Connect Kids With Books They Want to
Read – Schedule a Book Fair Today!
Read – Schedule a Book Fair Today!
Principal Advisory Board
Name: Dr. L. Robert Furman
School: South Park Elementary Center
Bio: Dr. Robert Furman has been an educator for 13 years and a principal for 5 years, including 3 years at South Park Elementary. As principal, his greatest sense of pride comes from his school staff and their willingness to make the necessary changes to help their students. As a principal, Robert is greatly concerned about reading and worries it has become a means to take and complete a state test. “We are not teaching good reading skills, we are simply teaching enough to win a score on a test,” says Robert. Therefore, one of his biggest goals is to increase reading proficiency to above 80% in 3rd and 4th grade. Robert has implemented the Accelerated Reader program in his school, and he will be closely watching student scores to see if achievement increases.
Affiliations:
School: South Park Elementary Center
Bio: Dr. Robert Furman has been an educator for 13 years and a principal for 5 years, including 3 years at South Park Elementary. As principal, his greatest sense of pride comes from his school staff and their willingness to make the necessary changes to help their students. As a principal, Robert is greatly concerned about reading and worries it has become a means to take and complete a state test. “We are not teaching good reading skills, we are simply teaching enough to win a score on a test,” says Robert. Therefore, one of his biggest goals is to increase reading proficiency to above 80% in 3rd and 4th grade. Robert has implemented the Accelerated Reader program in his school, and he will be closely watching student scores to see if achievement increases.
Affiliations:
- National Association of Elementary School Principals
- Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
- PAS
Name: Dr. Steven Geis
School: North Trail Elementary, West Farmington, MN
Bio: Dr. Steven Geis has been an educator for 16 years and served as a principal for 10 years, including 3 years at North Trail Elementary. Steven is most proud of his students. He loves witnessing how much they are learning and loving to read. “Our parents and community create a climate of cooperation with our school where student possibilities are endless,” he says. As a principal, his greatest concern is meeting the needs of every student and focusing on literacy. One of Steven’s educational goals is to have all students reading at their grade level, which the school will measure using the NWEA and classroom assessments.
Affiliations:
School: North Trail Elementary, West Farmington, MN
Bio: Dr. Steven Geis has been an educator for 16 years and served as a principal for 10 years, including 3 years at North Trail Elementary. Steven is most proud of his students. He loves witnessing how much they are learning and loving to read. “Our parents and community create a climate of cooperation with our school where student possibilities are endless,” he says. As a principal, his greatest concern is meeting the needs of every student and focusing on literacy. One of Steven’s educational goals is to have all students reading at their grade level, which the school will measure using the NWEA and classroom assessments.
Affiliations:
- President of South Suburban Division of MN Elementary Principals Association
- Japanese Memorial Fulbright Fund
- National Association of Elementary School Principals
- NISL National Institute for School Leadership
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
- Associate Professor at Saint Mary’s University
Name: Helen Giles
School: Classical Studies Academy
Bio: Helen Giles has been an educator for 12 years and a principal at the Classical Studies Academy for 2 years. Helen is very proud of her students and their potential for greatness. “I am also proud of the efforts on behalf of the staff, parents and community partnerships,” she says. Helen’s greatest concern is to instill in the students a great love for reading and she has a sincere desire that all of the students function at their highest potential. “I believe this can be accomplished once the students gain a strong foundation in reading and math”. Helen will know this goal has been achieved when there are notable improvements in the district benchmark assessments and state mandated tests. “Additionally, I am looking to see excitement exuded by the students about what is going on in the classroom,” she says. “We are working diligently to ensure that best practices are in place, such as using data to inform instruction, allowing time for teacher collaboration, parent involvement, creating and sustaining community partnerships and having a shared vision”.
Affiliations:
School: Classical Studies Academy
Bio: Helen Giles has been an educator for 12 years and a principal at the Classical Studies Academy for 2 years. Helen is very proud of her students and their potential for greatness. “I am also proud of the efforts on behalf of the staff, parents and community partnerships,” she says. Helen’s greatest concern is to instill in the students a great love for reading and she has a sincere desire that all of the students function at their highest potential. “I believe this can be accomplished once the students gain a strong foundation in reading and math”. Helen will know this goal has been achieved when there are notable improvements in the district benchmark assessments and state mandated tests. “Additionally, I am looking to see excitement exuded by the students about what is going on in the classroom,” she says. “We are working diligently to ensure that best practices are in place, such as using data to inform instruction, allowing time for teacher collaboration, parent involvement, creating and sustaining community partnerships and having a shared vision”.Affiliations:
- Member of Association for Supervison and Curriculum Development
- Board member of Omicron Upsilon Omega Foundation
- Member Of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- Member of South Norwalk Charter School Planning Team
- Member of the Board of Directors – United Way of Coastal Fairfield County
Name: Elizabeth Hostin
School: Martha Reid Elementary School
Bio: Elizabeth Hostin has been an educator for 26 years and served as a principal for 9 years, including 5 years at Martha Reid Elementary School. She is most proud of her student’s numerous successes, whether they are academic, social, physical, or behavioral. Elizabeth is also proud of her teacher’s growth and willingness to do whatever it takes to help children be successful. Elizabeth believes children should be encouraged to think and communicate their thoughts and ideas. A key goal for her school to achieve a state educational ranking of Exemplary based on student assessment. Her personal priorities are her faith, her family, and encouraging those around her to enjoy life!
Affiliations:
School: Martha Reid Elementary School
Bio: Elizabeth Hostin has been an educator for 26 years and served as a principal for 9 years, including 5 years at Martha Reid Elementary School. She is most proud of her student’s numerous successes, whether they are academic, social, physical, or behavioral. Elizabeth is also proud of her teacher’s growth and willingness to do whatever it takes to help children be successful. Elizabeth believes children should be encouraged to think and communicate their thoughts and ideas. A key goal for her school to achieve a state educational ranking of Exemplary based on student assessment. Her personal priorities are her faith, her family, and encouraging those around her to enjoy life! Affiliations:
- National Association of Elementary School Principals
- Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association
- Adjunct professor at DBU
Name: Yvonne Kittrell
School: Rutland Elementary
Bio: Yvonne Kittrell has been an educator for 28 years and served as a principal for 14 years, including 10 years at Rutland Elementary. Yvonne takes great pride in the cohesiveness of her faculty. “Everyone has a caring and loving attitude towards each other and to all students,” she says. As a principal, she is concerned about the amount of quality time families spend together. “Children spend far too much time in front of the TV, on the computer, and playing electronic games,” she adds. Yvonne plans to host many family night events to encourage family time. She also plans to develop an incentive program around the Tennessee state standards because they are changing next year and she wants to be assured that her student’s math scores will be as good as their reading scores. “The incentive program will entice students to want to memorize the facts,” she says.
Affiliations:
School: Rutland Elementary
Bio: Yvonne Kittrell has been an educator for 28 years and served as a principal for 14 years, including 10 years at Rutland Elementary. Yvonne takes great pride in the cohesiveness of her faculty. “Everyone has a caring and loving attitude towards each other and to all students,” she says. As a principal, she is concerned about the amount of quality time families spend together. “Children spend far too much time in front of the TV, on the computer, and playing electronic games,” she adds. Yvonne plans to host many family night events to encourage family time. She also plans to develop an incentive program around the Tennessee state standards because they are changing next year and she wants to be assured that her student’s math scores will be as good as their reading scores. “The incentive program will entice students to want to memorize the facts,” she says.Affiliations:
- TN Teachers Association
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
- Professional Educators of TN
- Advisory Board for Governor’s Pre K Program
Name: Dr. Ines M.L. Schmook
School: Lake Orienta Elementary School
Bio: Dr. Ines M.L. Schmook has been an educator for 28 years and served as a principal for 16 years, including two and one-half years at Lake Orienta Elementary School, which is one of the top elementary schools when it comes to technology. Ines strives to maintain a balance between the academic needs and the emotional needs of her students. Her school’s main educational goal is for Lake Orienta to make AYP (Annual Yearly Progress). This is Ines’ third year as principal of Lake Orienta Elementary, and their focus on reaching the goal of not only making AYP, but also becoming an “A” school has paid off. “Having missed by only one student last year,” she says. “I am happy to announce that Lake Orienta is now an “A” school, thanks to the hard work of faculty and students!”
School: Lake Orienta Elementary School
Bio: Dr. Ines M.L. Schmook has been an educator for 28 years and served as a principal for 16 years, including two and one-half years at Lake Orienta Elementary School, which is one of the top elementary schools when it comes to technology. Ines strives to maintain a balance between the academic needs and the emotional needs of her students. Her school’s main educational goal is for Lake Orienta to make AYP (Annual Yearly Progress). This is Ines’ third year as principal of Lake Orienta Elementary, and their focus on reaching the goal of not only making AYP, but also becoming an “A” school has paid off. “Having missed by only one student last year,” she says. “I am happy to announce that Lake Orienta is now an “A” school, thanks to the hard work of faculty and students!”
Name: Dr. Michael Shaffer
School: Lincoln Elementary School
Bio: Dr. Michael Shaffer has completed 23 years as a principal, having served in elementary,
middle, and high school settings in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Iowa. Michael
also works with Ball State University as an assistant professor, working with students
completing their principal internships as a part of the licensing process.
In his spare time, Michael teaches motorcycle safety classes through the Indiana
Department of Education and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. He takes great pride
in his very dedicated corps of teachers, who care deeply about children and work very
hard to provide high-quality, data-driven instruction to those children.
As a principal, his greatest concern is student literacy. Not only in getting them to read
more at their grade level while in school, but also to put print materials in their hands
that they can access anytime. His big concern with loaned books to students is that once
they complete reading it, they must return it. Kids need to be able to keep the books
they enjoy so they can re-read favorite books.
Affiliations:
School: Lincoln Elementary School
Bio: Dr. Michael Shaffer has completed 23 years as a principal, having served in elementary,
middle, and high school settings in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Iowa. Michael
also works with Ball State University as an assistant professor, working with students
completing their principal internships as a part of the licensing process.
In his spare time, Michael teaches motorcycle safety classes through the Indiana
Department of Education and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. He takes great pride
in his very dedicated corps of teachers, who care deeply about children and work very
hard to provide high-quality, data-driven instruction to those children.
As a principal, his greatest concern is student literacy. Not only in getting them to read
more at their grade level while in school, but also to put print materials in their hands
that they can access anytime. His big concern with loaned books to students is that once
they complete reading it, they must return it. Kids need to be able to keep the books
they enjoy so they can re-read favorite books.
Affiliations:
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
- Allen County Learn United
Name:Nancy Carter
School: Hyde Grove Elementary
Bio: Nancy Carter has been an educator for 17 years and has served as a teacher, professional development trainer, assistant principal, and principal for last 3 years at Hyde Grove Elementary in Jacksonville, Florida. Serving as a principal in a Title 1 school, Ms. Carter has realized that literacy serves as the gateway to a better life and endless possibilities for her students. Without it, they are condemned to a life of dim statistics. She spends her year trying to ensure that each child is progressing as readers and engaging them in authentic literature they can love for life.
As a principal, her greatest concern is finding a way to ensure the needs of struggling students are met and strategies are found to help them progress.
Affiliations:
School: Hyde Grove Elementary
Bio: Nancy Carter has been an educator for 17 years and has served as a teacher, professional development trainer, assistant principal, and principal for last 3 years at Hyde Grove Elementary in Jacksonville, Florida. Serving as a principal in a Title 1 school, Ms. Carter has realized that literacy serves as the gateway to a better life and endless possibilities for her students. Without it, they are condemned to a life of dim statistics. She spends her year trying to ensure that each child is progressing as readers and engaging them in authentic literature they can love for life. As a principal, her greatest concern is finding a way to ensure the needs of struggling students are met and strategies are found to help them progress.
Affiliations:
- Duval Elementary School Principals
- National Association of Elementary School Principals
- Florida Association of School Administrators
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
- National Staff Development Council
Name: Frank Nardelli
School: Dove Academyl
Bio: Frank Nardelli has served as an educator in Detroit, Michigan for 14 years. In 1997, Frank joined the founding faculty for Dove Academy, a K-8 Public School Academy in Detroit. Frank taught first grade and third grade before becoming the Assistant Principal at Dove. Frank served as the Assistant Principal for three years and then was promoted to the Principal’s position. The 2010-2011 school year is Frank’s seventh year as the Principal of Dove Academy.
Phi Delta Kappa has recognized Frank as a 2009-2010 “Emerging Leader” in Education. Frank was also the recipient of the 2010 Geneseo Alumni Association’s Excellence in Education Award. Frank is the author of “We Love the Dove” and “After High School Comes College…” Both are children’s books published by Mascot Books.
Dove Academy became the first No Excuses University school in Michigan in February of 2009. Frank is an Associate for TurnAround schools, the consulting company behind No Excuses University. He presents at TurnAround Schools Institutes across the country and consults with schools that are developing their No Excuses University systems.
Originally from Plattsburgh, New York, Frank earned his Bachelor of Science in Education at the State University of New York College at Geneseo. Frank earned his Master of Arts in Literacy Education at University of Michigan. He is completing his research for his Ed. Specialist in Administration and Supervision at Wayne State University.
Frank believes that students need to see themselves as capable readers and writers. “The more we expose our children to great books, the more their passion for reading will grow!”
Affiliations:
School: Dove Academyl
Bio: Frank Nardelli has served as an educator in Detroit, Michigan for 14 years. In 1997, Frank joined the founding faculty for Dove Academy, a K-8 Public School Academy in Detroit. Frank taught first grade and third grade before becoming the Assistant Principal at Dove. Frank served as the Assistant Principal for three years and then was promoted to the Principal’s position. The 2010-2011 school year is Frank’s seventh year as the Principal of Dove Academy. Phi Delta Kappa has recognized Frank as a 2009-2010 “Emerging Leader” in Education. Frank was also the recipient of the 2010 Geneseo Alumni Association’s Excellence in Education Award. Frank is the author of “We Love the Dove” and “After High School Comes College…” Both are children’s books published by Mascot Books.
Dove Academy became the first No Excuses University school in Michigan in February of 2009. Frank is an Associate for TurnAround schools, the consulting company behind No Excuses University. He presents at TurnAround Schools Institutes across the country and consults with schools that are developing their No Excuses University systems.
Originally from Plattsburgh, New York, Frank earned his Bachelor of Science in Education at the State University of New York College at Geneseo. Frank earned his Master of Arts in Literacy Education at University of Michigan. He is completing his research for his Ed. Specialist in Administration and Supervision at Wayne State University.
Frank believes that students need to see themselves as capable readers and writers. “The more we expose our children to great books, the more their passion for reading will grow!”
Affiliations:
- DPhi Delta Kappa (PDK)
- Kappa Delta Pi (KDP)
- International Reading Association (IRA)
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Name: Dr. Richard J. Hutnik
School: Sammy McClure Middle School
Bio:With 36 years as an educator and three as principal of his Atlanta-area school, Dr. Richard Hutnik is a savvy professional who is committed to making a difference in his students’ lives. Richard saw students entering sixth grade with inadequate reading skills and began to act. The results have earned his school statewide recognition.
In January 2011, Richard’s school was one of 46 schools in all of Georgia to receive a platinum award from the state of Georgia for making great gains in student achievement. In 2011, the school’s students were 99.2% percent proficient in reading compared with the state average of 75 percent.
Richard’s faculty focuses on educating the whole child, but cultivating a love for reading is his top priority. Every student at his school is required to carry a book with them at all times. When students aren’t reading in their free time, Richard hopes to see them discussing books they have read.
Affiliations:
School: Sammy McClure Middle School
Bio:With 36 years as an educator and three as principal of his Atlanta-area school, Dr. Richard Hutnik is a savvy professional who is committed to making a difference in his students’ lives. Richard saw students entering sixth grade with inadequate reading skills and began to act. The results have earned his school statewide recognition.
In January 2011, Richard’s school was one of 46 schools in all of Georgia to receive a platinum award from the state of Georgia for making great gains in student achievement. In 2011, the school’s students were 99.2% percent proficient in reading compared with the state average of 75 percent.
Richard’s faculty focuses on educating the whole child, but cultivating a love for reading is his top priority. Every student at his school is required to carry a book with them at all times. When students aren’t reading in their free time, Richard hopes to see them discussing books they have read.
Affiliations:
- Professional Association of Georgia Educators
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
- National Association of Secondary School Principals
Name: Alyson Beecher
School: San Rafael Elementary School
Bio: Alyson Beecher is a self-described “educator, book geek and literacy advocate” with 20 years’ experience in education, five of which have been spent as principal at San Rafael Elementary School. Faced with a diverse student population, Alyson spearheaded a Dual Language Immersion Program at her school, along with a program that integrates children with special needs.
As one who blogs about her love for reading, Alyson strives to develop a culture at her school that cultivates that same love in her students. She is passionate about helping her students understand the value of reading for learning as well as for pleasure. That goal, she realized, would be achieved step by step.
In the 2011-2012 school year, Alyson has worked with a team of teachers who are modeling ways to increase literacy in and out of the classroom. The results have been encouraging: Her students are more engaged with books than ever before. Alyson expects to implement her model schoolwide.
Affiliations:
School: San Rafael Elementary School
Bio: Alyson Beecher is a self-described “educator, book geek and literacy advocate” with 20 years’ experience in education, five of which have been spent as principal at San Rafael Elementary School. Faced with a diverse student population, Alyson spearheaded a Dual Language Immersion Program at her school, along with a program that integrates children with special needs.
As one who blogs about her love for reading, Alyson strives to develop a culture at her school that cultivates that same love in her students. She is passionate about helping her students understand the value of reading for learning as well as for pleasure. That goal, she realized, would be achieved step by step.
In the 2011-2012 school year, Alyson has worked with a team of teachers who are modeling ways to increase literacy in and out of the classroom. The results have been encouraging: Her students are more engaged with books than ever before. Alyson expects to implement her model schoolwide.
Affiliations:
- Board member of Pasadena Association of School Administrators
- Association of California School Administrators
- Board member of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Sorority
- Board member of Children’s Literature Council of Southern California
- American Library Association
- National Council of Teachers of English
- International Reading Association
Name: Dr. Janet Fawcett
School: Highlands Elementary School
Bio: Of Janet Fawcett’s 19 years in education, 10 have been spent as a principal and seven as head of Highlands Elementary, situated in a diverse urban community outside Seattle. Taking a student-centered approach, Janet works diligently with her team to support English language learners, increase the level of parental involvement and help her students read at grade level.
Reading is such a strong emphasis at Highlands Elementary that in September 2011, the school was recognized in the local press for a notable achievement: Janet’s students had logged more than 3,200 hours of summer reading in the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, making her school No. 1 in Washington and 52nd of the hundreds of thousands of schools that participated worldwide.
Affiliations:
School: Highlands Elementary School
Bio: Of Janet Fawcett’s 19 years in education, 10 have been spent as a principal and seven as head of Highlands Elementary, situated in a diverse urban community outside Seattle. Taking a student-centered approach, Janet works diligently with her team to support English language learners, increase the level of parental involvement and help her students read at grade level.
Reading is such a strong emphasis at Highlands Elementary that in September 2011, the school was recognized in the local press for a notable achievement: Janet’s students had logged more than 3,200 hours of summer reading in the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, making her school No. 1 in Washington and 52nd of the hundreds of thousands of schools that participated worldwide.
Affiliations:
- Association of Washington School Principals
- ASCD
- Washington Educational Research Association
Name: Erick Valentin
School: Swatara Middle School
Bio: Erick takes a full-throttle approach to education and literacy at Swatara Middle, a Response to Intervention school that employs a multitiered plan to ensure student success. Reading is a core subject in Erick’s Harrisburg, Pa., school, where he complements his solid universal curriculum with interventions such as Scholastic Read 180, designed to improve reading achievement among struggling students. With a constant eye on student achievement, Erick looks to maximize time, resources, and data to meet student needs. Erick – an educator for 12 years and a principal for five – seeks to equip all Swatara Middle School students with organizational, study, research, learning, and social skills while building their background knowledge so that every student would leave Swatara Middle School with a “walk-anywhere education.”
Affiliations:
School: Swatara Middle School
Bio: Erick takes a full-throttle approach to education and literacy at Swatara Middle, a Response to Intervention school that employs a multitiered plan to ensure student success. Reading is a core subject in Erick’s Harrisburg, Pa., school, where he complements his solid universal curriculum with interventions such as Scholastic Read 180, designed to improve reading achievement among struggling students. With a constant eye on student achievement, Erick looks to maximize time, resources, and data to meet student needs. Erick – an educator for 12 years and a principal for five – seeks to equip all Swatara Middle School students with organizational, study, research, learning, and social skills while building their background knowledge so that every student would leave Swatara Middle School with a “walk-anywhere education.”
Affiliations:
- National Association of Secondary School Principals
- Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
- Pennsylvania School Boards Association.
Name: Marco Zanoni
School: Academy for the Middle Years Northwest
Bio: With 33 years as an educator and seven as principal of AMY NW, Marco brings a wealth of experience to his culturally diverse Philadelphia school. The diversity of Marco’s students – who hail from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds – requires Marco continually balance strong academics with an environment that nurtures each student. AMY NW is experiencing the payoff on multiple platforms: Reading initiatives and Book Fairs remain top priorities for his school, which has been recognized also for its students’ math achievements through the Suntex International First in MATH ® competitions. In addition, the school has been granted special admission magnet status with full site selection for its staff, another point of pride for Marco.
Affiliations:
School: Academy for the Middle Years Northwest
Bio: With 33 years as an educator and seven as principal of AMY NW, Marco brings a wealth of experience to his culturally diverse Philadelphia school. The diversity of Marco’s students – who hail from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds – requires Marco continually balance strong academics with an environment that nurtures each student. AMY NW is experiencing the payoff on multiple platforms: Reading initiatives and Book Fairs remain top priorities for his school, which has been recognized also for its students’ math achievements through the Suntex International First in MATH ® competitions. In addition, the school has been granted special admission magnet status with full site selection for its staff, another point of pride for Marco.Affiliations:
- Rose Lindenbaum Improvement of Education Principal Award
- American Street Corridor Business Association Community Leadership Award
- The Schoolmen’s Club Award of Philadelphia for Distinguished Service
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House of Representatives Award for Community Support for Landmark Schools
- National Association for Bilingual Educators
- Doylestown YMCA Award for Volunteerism
