Get To Know KSRA Officers

Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.

Warren Bennis

2016-2017 KSRA Officers

President- Rose Cappelli

Rose worked as a classroom teacher and reading specialist for over 30 years. She is a fellow of the PA Writing and Literature Project, conducts workshops and presentations as a literacy consultant, and is co-author of three Mentor Texts books published by Stenhouse. Rose is a past president and current vice president of Chester County Reading Association. She served KSRA as a Region VI Director, is co-chair of the Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award Committee, and also served on several conference committees. Rose is looking forward to her year as president of KSRA as we continue to reimagine the future of our organization.

President-Elect - Anna Landers

Anna was a stay at home mom of 4 children for 10 years before returning to graduate school at Edinboro University for an additional degree in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Reading. She has worked for the past 9 years as a Reading Specialist for the Corry Area School District. For the past two years, Anna has taught workshops for WQLN Families Turn on to Literacy. Anna has served as the President of Erie Reading Council for the past 6 years. She has served kSRA as the chairperson for IRA Awards, and as the KSRA Secretary. Anna has also been part of several KSRA conference committees, and has spent the past year planning the 2016 Conference. She enjoys the environment of professionalism, learning, and friendship that makes the people of KSRA a welcome part of her life.

Vice President - Aileen Hower

Aileen is a K-12 Reading/English/Language Arts/ESL Supervisor for South Western School District, in Hanover, PA. She will be starting her 22nd year in education this August. Aileen graduated with her doctorate in Reading/Language Arts Leadership from Widener University in 2013. She is an adjunct graduate reading professor for Cabrini University (since 2010) and Eduspire, where she also coordinates a summer literacy institute. Aileen was the KSRA Regional IV Director for the past three. She also serves as KSRA’s Social Media Coordinator and a co-chair of the Keystones to Reading Secondary book awards.

Past President - Michael Williams

Michael is a second grade teacher at Mountain View Elementary School in the Central Dauphin School District in Harrisburg, PA. He has been teaching for 12 years. Michael graduated from Lebanon Valley College in 2003 with a degree in Elementary Education and Special Education certifications. He earned his Master's Degree in Educational Development and Strategies from Wilkes University in 2009. In addition to being Past President of KSRA, Michael is the Co-Chair of the Exemplary Reading Program Award Committee. In his free time, Michael loves to watch football and cheer on his favorite college team, Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Secretary - Kathy Sagl

Kathy has been in education for more than 20 years. She began her career as a library volunteer at Cathedral School located in Allentown. She received her degree in Library Technical Assistance. From 1996 to 2008, she held the position as Library Media Specialist at Cathedral School for students in Kindergarten through Grade 8, sharing story and children’s literature, teaching research skills and proper computer/internet citizenship and responsibility. In 2008, she accepted a position with Nazareth Area High School Library sharing young adult literature with students and providing faculty with materials to assist their curriculum. Kathy recently retired from her position with Nazareth School District. As a member of the Colonial Association of Reading Educators, she held positions of Membership Chair, Vice President, and President. Kathy is also a member of Pennsylvania School Library Association (PSLA).

Treasurer - Virginia Williams

Virginia is retired from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. After her 35 year tenure at Revenue, she assumed a new role as a resident volunteer at the elementary school where her son, Michael, teaches. In addition to being the KSRA Treasurer, she also serves as the Treasurer for Capital Reading Council. Virginia's favorite thing to do is READ!

ILA Coordinator - Eric C. MacDonald

Eric is a middle school teacher and Asst. Middle School Head at Benchmark School in Media, PA, where he has taught for 31 years. He has served as President of KSRA (1999-2000), among numerous other positions. Delaware Valley Reading Association is his local council where he continues to serve on the Advisory Board as Bylaws Chair and DVRA's website coordinator. This year he has served on ILA’s U.S. Network Task Force and ILA’s Global Network Task Force. What he loves most about KSRA is the people he has gotten to know and with which he has served.

Membership Director - Emily Reed

Emily is a Reading Specialist at Dillsburg Elementary School in the Northern York County School District. She has served in this position for 16 years. She graduated from Millersville University with an undergraduate degree in Elementary, Early Childhood, and Physical Education. She later earned her Master's degree in Reading from there as well. She continued her education while receiving a principal and supervisory certificate from Shippensburg University. She has served as Membership Director for the past year, as well as serving on the Keystone to Reading Book Award Elementary and Secondary Committees.This year will be her second year as President of her local council. In her free time she loves to sing, watch Hershey Bears ice hockey, play disc golf, and kayak with her husband. And of course, you will always find Emily reading. Being a part of KSRA gives her the opportunity to share her love of literacy to other teachers and to the community.

Regional Directors

Region I - Pamela Brandon

Pam taught first, second, fourth, and fifth grades in her 37 years in education. She enjoyed all aspects of classroom teaching, but especially loved helping children explore the world through the love of reading. She received degrees in elementary education and counseling from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Pam is a past president as well as the current President of Seneca Reading Council. Pam has served as Council Awards Chair for KSRA and as Region I Director. She also served on several conference committees. Coming to KSRA meetings has allowed Pam to gain colleagues and more importantly friends from all areas in Pennsylvania.

Region II - Jenny Gadd

Jenny has been in education for 30 years. She was a self-contained 3rd grade teacher for the majority of the time but has also taught 1st thru 6th grades. She has been a K-8 literacy coach in recent years and is currently a K-8 reading specialist focusing on Act 82 Teacher Evaluation. She is a National Board Certified Teacher--Middle Generalist. She is involved with the PDE/DRC Text Dependent Analysis study group, range finding, and new item committees. Jenny has been a member of Three Rivers Reading Council and KSRA for over 20 years. She is the long-time Treasurer and Membership Chair for 3RRC. Of course, she LOVES reading!

Region III - Janice Adair

Janice taught in North Carolina for 1 and a half years as an elementary learning support resource teacher. She and her husband moved to Pennsylvania, and she taught in the Shikellamy School District for 33 years as a middle school learning support teacher, Title 1 Reading Specialist, and an elementary literacy coach. Currently, Janice volunteers in the Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way’s two early childhood education programs. For the past several years, Janice has been the Co-President of the Susquehanna Valley Reading Council (SVRC), and in 2013 she received their Celebrate Literacy Award. She is starting her third year as the KSRA Council Awards Co-Chairperson and she is thrilled to start her term as KSRA Region 3 Director. Janice feels that KSRA is an awesome organization that provides exceptional professional development and the opportunities to collaborate with passionate educators throughout Pennsylvania who want to make a difference in the lives of children and adults regarding literacy.

Region IV - Patti Sollenberger

Region V - Joan Lengel

Joan Pelesh Lengel is a forty-year retiree in education who taught high school English, was the Reading Specialist in 7th and 8th grades, elementary Reading Specialist/Reading Supervisor, former adjunct at Marywood University Grad School; was selected by Oxford University as member of the Round Table to address World Literacy; lived a year in New Delhi on sabbatical and lectured in eighteen major cities of the sub-continent. Also was on a Literacy Task Force to Thailand. Designed conference signs for 25 KSRA past Conferences, and was Region V Director for three terms. Was president of NPRA and a Board Member for for 30 years. Created and chaired an Oral Reading Contest for twenty -two school districts that ran for 25 years. Is the widow of Jack Lengel and proud mother of son, Gregory. Received NPRA and KSRA Celebrate Literacy Awards. She lives with British lab, Bodhi in Moscow, PA.

Region VI

Eleanor Gensemer

Eleanor is Head of Middle School at Benchmark School in Media, PA and an adjunct for the Literacy Department of West Chester University. She is a past president of Delaware Valley Reading Association and is currently Membership Chair for that council. Eleanor is a past Membership Director for KSRA and has chaired the Young Adult Book Award Committee and the Scholarship Committee. She is currently Chair of the By-Laws Committee and a regional director.

Jane Schultz

Jane worked as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, ISTeacher, DASD communications curriculum leader, and director of the district's summer academic camp for over 38 years. She is a past president and current treasurer of Chester County Reading Association. Jane also serves as chairperson for CCRA's Council Awards Committee, Governance/Policies Committee, and Preschool Literacy Project. Jane previously served KSRA as a Region VI Director. Jane served on the KSRA 2015 Conference Committee as registrar. Her favorite pastimes are reading, entertaining, traveling, and spoiling her grandchildren, Olivia and Giovanni. Don and Jane have two daughters.

Region VII - Frani Thomas

Frani Thomas is a Title 1 Reading Specialist and Title 1 Coordinator in Southern Huntingdon County School District. She just completed her 29th year of teaching. Most of those years have been spent in Reading, however she has taught kindergarten, second and fifth grade. Frani is a charter member and past president of Raystown Reading Council. She has served KSRA as secretary from 2005-2012, as Council Awards chairperson and was on several conference committees. Frani enjoys KSRA because being around others who are passionate for literacy validates, motivates and encourages her to be the best reading teacher she can be. Frani just completed her first year as regional director.