Publications/Reports*
There’s a sign post up ahead and it reads “Literacy Champion” Whenever you see this sign one thing is certain, some of the most exciting efforts...

Literacy Champion Application

CHRISTINE POLK, Coordinator of Volunteers and Workplace Education-Barrington
As an accomplished literacy practitioner for over 30 years, Christine Polk is currently the Workplace/Volunteer Coordinator for South Berkshire Educational Collaborative where she manages an ESOL workplace education program on site at The Red Lion Inn. Utilizing current technology, Christine has developed and field-tested a unique and comprehensive hospitality curriculum for housekeeping communication skills that bridges the gap between literacy education and work-related communication training. Her "Active Learning," model enables workers to track their own progress and provides teachers the data to deliver effective and relevant instruction to the workers that mimics the communication patterns needed in their jobs. We recognize her for her leadership skills in the field of adult and workforce literacy and her innovative approach in using technology to improve how literacy skills are taught. To contact Christine Polk, click here.

"Christine’s expertise, combined with her commitment to adult literacy and to quality work, along with her delightful disposition, allow her to engage all kinds of students in learning, from English language learners in the workplace to the instructors teaching them.”

DIANA BARBARO, Teacher- Boston
Diana has worked as a teacher at the Suffolk County House of Correction for the past 13 years helping to meet the needs of incarcerated individuals. Diana exemplifies a literacy champion through her advocacy, intelligence, creativity and commitment to those whom she serves. Initiatives include development of a parenting curriculum and “Fathers Read Aloud Program” and the cultivation of a collaborative relationship with the Department of Revenue to advocate for child support through her parenting program. Diana is a frequent presenter at conferences and workshops for both corrections and the larger adult education community and her work is well known and respected by her peers. We recognize Diana for her proven record of promoting literacy within a correctional education setting and bridging the gap to the community. To contact Diana Barbaro, click here.

“In a dreary and sometimes hopeless atmosphere, the Father’s Read Aloud Program is a bright and hopeful project. It encourages the men to think of next steps, of the future.”

CHAR CAVER, Teacher- Dorchester
A teacher at Project Hope, Char Carver has become a unique and valuable leader in the literacy field through her work in addressing life issues that get in the way of women’s ability to learn. Understanding the correlation between self-esteem and learning she has developed and adapted curriculum to help women succeed. The learning environment she creates and the culturally empowering readings she uses as text reflect the strengths of African American and Latina women’s cultures. Char is a strong advocate for adult education in the community where she serves as on the Community Advisory Council at BALF. She is a frequent workshop presenter at local and regional conferences. We recognize Char for her skills as a master teacher – one who is able to integrate learning and life skills in a way that galvanizes students’ sense of their own power and love of learning. To contact Char Caver, click here.

“As a practitioner of Popular Education, Char connects education with the ability to positively impact family, community and society.”

DONNA CYCZ, 4th Grade Teacher- Greenfield
Donna Cycz is a veteran classroom teacher of 29 years who currently uses her experience and knowledge to bring exciting and innovative learning opportunities to the students and parents in the Greenfield Public Schools. The Parent/Child Book Club brings together parents and their children (grades 3-5) to discuss a book they’ve all read with a lead teacher. This low stress approach to learning is successful for students (and parents) at all reading levels of ability and teachers are able to model effective reading strategies to use at home. With the aid of Donna’s leadership skills, new teachers are able to put their best practices forward in the literature circles with both students and parents. We recognize Donna for using her skills to a teacher to impact her entire community, for being an inspirational model for her colleagues, her students and their families. To contact Donna Cycz, click here.

“An idea that was conceived after an informal conversation became the basis for an exciting and informative parent child adventure.”

SILJA KALLENBACH, Coordinator World Education- Boston
To visit the New England Literacy Resource Center, click here www.neclrc.org or www.collegetransition.org
Since 1994 Silja Kallenbach has served as Director of the New England Literacy Resource Center at World Education where she provides professional development for adult educators through interactive workshops, courses and publications on diverse topics related to adult learning. But that is the tip of the iceberg; her resume overflows with accomplishments that include innovative model literacy programs and groundbreaking curricula for basic adult education.
We recognize Silja for her contributions to adult literacy education in areas including multiple intelligences, civic participation and voting and ABE-to-College Transitions. To contact Silja Kallenbach, click here.

“What Silja demonstrates is the ability to meet people where they are and to work with them to take their next steps forward.”

MARILYN ANTONUCCI, Collaborative Professional Development Teacher in Language Arts- Springfield
Marilyn is currently working as a literacy specialist in the Springfield Public School system where she has taught for twenty years. She also taught at Smith College Campus School, Northampton, MA. She is a member of Beta Phi Mu, an international library honor society, and Phi Delta Kappa, an educational honor society at the University of Massachusetts, where she received her educational doctorate. Marilyn taught a literacy course to graduate students at Elms College and has presented at various conferences including the Massachusetts Association of College and University Reading Educators, the Massachusetts Reading Conference, and the International Reading Conference. Marilyn developed a successful literacy program at the Kensington Avenue School that serves as a model program for other schools in Springfield. The “Kensington Avenue Literacy Team” supports teachers as they implement their new District Reading Plan in grades K-5. We recognize Marilyn for her willingness to share her expertise with others in her field and for her leadership ability. Her extensive research in family literacy, coupled with staff workshops and her sound approach, have become the key link to the success of the literacy program in Springfield. To contact Marilyn Antonucci, click here.

"Marilyn has provided job embedded professional development for the purpose of improving instruction and student achievement and helped us to write our school improvement plan."

SONIA WALMSLEY, Even Start Coordinator- Attleboro
Sonia Walmsley is currently working in the same programs that helped her learn English when she came to the United States from Columbia several years ago. In her work as Even Start Coordinator for the Attleboro Literacy Center, volunteer Spanish teacher at the Brennan Middle School, and Learning Support Specialist for the Attleboro Public Schools Continuing Education Program, Sonia more than gives back to the community that she feels gave her so much. She is able to relate to her students needs and encourages them to attain maximum participation in their educational process. The innovative practices that Sonia has created and uses in her literacy programs have been shared with her peers at various adult education conferences. We recognize Sonia for encouraging her adult students to find their voice, to participate in student governance, and to share their expertise and talents as volunteers themselves. To contact Sonia Walmsley, click here.

“It has never been about what is best for Sonia. It is what is best for her students and how to teach them to read, write and speak English.”

PEGGY RAMBACH, Teacher: Healthcare/Arts and Healing; Immigrant Literacy- Lawrence
To visit Asian Center Merrimack Valley Inc click here, www.asiancentermv.org or The Schwartz center, click here www.theschwartzcenter.org

In 1998 Peggy Rambach, a gifted and accomplished writer and educator, left college teaching to devote her skills to reaching an under-served population of immigrants and their children, elders, long-time care patients in healthcare facilities and prison inmates. A published author, Peggy understands the empowerment that comes with self-expression and this is the motivation behind the various roles she has taken in teaching writing. She provides workshops in writing with people of all ages whose life circumstances discourage or prevent self-expression and provides the chance to learn in a supportive and caring setting. As her students involve themselves in the writing and learning process Peggy develops curriculum around their specific needs. We recognize Peggy for her persistence and skillful ability to create an environment in which participants feel comfortable enough to express their feelings and for providing them with the tools needed to express themselves effectively. To contact Peggy Rambach, click here.

“As a facilitator and as an editor of these writing projects, Ms. Rambach is phenomenal. She brings the storyteller out of each individual.”

JUDY LANGLEY, Technology Co-ordinator Literacy Program of Greater Plymouth- Plymouth
To visit the Literacy Program of Greater Plymouth, click here http://users.adelphia.net/~litcenter/

Judy has a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and a masters degree in chemical engineering process control. For the past six years, Judy has been the Technology Coordinator for the Literacy Technology Learning Center located at the Plymouth Public Library. Judy was instrumental in the Library's receipt of a Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund grant that demonstrated how a literacy technology center could be integrated with an existing adult literacy-tutoring program - a very unique accomplishment for a public library. In her role as the Coordinator, she created her own computer-based program that tests students seeking United States Citizenship and also developed an extensive annotated bibliography of other available software available for use by teachers and tutors at the Learning Center. We recognize Judy for her innovative approach to literacy through technology and for her willingness to share this new information with her peers. To contact Judy Langley, click here.

"Judy is responsible for integrating the use of computers into the adult literacy and tutoring program. The approach has been very successful with ESOL learners and has helped increase the speed at which they learn English."

MARGARET BOYKO, Executive Director ESL- Palmer
To visit Top Floor Learning click on www.topfloorlearning.org

Margaret is the Executive Director of the ESL program for Top Floor Learning, Inc located at the Palmer Public Library. She holds a masters degree in Bilingual, ESL and Multicultural Education and is currently a doctoral candidate in the Language, Literacy and Culture program at the University of Massachusetts. Top Floor Learning is a unique, highly visible model program that provides literacy services, ESL instruction, and a wide range of lifelong learning programs to a population of approximately 68,000 adults in the Quaboag Valley area. The targeted population includes a significant number of people whose literacy skills are not sufficiently developed to be competitive in today’s job market, and TFL’s mission is to meet those needs. Until very recently, there had been no opportunity for area residents to take classes such as these, and the very positive response has shown that TFL is fulfilling a demonstrated need in the community. She has presented the TFL model to graduate library science students to demonstrate to future librarians the value of collaboration between literacy programs and public libraries as well as modeling the ESL program for practicing librarians. We recognize Margaret for her acute awareness of the literacy needs of the Palmer community and for her skill in meeting those needs. To contact Margaret Boyko, click here.

“The ideas have created a ‘re-birth’ of a much needed community based literacy organization with additional programs and, more importantly, a higher attendance rate by the students.”