Our Team

Providing Literacy Professional Development to PreK through Grade 12 Educators

With literacy expertise across all grade levels, we have the know-how to prepare teachers to teach literacy skills to all students in all subjects. Since 2007, we’ve helped thousands of educators improve student reading and writing skills with literacy professional development that is evidence-based and delivered by expert teacher trainers. Each year, we work with educators in hundreds of schools in all U.S. states. We also work directly with state departments of education and regional literacy service centers. Our staff present keynotes and workshops at national and state literacy conferences.

Our Mission:

We believe the ability to read and write is the foundation for all learning and essential for a fulfilling and impactful life. We also believe effective, culturally responsive literacy instruction is a critical equity issue. Our mission is to provide high-quality, engaging, and practical professional development that is aligned to evidence-based literacy instruction. The goal is to help educators teach literacy skills in a way that increases literacy achievement for all students.

Click here to read our paper about Culturally Responsive Literacy Instruction.

Meet Our Founder

Joan Sedita is the founder of Keys to Literacy and lead author of our professional development routines. For over 40 years, Joan has been on a mission to help teachers, schools, and districts improve student literacy skills, especially students who struggle with reading and writing. Together with the support of the Keys to Literacy staff, she has built an organization that is recognized as a leader in literacy professional development. Click on Joan’s picture for her bio.

Joan Sedita, M.Ed

Meet Our Leadership Team

Our Leadership Team brings deep expertise, experience, and educational backgrounds to their roles here at Keys to Literacy. Like our Trainers, many have firsthand experience about what it means to be in your shoes and the difficulties literacy problems create. They bring a passion for literacy, a love of teaching, and a deep commitment to helping schools and districts reach their literacy objectives. Click on their pictures for their bios.

Mark Alcaide, MBA

Deonne Arrington, M.Ed.

Kelly Ballard, Ed.D.

Tracey Bowker, M.Ed.

Shauna Cotte, M.Ed.

Lindsey Dinneen, MBA, M.S.

Lisa Klein, M.Ed.

Liz Mangus, M.Ed.

Melisa Rice, M.Ed., C.A.G.S.

Darren Schlepp, M.Ed.

Michelle Zampell, M.Ed.

Meet Our Trainers

In addition to their expertise in literacy and professional development skills, our trainers are current/former teachers and administrators. They have firsthand experience about what it means to be in your shoes and the difficulties literacy problems create. They also know the joy when student promise is turned into achievement. Our trainers have a passion for literacy, a love of teaching, and a deep commitment to helping schools and districts reach their literacy objectives. Click on their pictures for their bios.

Tiffany Aden, M.Ed.

Des Arnold, M.Ed.

John Bennetts, M.Ed.

Bill Clarke, M.Ed., M.A.Ed.

Cindy Cooke, M.Ed.

Mollie Cura, M.Ed.

Janice Daniels, M.Ed., C.A.G.S.

Claudia De Anda, M.Ed.

Bola Disu, Ed.D.

Karen Eades, M.Ed.

Lisa Gianni, M.Ed.

Rachel Dawn Keller, Ed.D.

Ana Kennedy, Ed.D., Ed.S.

Amy Kotara, M.Ed.

Jennifer Leffers, M.A.

Linda Limbach, M.S.

Susan Mackey, M.Ed.

Jennifer Manfra-Levitt, M.Ed.

Donna Mastrovito, M.Ed.

Lauren Mitsis, M.Ed.

Kimberly O’Brien, M.S.

Patty Ridlon, M.Ed.

Hope Rigby-Wills, Ed.D.

Amie Swope, M.Ed.

Zora Warren, M.Ed.

Ivetha Witherspoon, Ed.D.

Colleen Yasenchock, M.Ed.

Meet Our Support Team

Our founder, leadership team, and trainers could not do what they do without our amazing, talented, and dedicated Support Team. Our staff has a passion for literacy and a deep commitment to helping schools and districts reach their literacy objectives. Click on their pictures for their bios.