Members Work Together

Danielle Murray, Penn-Delco School District, Supervisor of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction - "I support teachers in grades K-5 in all curricular areas, as well as supervise the district's Title I program. In addition to designing curriculum and assessments, I deliver professional development, most of which focuses on ELA and standards-based instructional practices. After spending several years as a district reading specialist, I moved into the area of curriculum and instruction in order to have a greater impact on literacy instruction. I am a member of ILA and ASCD.

Contact: dmurray@pdsd.org

Nick Spennato, Retired - "I started as an English teacher, then reading specialist at Springfield High School. I then served as a Reading consultant/Language arts specialist at the DCIU for 33 years. With DCRC, I served as President for 33 years as well as being the first Treasurer for KSRA. A priority to me was initiating the Young Authors' Project and Reading Olympics through DCRC and DCIU to support the growth of students and their educational value. Along the same philosophy, I worked to support the organization and alignment of Delaware County school districts with West Chester University's PAWLP program. My DCIU position allowed me to work closely with the fifteen Delaware County school districts and non-public schools in an effort to improve their reading and writing programs. Additionally, I supervised ESL, Title I, Sleighton School, and the Delaware County Prison programs for education."

Contact: naspennato@gmail.com

Annemarie Jay – retired - "For more than three decades in public education, I was privileged to be an educator who practiced as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, curriculum and instruction administrator, supervisor of elementary education, and elementary principal. During that time I also taught graduate level courses as an adjunct at the University of Pennsylvania and Saint Joseph’s University. After retiring from public education, I taught at Widener University where I was a tenured professor and Director of Graduate Reading Programs. Throughout my career,(and even now), I actively volunteered in professional organizations and proudly served in leadership positions in those organizations. A long-time member of DCRC, I served as DCRC’s president from 2002-2016. Additionally, I served on KSRA’s executive committee for many years and was KSRA president 2008-2009 and Pennsylvania’s ILA Coordinator for three years. I have served on several ILA committees, and remain on the advisory board of LEADER, a group for which I also served as president. I belong to both PA’s PRTE and ILA’s PRTE. While at Widener, I served as advisor to Alpha Upsilon Alpha, ILA’s honor council for reading professionals.

I am an active writer and reviewer for several professional journals. My research interests include literacy leadership, strategic teaching and learning, early literacy development, and reading comprehension. In 2014 I was honored to receive DCRC’s Celebrate Literacy Award and LEADER’s Distinguished Service Award. My strong belief is that education will be enhanced for all students through the quality professional development of literacy professionals rather than through published, scripted programs."

Contact: abjay@widener.edu and abjayab@gmail.com

David Soslau, Springfield School District, Reading Specialist - "I work with children in grades 2 through 5 to support their growth, performance and pride as readers and writers. I focus on all levels of reading development through stages of Socratic questioning that supports the building of students' self-awareness and eagerness. All aspects of skill building and reinforcement, reading modes, text-dependent questioning and analysis, curricular connections, and the writing process are incorporated into my planning and delivery of literacy instruction. My additional interests related to literacy are providing professional development and serving as an adjunct professor, dissertation reader and member of the ETS Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary Education National Advisory Committee."

Contact: dmsoslau@gmail.com

Cheri Crow, Youth Services Coordinator for the Delaware County Libraries - "I am a librarian who is passionate about creating excitement around reading and writing in our communities. I work with a great team of children and young adult librarians to provide diverse collections and informal learning opportunities for children from birth to 18."

Contact: ccrow@delcolibraries.org

Dr. Sue Kulp, Principal of Edgewood Elementary School in the Ridley School District - "My wonderful life as an educator started out as a fourth grade teacher once I graduated from Neumann University. From there, I attended West Chester University and received my Master's Degree in Education with Reading Specialist Certification. Most of my career as an educator has been assisting struggling readers in grades K-5. While serving as Reading Specialist, I was also the Gifted Support Teacher for grades 2-5. Several years later, I went back to school and received my Elementary Principal's Certification through Gwynedd Mercy University and my Doctorate in School System Administration K-12 from Widener University. I have always wanted to be a teacher from a very young age and kept to that plan all my life. I am an advocate for all students and their learning. In my role as principal, I am an instructional leader continuing my support for all teachers and students in their learning. Education is key to building a nation of knowledgable and creative citizens. It is this premise that guides my work each and every day."

Contact: skulp@ridleysd.org

Ms. Lori Schmidt, Teacher on Administrative Assignment in the Office of Teaching and Learning for Elementary Education in Springfield School District

Ms. Melanie Solano, Springfield School District Teacher, LMC Curriculum Coordinator, & Reading Specialist- "I teach 25 inquisitive second graders. I love seeing the joy on their faces when they master a concept for the first time and when everyone begins working together as a class family. I hold 11 PA Instructional Two certificates from the PA Department of Education and and working on a doctorate in Policy, Planning, and Administration at West Chester University. I am thrilled to be part of this amazing team of educators who want all students to become successful readers."