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 2025-2026 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

2025-26 Literacy Advisory Council Members

  • Amber Oliver- Managing Director, Robin Hood Learning + Technology Fund
  • Anyeli Matos- Ed.L.D. Candidate, Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Arlen Benjamin-Gomez- Excutive Director, Ed Trust New York
  • Ashleigh Thompson- University Dean for Education, City University of New York (CUNY)
  • Carolyn Castro- Co-President, Citywide Council on Special Education
  • Catherine Chiabaut- Robertson, Program Officer
  • Chris Caruso- Managing Director, Robin Hood
  • Claudia DeMegret- Parent/Community Member
  • Danielle Guindo- Executive Director, Read Alliance
  • David Francis- Director, Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics, University of Houston
  • Debbie Meyer- Dyslexia (PLUS) in Public Schools Task Force; Decoding Dyslexia (NYC Chapter), Parent
  • Devin Kearns- Associate Professor/Researcher, NC State University
  • Elizabeth Truly- Consultant on Special Education Law and Policy, United Federation of Teachers
  • Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan- Associate Professor, University of Houston; Director, Valley Speech Language and Learning Center
  • Emily Phillips Galloway- Assistant Professor, Peabody College of Education and Human Development
  • Erika Newsome- Special Education Advocate; District 8 President's Council President
  • Esther Klein Friedman- Retired Executive Director, Literacy and Academic Intervention Services
  • Jade Wexler- Professor & Area Director of Special Education, University of Maryland, College Park
  • Jan Hasbrouck- Consultant & Researcher, JH Educational Services
  • Janel McD. Hemmings- Regional Partnership Center, NYC PS Special Education Office
  • Jennifer Serravallo- Author & Founder, Literacy Strategies Consulting
  • Joan Sedita- Founder & Author
  • John J. Russell- Special Projects Advisor, The Windward Institute
  • Kareem Weaver- Co-Founder & Executive Director, FULCRUM
  • Karol Ann Moore- Vice President of Research & Policy, Neuhaus Education Center
  • Katherine Kurjakovic- UFT English Language Learner Specialist, UFT
  • Katie Pace Miles- Associate Professor & Director of Reading Science Advanced Certificate Brooklyn College, City University of New York (CUNY)
  • Kim St. Martin- Director, Michigan Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Technical Assistance Center
  • Kit Tollerson- Managing Director, K12 Coalition
  • LaMonica Williams- Vice President of Program and Services, Teaching Matters
  • Lavinia Mancuso- Coordinator, MyLibraryNYC at the Queens Central Library
  • Mary Paranac- Northeast Executive Director, Springboard Collaborative
  • Mary Vaccaro- Vice President for Education, United Federation of Teachers
  • Matt Zajic- Assistant Professor, Teachers College
  • Michelle Lopez- Executive Director, Literacy Partners
  • Molly Ness- Literacy Specialist & Founder, Dirigo
  • Nadine Gaab- Founder, GaabLab/Early Bird & Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Nancy Ginsberg, Deputy Commisioner, New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS)
  • Naomi Peña- Co-Founder & Director of Community Engagement, Literacy Academy Collective
  • NeQuan C. Mclean- President, CEC16 & Education Council Consortium
  • Pati Montgomery- Founder, Schools Cubed
  • Pilar Ramos- Principal, Arts & Letters 305 United
  • Rebecca Kockler- Executive Director of Reading Reimagined, Advanced Education Research & Development Fund (AERDF)
  • Resha Conroy- Founder, Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children
  • Rosemarie LoMonaco- Director of Operations, United Federation of Teachers (UFT) Teacher Center
  • Ruth Genn- Co-Founder and Executive Director, Literacy Academy Collective
  • Sarah Part - Senior Policy Analyst, Advocates for Children (AFC) of New York
  • Saskia Traill- President & CEO, ExpandED Schools
  • Shari Levine- Executive Director, Literacy in Community (LINC)
  • Susan B. Neuman- Professor, Childhood Education and Literacy Development, New York University (NYU)
  • Tanesha Grant- CEO, Parents Supporting Parents
  • Theodore Kamoutsis- Executive Director, The PROMISE Project
  • Tiffany Hogan- Director, SAiL Literacy Lab & Professor, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at MGH Institute
  • Tim Castanza- Founder & Executive Director, Bridge Preparatory Charter School
  • Yael Leopold- Principal, PS 125 The Ralph Bunche School