School-Based Literacy Interventionists

María L. González is a Literacy Interventionist (K-4) at Amigos. She has over three decades of experience in the Cambridge Public Schools and is passionate about developing a love of reading and writing with her students. María is a native of Puerto Rico and speaks fluent Spanish and French. She enjoys music, singing and spending time with her two adult sons and family. María may be reached at mgonzalez@cpsd.us. 

Luisa Quintanilla (she, her) is a Dual Language Interventionist at Escuela Amigos School in the Cambridge Public Schools. She cultivates biliteracy (English & Spanish) and cross-cultural learning with her students. Luisa enjoys kayaking and snorkeling. She can be reached at lquintanilla@cpsd.us.

Erin Fitzgerald is a Literacy Interventionist at the Baldwin School. In partnership with classroom teachers, Erin provides students with supplemental literacy instruction through small group support. This is Erin's 22nd year working in a literacy support role in Cambridge. Prior to working at Baldwin, she was an interventionist and literacy coach at Fletcher Maynard Academy. Erin is the proud mother of a son, a daughter, and two dogs. She can be reached at efitzgerald@cpsd.us

Jessica Della Calce is a Literacy Interventionist at the Maria. L. Baldwin School. She has worked at Baldwin for 15 years, formerly in the role of Kindergarten Teacher. In partnership with teachers Jessica provides students with supplemental literacy instruction through small group support. Some of Jessica’s work with students is featured in the new book “Purpose Matters: Selecting & Using Children’s Literature for Inquiry & Engagement”. She has also co-authored articles in Literacy Today & The Reading Teacher. Jessica enjoys exploring new places and listening to people’s stories.

Tracey DeLucia (she/her) is the Literacy Specialist at the Cambridgeport School. Working alongside classroom teachers, Tracey supports students with additional literacy guidance in small group lessons. Tracey has been a CPS elementary educator for 20+ years and is a proud mom of 2 teens. She can be reached at Tdelucia@cpsd.us.

Tracey Gordon began her career at Cambridgeport teaching a combined 5th / 6th grade classroom. 20+ years later, she is the literacy interventionist at Cambridge Street Upper School. Though her 1st career as a chef and restaurant owner was both challenging and rewarding, teaching surpasses all of her culinary experiences by leaps and bounds!

Kyla Braggs is a Literacy Interventionist at the Fletcher Maynard Academy. In partnership with classroom teachers, Kyla provides students with supplemental literacy instruction through small group instruction. This is Kyla’s seventeenth year working as a Literacy Interventionist and her fifth year working in Cambridge. In her spare time, Kyla enjoys spending time with her family and reading lots of books with her daughter, Aliyah. She can be reached at kbraggs@cpsd.us

Mikaela Myers is a Literacy Interventionist at Fletcher-Maynard Academy. Mikaela strives to support students' development of reading and writing skills that will contribute to their academic growth. She has received a Master's in Elementary Education as well as a Reading Specialist certificate and license. Mikaela began her career in Cambridge Public Schools as intern teacher and immediately feel in love with the students and community. She can be reached at mimyers@cpsd.us. 

As an interventionist at Graham & Parks, Laura Broach (she/her) works with small groups of students in grades K - 5 to support their literacy learning. She started teaching more than thirty years ago as a first-grade teacher in Washington, D.C. Although she has always been passionate about improving her teaching methods in order to help students grow as readers, she has recently become excited to learn and implement even more effective ways to teach so students achieve greater success as readers. When not at school, she can often be found reading, painting, or knitting; and she loves spending time with her family – especially exploring new places or relaxing at the beach.

Amanda Robinson (she/her) is the SEI Literacy Interventionist at the Graham & Parks School. Working with SEI teachers, MLE coaches and the Literacy team, Amanda creates individualized, data-based literacy plans for multilingual learners from Kindergarten to 5th grade. Her priority is to support students in building confidence around literacy in the English language by helping them gain foundational reading tools that will aid them in their ability to decode and comprehend the written form of language. Prior to working at CPSD, Amanda worked for a nonprofit Dyslexia Education Center and has been a teacher in the field of literacy for 10 years. A native of Texas, Amanda loves to cook and entertain, and considers herself and art nerd - interested in all art forms of art from painting to fashion to interior design. She can be reached at arobinson@cpsd.us.

Debra Gadsden-Holiday (she/her) is an Early Literacy Interventionist at the Graham and Parks School, where she has held this role for 6 years. Prior to her current position, she served as a grade 1-2 teacher in the Cambridge Public Schools for 23 years. Debra is passionate about creating a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive learning environment for the community she serves. Outside of her educational role, Debra also serves as an ordained Deacon at her church, demonstrating her commitment to both her faith and her community. Additionally, she is the proud mother of two children. In her free time, Debra enjoys reading, cooking and walks on the beach! Debra can be reached at dholiday@cpsd.us

Karen Tlili (she/her/hers) is a Title I Literacy Interventionist. She designs effective, research-grounded literacy interventions based on students' needs and serves a resource to improve literacy instruction at the school level. Karen has worked in Cambridge Public Schools for 15 years and is passionate about analyzing literacy data and planning effective professional development. Karen is the mother of two boys and enjoys reading, traveling, and trying new restaurants. 

Patty West has worked at the Haggerty School since 2004, in Kindergarten and in Early literacy intervention. She is committed to helping children entering school see themselves as readers and writers and providing the support that will enable them to engage fully in the literate world around them. Patty enjoys her family, dancing, going the the beach, as well as trying new crafts. 

Maryrita Nicolora-Vaz is the Reading Interventionist for grades 3-5 at the Kennedy-Longfellow School. Maryrita uses data to identify and target instruction to meet each student's specific needs. Prior to being a literacy interventionist, Maryrita spent many many years teaching fourth grade students at KLO and in Medford. Maryrita has 2 adult children, a dog, a grandson and a new baby arriving in December! She can be reached at mnicolora-vaz@cpsd.us. Maryrita enjoys spending time on the Cape with her grandson, Chase.

Jessica Amato (she/her) is the Early Literacy Interventionist at the Kennedy-Longfellow School. Jessica supports the literacy development of students in grades K-2 by collaborating with classroom teachers and the Kennedy-Longfellow Literacy Team, and analyzing student data to plan and deliver literacy instruction in one to one and small group settings. Prior to becoming an interventionist, Jessica taught first and second grade. Jessica is the proud mother of a curious, little boy and a loving dog. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and relaxing on the beach. Jessica can be reached at jamato@cpsd.us

Ellen McLaughlin (she/her) is the King Open Title 1 Literacy Interventionist. Ellen designs and teaches targeted English Language Arts lessons to students in grades Kindergarten through Grade 5. Ellen is a lifelong resident of Cambridge and the proud mother of three daughters. She enjoys spending time with family, reading and kayaking on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. Ellen can be reached at emclaughlin@cpsd.us.

Christine Reycroft began her teaching career in New York City where she taught Pre-K/K and was a founding member of The Earth School, a public school on the lower east side with a science/ecology core curriculum. When she moved back home to Massachusetts she was hired by Cambridge Public Schools and began working as a Kindergarten teacher at the King Open School and is currently an Early Literacy Interventionist. Christine has also been trained as a Literacy Coach by Lesley University. When she is not helping students develop their love for reading and writing, Christine enjoys biking, gardening and studying Interior design. 

Maureen Bobbin’s background in child development inspired her to work in early education. She began her teaching career as a classroom teacher in kindergarten and first grade and has worked in the Cambridge Public Schools for many years as an Early Literacy Interventionist. Maureen enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and her puppy. She is grateful to be part of the Morse School community and for her work alongside children as they learn to become lifelong readers and writers.

Joanna Nicolich (she/her) is a Literacy Interventionist at the Morse School. She works alongside teachers, interventionists, and coaches to plan and implement reading and writing interventions that meet the needs of Morse learners in grades K-5. Prior to her intervention work in Cambridge, Joanna taught first grade in Baltimore City Public Schools. In her free time, Joanna reads, crochets, and visits her family whenever she can. Joanna can be reached at jnicolich@cpsd.us.

Andrea Baker (she/her) is a reading specialist who serves as a literacy interventionist at Putnam Avenue Upper School. In partnership with instructional coaches, educators and care-givers, Andrea develops and implements data-informed intervention to support students to reading and writing on grade level. In her career, Andrea helped to create a successful middle school, Bok Academy, and earned National Board Certification and completed a Master's degree as a reading specialist. She's taught at all levels-- elementary, middle, high school, and college. Middle school is her favorite level! She enjoys spending time traveling and reading. Andrea can be reached at AnBaker@cpsd.us

Emily Cyr (she/her) is a Literacy Interventionist at the Putnam Avenue Upper School. This is Emily's fifth year working in the Cambridge Public School District. In partnership with interventionists, instructional coaches, educators, and administrators, Emily provides data-driven reading and writing intervention to support students' literacy growth and success. Prior to joining CPS in SY2019, Emily taught fifth grade on a Native American Reservation in South Dakota. Emily was born and raised in Cambridge and attended CPS; she is proud to have the opportunity to give back to the community that helped shape her identity. Emily is looking forward to getting married to her fiancé, a Cambridge firefighter, in June 2024! Emily can be reached at ecyr@cpsd.us.

Rachael Dyer (she/her) is a Literacy Interventionist at Tobin Montessori School. This is her twenty-fourth year working in education and her sixth year at Tobin. Rachael started her educational journey as a Montessori student and now enjoys working and learning in this vibrant network of colleagues, caregivers, and students. Rachael is passionate about partnering with striving readers and writers of all ages and providing them with opportunities and resources. Rachael also enjoys family time, fall weather, game nights, fly fishing, espresso, and travel. Rachael can be reached at rdyer@cpsd.us.