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 2022–2023 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 the DOE’s literacy initiatives
  • Support the design of a long-term vision for literacy in New York City 2023-23 Literacy Advisory Council Members 

2023-23 Literacy Advisory Council Members

  • Wiley Blevins - Author and phonics specialist, Harvard
  • Phoebe Boyer - President & CEO, Children's Aid Society 
  • Natasha Capers - Director, Coalition for Educational Justice 
  • Elsa Cardenas-Hagan - Associate Professor, President of Speech Language Center, University of Houston
  • Robert Carroll - Brooklyn Assemblymen, NY Assembly
  • Chris Caruso - Managing Director, School-Age Children, Robin Hood
  • Carolyn Castro - Co-President, Citywide Council on Special Education
  • Melissa Cisco - Director of Communications and Special Projects, School Culture Climate and Wellbeing
  • Erminia Claudio - Executive Director Operations, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA)
  • Resha Conroy - Founder, Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children
  • Claudia DeMegret - Parent 
  • Marielys Divanne - Senior Advisor, NYC City Hall - Office of the Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives
  • Linnea Ehri - Distinguished Professor, The Graduate Center, CUNY
  • David Francis - Director, University of Houston, Center for the Success of English Learners (CSEL)/Director of Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics
  • Esther Friedman - Former Executive Director, Literacy and Academic Intervention Services, Division of Teaching and Learning (NYCDOE)
  • Nadine Gaab - Founder/Professor of Education, GaabLab/Early Bird; Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • Ruth Genn - Co-founder, Literacy Academy Collective
  • Lynette Guastaferro - CEO, Teaching Matters
  • Danielle Guindo - Executive Director, Reading Alliance
  • Tiffany Hogan - Director of the SAiL Literacy Lab; Professor, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at MGH Institute
  • Rita Joseph - Council Member District 40, City Council
  • Ruth Kaminski - Director of Research and Development, Acadience Learning / Dynamic Measurement Group
  • Theodore Kamoutsis - Executive Director, The PROMISE Project
  • Devin Kearns - Associate Professor/Researcher, UConn School of Education
  • Katherine Kurjakovic - UFT English Language Learner Specialist, UFT
  • Edwin Lamboy - Dean, College of Education, City College of New York
  • Ryan Lee-James - Rollins Center, Expert in Language Variation/dyslexia
  • Rosemarie LoMonaco - Director of Operations, UFT Teacher Center
  • Lavinia Mancuso - Executive Director, Everyone Reading
  • Anyeli Matos - Senior Executive Director, Charter Schools Office 
  • Janel McD. Hemmings -School-Based Teacher (Regional Special Education Technical Assistance Support Center)
  • Anne McGroarty - Associate Director, District Planning
  • Ellen McHugh - Co-President, Citywide Council on Special Education
  • NeQuan McLean - Parent 
  • Debbie Meyer - Parent 
  • Karol Ann Moore - Director of Research/ Associate Vice President of Curriculum and Instructional Design, Neuhaus Education Center
  • Molly Ness - VP, Academic Content, Learning Ally/more
  • Susan Neuman - Professor, New York University
  • Erika Newsome - Co-President, Citywide Council on Special Education
  • Jimmy Oddo - Chief of Staff, Mayor's Office
  • Katie Pace Miles - Asst. Professor, Brooklyn College, CUNY
  • Naomi Peña - Parent, Literacy Academic Collective (LAC)
  • Juvanie Piquant - Staffer & Education Community Liaison, Council Member Rita Joseph's Office
  • Pilar Ramos - Principal, 13K492, Pre-K to 8
  • Suzanne Sanchez - Senior Director Therapy Service, District Leader
  • Dr. Sally Shaywitz - Co-Founder and Co-Director, Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity
  • Emily Solari - Professor, UVA, Reading League
  • Kim Sweet - Executive Director, Advocates for Children
  • Sameer Talati - Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships, NYC Public Schools Literacy Collaborative 
  • Brenda Thomas - Coach Supervisor, NYC Public Schools Literacy Collaborative
  • Ashleigh Thompson - University Dean for Education, City University of New York
  • Saskia Traill - President & CEO, ExpandED Schools
  • Elizabeth Truly - Consultant on Special Education Law and Policy, UFT
  • Mary Vaccaro - VP for Education, UFT
  • Kareem Weaver - Founder, FULCRUM
  • Four student members