Valued Volunteers

Cadence Sayed   

About: Cadence "Cady" Sayed is a 15-year-old who has been riding horses since the summer after first grade. She used to compete in equestrian events, and loves animals of all sorts, from dogs to lizards! Cady also fosters service dogs, helping to train them for important roles in the community. She’s growing up in a lively family of six, and she enjoys the company of her twin, little brother, and younger sister. She also loves tennis and plays for her Orange High School team. She loves being in nature and enjoys reading a good book!

Favorite Genre: Historical Fiction

Sabine Maas

About: Born in a family of educators, life took me down a different path from not completing my teaching degree to emigrating to the US in 1982. I entered my nursing education and career in the following years and eventually completed my pre-med with a minor in chemistry. My initial focus was rural medicine. Eventually, I closed off my medical career retiring in 2022 from Duke University. I bought my very first and only horse, Bries, at age 58. She was the reason I became interested and certified as a Masterson Method Certified Practitioner. From a course in “Therapeutic Touch” as a nurse to energy based equine bodywork, from putting patients first to putting the horse first are each other completing circles of love and energy in my life and through it all, sharing knowledge and teaching others is a key part of paying forward. I am a longstanding volunteer adult group facilitator and children’s group leader for BSF international. Being able to volunteer at Rearing2Read is one more way to  help others from making words become sentences, going from sentences to paragraphs and eventually for people to find the stories and poetry that is their life.

Favorite Genre: Poetry

Jessica Kasinoff

About: Jessica has a BA in Elementary Education from Antioch College and a Master’s in Social Work from East Carolina University. She recently wrapped up a fulfilling career as a psychotherapist, where she specialized in somatic modalities.

Her work often took her outside the traditional office—sometimes to the yoga mat, and often to the barn. Jessica has a special knack for Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning, blending mindfulness, movement, and the magic of horses to help others grow.

These days, you’ll likely find her with her nose in a good book or soaking up fresh air with beloved horses. She especially loves sharing these joys with kids. Oh—and here’s a little secret: Jessica is currently writing a memoir that reflects on her life and her work with horses.

Favorite Genre: Memoir

Deb Halabis 

About: Deb has a BSEd from The Ohio State University. She worked at Durham Academy in the Lower School for 18 years. While there, she was a teaching assistant and Pre and Lower school assistant librarian.  She loves to read, knit and be outdoors.

Favorite Genre: Literary Fiction

Joe Halabis   

About: Joe is a graduate of the The Ohio State University and was honored as one of the 100 Most Notable Alumni of the College of Optometry during their Centennial Celebration in 2014. He retired in 2021 from a career as an optometrist with the Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition to administrative roles and clinical practice he was actively involved in teaching students and residents. He held academic appointments with Indiana University, The Ohio State University and for the last 20 years of his tenure, Duke University. He lectured locally, nationally and on several occasions abroad.  He is the author or coauthor of a number of articles published in peer-reviewed journals. His interest in ocular photography dates back to his days as a student at OSU and his images have graced journal covers, clinical articles and textbooks. His clinical photographs appear in the Atlas of Ophthalmology Online Multimedia Database, and most notably, Shield’s Textbook of Glaucoma, Sixth Edition.  He has been awarded a number of photography awards including the 2013 American Academy of Optometry Anterior Segment Photography Grand Prize. His passion for horses and riding started as an adult.  He has volunteered as a certified Equestrian Coach for Special Olympics and now with Rearing2Read. Joe met his wife Debi in college and they live in Hillsborough with their dog Winnie. 

Favorite Genre: Adventure