years in the classroom as a middle school Learning Supprt Teacher/ Inclusion Facilitator, then a middle school Reading Specialist, a high school Reading Specialist, and a 4th & 5th Grade Title I Facilitator. Additionally, I am the mother of three children, ages 11, 12, & 13, who keep my life quite interesting. I tend to indulge myself in reading for pleasure. I love these book studies, because I get to mix two of my passions: reading and talking about literacy instruction with others. I can best be reached through e-amil at abreon@iu17.org

Barb Fedele: I have been a reading specialist at the middle school level for the past 8 years. Prior to that I was an elementary teacher. Currently I teach 7th grade developmental reading as well as remediation to 7th and 6th graders. This is my third book study through the IU. I love having the opportunity to share ideas and discuss new strategies with colleagues from the area. My email is bfedele@jsasd.k12.pa.us

Holly Keegan: I am a Reading Specialist for Canton Area School District. I work as a Reading Specialist with students in grades K-2 and grade 5. I also work with Tier III Reading Intervention groups. Prior to this I worked for 16 years in Pre-K and various grade levels as a classroom teacher. I have three grown children and am a new grandma of two adorable children! I belong to two book clubs and still find time to read books for pleasure on my own. I am passionate about student literacy and love being able to continue reading and sharing ideas with similarly-minded colleagues. My email is hkeegan@canton.k12.pa.us

Theresa Glisson: I am currently in my fourth year as a 7th grade reading teacher in the Troy Middle School. I also serve as a Reading tutor in the 7th grade ERI Reading Program, and I am literacy coaching in my building. I love what I have the opportunity to do! Prior to being at Troy, I worked for the IU #17 for 11 years in two of their alternative education programs. I am a mother of four who enjoys READING, scrapbooking, and eating chocolate. I can be reach at tglisson@troyareasd.org

Karen Garman: I am the Literacy Coach/ESL Instructor for the Athens Area School District. In my capacity as district literacy coach, my primary role is to provide support, direction, and guidance to educators as it pertains to effective instructional routines and practices that promote active reading behaviors and increased academic achievement. In my role as an ESL instructor, I provide language arts instruction to elementary students whose primary language is not English. When my ESL population decreases, time spent coaching in the classroom increases, and vice versa. I have been teaching for 8 years – Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 6th Reading, 8th/9th Reading, and ESL anywhere between K and 9th grade…I think that is all…I have vowed to stop keeping track. My email is kgarman@athensasd.org

Glenna Webster: I am an Elementary Learning Support Teacher in Athens School District. This is the third book study I have been involved with. I find them interesting and beneficial to my professional growth in teaching my students. I received my teaching degree as a non-traditional student and have been teaching for a little over 10 years. I am the mother of three grown children and three grandchildren. I am also married to a school administrator, so as you can imagine, our topic around the dinner table is often about education related topics. My email is gwebster@athensasd.org.

Miriam Ling: I am the Educational Assistance Program tutor for SRU Middle School in the Athens Area School District this year. I work primarily with 7th graders who scored at the basic level on their 6th grade PSSA. I have also worked as a private tutor for 6 years. I am a certified reading specialist in NY, and am thisclose to having my PA reading specialist certificate. I am a certified elementary teacher and have taught kindergarten in 2006-2007, and 6th grade in 2009. I really see myself becoming a reading teacher or reading advocate. This is my first book study through BLaST, but I really enjoyed the ones I completed in graduate school. I am married, an aunt, and have two cats. I'm thrilled that I've finally found time to read for pleasure again. My favorite literacy author is Cris Tovani. Right now I also love Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Laurie Halse Anderson, & Gennifer Choldenko. My email is mling@athensasd.org

Jane Sherwood: I am a 4th grade teacher with the Athens Area School District. After working as a reading specialist had the opportunity to work in the classroom and find it to be most challenging. Each year brings a new and interesting group of young students to enlighten. Along with teaching, I am a mother of 6 grown children and a grandmother of 7. I enjoy cross-stitch work and a good book when I have the time. My email is djsher@npacc.net

Sue Kreider: I am a 4th grade teacher in the Athens Area School District. I have been teaching 4th grade for 10 years and I absolutely love this age group! I am a mother of two children. I have a 17 year old son and a 12 year old daughter who keep me very busy. I look forward to this book study and what we can offer each other as educators. My email is skreider@athensasd.org

Donna Wagner: I am a 2-3 Looping teacher in the Athens Area School District. I have taught K and 1st grade also. This is my third book study and I am excited to be a part of this one. It's exciting to learn new things that you can immmediately use in your classroom. I am the mother of 2 grown children and am a first time grandmother. I am currently hooked on Stuart Woods books and I also like to knit. My email is dwagner@athensasd.org

Jean Cleveland: I am an early intervention teacher for BLaST in the Williamsport area and have been here for about 6 years. I worked in New York State, Corning and Bath with BOCES for 13 years in various at risk and learning disabled teaching roles. I grew up in Wellsboro Pennsylvania and have 3 grown children there and 2 grandchildren. I am interested in interior decorating and gardening. I am anxious to get started. my email is jcleveland@iu17.org.

Jesica Kerstetter: I am a first grade teacher at Myers Elementary in Muncy. I have been teaching for 11 years. I have been on quest to discover how children learn to read and write since the beginning of my career. I am excited to start my first book study with others who share the same passion. I am the mother of 2 children. Megan is 5 years old, and Aaron is 2. My e-mail address is jkerstetter@muncysd.org

Linda Gee: I am a 1st and 2nd grade looping teacher at the Lynch Bustin Elementary School. This is the 3rd book study I have participated in. I enjoy the book studies because they help me with fresh ideas in the field of literacy. I am the mother of two grown children. My husband is a school administrator for Athens Area Schools and we are looking forward to retirement at the end of this school year. My email is lgee@athensasd.org.

Marcia Gorman: I am a second grade teacher at Lynch Bustin Elementary School.I have enjoyed these book studies. I have learned many new teaching ideas and strategies. I have taught kindergarten through 3rd grade and was also a Title 1 reading specialist. I have two grown children one of which lives in Athens and one that lives in Miinnesota. My email address ismgorman@athensasd.org.

Teresa White: I am a 5th grade teacher at Athens Area School District. This is my 3rd year teaching 5th grade. Prior to that I taught in a looping situation of 3rd grade to 4th grade for 3 years and before that I taught as a special needs teacher for students with life skills needs for 5 years. I am a late started with my postings and hope better late than never. I am mother of two children a young lady in college, age 20 and a young man a senior in high school age 19. My email is twhite@athensasd.org

Samuel Clark: I am a Life Skills Support Teacher at the Athens Area School District. This is my sixth year in this position. I am the father of 3 children. A boy 10, and two girls 3 and 15 months respectively. My email is sclark@athensasd.org