• Meet the Literacy Champions
• 2011 Literacy Champions
• 2009 Literacy Champions
• 2008 Literacy Champions
• 2007 Literacy Champions
• 2006 Literacy Champions
• 2005 Literacy Champions
• 2003-2004 Literacy Champions
• About the Literacy Champion Awards
• Publications

literacy champions program

Meet the 2011 Literacy Champions

		Iris Broudy ABE/ESOL Instructor Hampden House of Correction Ludlow "My students pick up English “in the street” but lack the opportunity to learn to read and write well. Low literacy affects successful reentry into society—the official reason why literacy education matters. But I also see the individual, not just the system. I see men who were called 'stupid' in school. They feel humiliation and inadequacy when they have to ask a friend to help them complete a simple form. My goal is to empower these students. I try to create a learning atmosphere where they can take risks, experience small successes, and begin to believe in themselves as learners."
		Rafi Chaprut ESOL Volunteer Teacher Access Hyannis “Giving back to society was my major incentive in being involved in English education as a second language. In my lifetime I have experienced the same difficulties as the new immigrant students are experiencing. As a young adult I moved to Israel from Turkey and had to learn a whole new language in order to study at the University. Again when I moved from Israel to the United States, I had to learn not just the language, but enough to articulate and converse in a business environment. I knew that in order to achieve my goals I needed to be proficient in English. Because I was fortunate enough to overcome the hurdles and succeed, I feel it is my turn now to help others to achieve their goals by providing the appropriate and necessary tools.”
		Meghan McGinley Crowe Executive Director of Education Little Sprouts, Inc Lawrence “Make it Happen. I love to theorize and conceptualize new ideas and approaches, but they all mean very little unless something is produced. This also applies to new learning. I push myself daily outside my comfort zone to evolve and develop. I attend over 100 hours annually of training and vacation at conferences- for fun! That idea of development goes further as I evolve the curriculum and learning within Little Sprouts. Every child has limitless potential and it is our job as educators, and my job as a leader, to ensure we give them every opportunity to realize that potential.”
		Donna DiFillippo Early Childhood/Family Literacy Program Director Raising A Reader Boston “I have two guiding principals – the social injustice of the academic achievement gap, and our failure to engage parents as partners in alleviating it. I believe that all parents want the best for their children. It’s crucial that we empower parents because the family is the strongest element in shaping the lives of children. It’s the most powerful support network there is; it’s where the cycle of learning begins. My goal is to teach parents to read with their children, whether or not they can read themselves, so they can succeed in their most important role – their child’s first teacher.”
		Lillie Marshall Language Arts Teacher Boston Latin Academy Boston www.TeachingTraveling.com www.BoomWriter.com “The beliefs that guide my daily practice are that education is awesome and it's also triumphantly fun. Teaching is the best job in the world... and so is learning! I believe that students need to see the direct correlation between the skills we learn in class and their application and importance in their present and future. I also believe that students need time for independent, small group, and large group learning, with as much choice and creativity as possible within a rigorous and practical framework. Ensuring that all students have access to a top-notch education is a human rights issue, and is essential to create the kind of world we want to live in.”
		Nusean Mayfield Parent Facilitator Elias Brooking Museum Magnet School Springfield “There is a perceived notion that parents of students in inner city schools don’t care about their children’s education. The parents who are a part of the Parent Center I have established are a positive role model of parents who do care about their child’s education. Parents may not have an associates or a bachelor degree on paper, but they have us. We are their degrees. It’s up to us, to educate them on best practices for literacy excellence. I anticipate that in coming years, more parents will come to the center and take advantage of the opportunities available here.”
		David Mazor Program Founder and Director Reader to Reader “As a literacy advocate, my guiding principal is that reading is the key that unlocks the door to success, whether it is academic achievement, better job opportunities, or the simple joy that comes from discovering that reading is one of life’s most enjoyable activities. I believe that no stone must be left unturned in finding ways to bring resources to those that have little or no access to books, and that in addition to providing books, our organization can play a role in creating innovative literacy programs that give children role models to ignite their interest in reading.”
		Karen Miller GED, Career Instructor The Literacy Center, Bristol Community College Attleboro “As an advocate of lifelong learning, I believe that education is the key to a brighter future and a better life. I strive to make learning fun and have a flair for presenting the math rules in a way that even the self-professed “math hating” student finds enlightening. Whenever I hear one of my students say “I used to think Algebra was hard,” it truly makes my day. I am very familiar with all of the GED test material and I believe I have a talent for explaining not only GED content but the test taking strategy as well.”
		Diane Palmaccio Reading Specialist Silver Hill Horace Mann Charter School Haverhill "The greatest belief I have about my students is they all can achieve. It is our responsibility as educators to take our students from where they are academically and help them make achievable gains no matter how large or small. The light in their eyes of students as they realize they can read makes all the effort worthwhile. It is our responsibility to provide an education that is reachable through best practices. No child should ever be made to feel that their ideas and efforts are not valued. Each chance to educate is a step forward in the future of that child."
		Karen Voght Creator/Director, Alphabet Fitness Project Wellness, Inc. Boston “I chose to start Wellness, Inc. in 1995 out of concern for the well being of children growing up in fast-paced, multi-media learning environments. In literate societies, fine-motor, alphabet-trained brains foster early learning habits and habitual neuromuscular patterns, but without proper amounts of gross motor activity the developing child does not benefit from balanced physical, cognitive, emotional and social growth. Since alphabets are the fundamental communication tools of most literate societies, I developed Alphabet Fitness and its kid friendly alphabet letters to enhance our current alphabet’s function as a reading and writing tool for children.”