Ken Kunz holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and English from Kean University, a master's in Reading Specialization from Rutgers University, and a doctorate in Teacher Leadership from Rutgers.  He is a certified Elementary Teacher, Teacher of English, Reading Specialist, Teacher of English as a Second Language, Supervisor, and Principal.

Ken is a former elementary school teacher, professor of teacher education, and intermediate school supervisor.  Currently, he is the Founder/Director of For the Love of Literacy and serves as a literacy consultant in school districts across New Jersey.  

Ken has been recognized by the NJ Governor's Teacher Recognition Program and was a recipient of the Edward Fry Fellowship in Literacy at Rutgers.  He is a Past President of both the International Literacy Association and NJ Literacy Association.

He is co-author of Breaking Through the Language Arts Block: Organizing and Managing an Exemplary Literacy Day, Literacy Changemakers: Bringing the Joy of Reading and Writing Into Focus for Students and Teachers, and The New Leader’s Guide to Early Childhood Settings.  Ken lives in Asbury Park, NJ and enjoys running, exercising, and socializing with his literacy friends and family.

Islah Tauheed is a courageous advocate for teachers, students, and their families. Ms. Tauheed is inspired by this quote by Audre Lorde: 'When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.' She strives to show up authentically in every space she occupies and creates an environment where those around her can do the same. She works toward change by creating safe spaces where all members of a learning community can let their guard down, express their true selves, and receive honest feedback.

Ms. Tauheed is currently a vice principal in her hometown of Newark, NJ, where she enthusiastically strives to create a mutually-beneficial learning community centered in liberatory approaches that seek new possibilities in the field of education to encourage critical love, academic success, and student empowerment. Ms. Tauheed brings with her fourteen years of elementary teaching experience and two years of school leadership in the Bronx, NY. She is a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University, a member of ASCD’s Emerging Leaders cohort, and sits on NCTE’s Elementary Section Steering committee.

Dr. Susan Dougherty holds a. bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Kindergarten Education from Penn State University, a master’s degree in Reading from Rutgers University, and a master’s degree in Educational Media and Technology and a doctoral degree in Language and Literacy from Boston University.

Dr. Dougherty is currently the chair of the Department of Teacher Education and an associate professor of Literacy Education at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ. She works with future elementary teachers and in-service teachers pursuing reading specialist certification. She began her career as an educator in New Jersey, teaching in grades K-4 for 10 years. She serves on the Board of NJLA and is co-editor of the newsletter.

Dr. Dougherty recently published Pivotal Research in Early Literacy: Foundational Studies and Current Practice, which she co-edited with colleague Christina Cassano. She is also co-author of Engaging Readers: Supporting All Students in Knowledge-Driven Reading, Grades 4-8 with Dana Robertson and Evelyn Ford-Connors.

Literacy Interests:

• Word Recognition in Grades K-6

• Building a Solid Foundation for Literacy in Pre-K

• Supporting Students Who Find Reading Difficult

• Literacy & Science: Informational Texts and the Next Generation Science Standards

• Family Literacy: Developing True Partnerships

Dr Janice Lake Betts is a literacy consultant and founder of Artscape JLB & Associates

LLC. Her career has focused on literacy through the arts and advancing reading

achievement through arts integrated instruction. She has taught or supervised teachers

at the University of Pennsylvania, the College in New Jersey, Rowan University, Atlantic

Cape Community College and was a classroom teacher. She has worked as a tutor/

reading clinician at Rowan University summer Reading Clinic. Dr Betts holds an EdD

from the University of Pennsylvania in Language in Education and degrees from Rowan

and Stockton Universities. She is the past president of the New Jersey Reading

Association and the Alliance for Arts Education New Jersey and she has chaired

numerous committees for the International Literacy Association including RETA,

Reading Excellence Through the Arts. As Treasurer for New Jersey Literacy

Association she continues her mission to bring best practices for teaching reading to

teachers throughout New Jersey. She currently provides professional development

and staff training centered on literacy through the arts. Her belief like Picasso is that “all

children are artists” and this has been the driving force throughout her professional

career.

Dr. Rachel Lella holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication and American Studies from Rider University, a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Monmouth University, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Kean University, a master's degree in Language Education from Rutgers University, and a doctorate in Teacher Leadership from Rutgers University. She holds certifications as an elementary teacher, supervisor, and principal. Based on her research at Rutgers, she received the Edward Fry Fellowship in Literacy and the Center for Literacy Development Endowed Scholarship.

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She began her career in education in 2006, teaching students in grades PK-4 for 12 years before accepting her previous positions as an Elementary Curriculum Supervisor, K-12 ESL Supervisor, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction for districts in Burlington and Monmouth Counties. She is currently a consultant with For The Love of Literacy and The Rutgers Center for Literacy Development. She is a professor at New Jersey City University and a clinical supervisor at Georgian Court University.  Dr. Lella belongs to a number of professional education associations and has presented at their local, state, national, and international conferences.

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Dr. Lella is co-author of Literacy Changemakers: Bringing the Joy of Reading and Writing Into Focus for Students and Teachers. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Rutgers University Center for Literacy Development and previously served on the International Literacy Association's Administrator Task Force. She enjoys spending time with her two young daughters, and can typically be found at or near the beach with a good book.

Jane is a dedicated educator with 40 years of experience in education. She is a retired teacher of 31 years in the Vineland Public School system. Following her retirement, she remains actively engaged in the educational community. She is an active volunteer with BookSmiles-recently distributing over 9,000 books to several elementary schools in Vineland. She is a member of the honorary educational sorority ADK and is excited to be back on the Board of New Jersey Literacy Association.  As Past President of RCSNJ (Reading Council of Southern New Jersey) and a member of ILA, Jane looks forward to serving again. 

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Jane received a BA from Rutgers University, Douglass College,  MA from Rowan University in Curriculum and Supervision, and holds certifications in Reading Recovery, Orton-Gillingham, Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Children’s yoga and dance. 

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Jane is passionate about her work in Literacy and the Arts.  Following Hurricane Sandy, she collaborated with Usborne Books to rebuild school libraries throughout the state of New Jersey. “Restore the Shore through Literacy” raised over $75,000 in free book donations for schools affected by the hurricane. 

​As former choral and drama director at her school, Jane continues her involvement in the Arts. She volunteers her time at her former school to assist in productions with the elementary schools. She received the International Reading Association “Reading Excellence Through the Arts Outstanding Literacy Arts Educator Award”. She organizes  assemblies with her daughter which incorporate Music, Literacy and Character Development to further enrich educational experiences for students.

Juli-Anne Benjamin is a veteran educator who has dedicated her life in the service of children, both nationally and internationally, having taught in South Africa and recently in New Delhi, India at Delhi Public Schools.

A highly qualified, lifelong learner trained by Teachers College Instructional Coaching cycles in workshop methodologies and small-group instruction, Juli-Anne loves to read and is devoutly committed to building culturally relevant and sustainable classroom libraries. She champions read-alouds in literacy lessons and grounds instructional practice in building and curating sound relationships with teachers and students and culturally aligning books that serve as windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors into the diverse experiences and worlds of children.

Juli-Anne holds several Master's degrees in English Education and School Leadership, has been featured in Who's Who Among America's Teachers, and has proudly served NYC Schools as an English teacher, reading specialist, mentor, and instructional coach.

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As Founder of EdCampBROOKLYN and EdCampNewark(NJ), Juli-Anne has married her love of classroom teaching with the lens of teacher leadership to usher teachers into open spaces of personalized professional learning networks and is deeply committed to amplifying teachers as leaders in advocacy and agency of effective professional development that arms teachers with the most innovative, collaborative, and practical pedagogical tools that have a rich impact on student learning.

Juli-Anne has been pursuing her Doctorate degree in Curriculum, Instruction and Leadership
while tangentially studying at Harvard Graduate School of Education and has participated in modules within the Professional Studies programs. She works tirelessly within social justice and equity frameworks to include teachers of color into emerging professional learning spaces, currently works in Newark NJ, as an instructional coach and is deeply honored to serve as a member of the NJLA Board. 

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Literacy Interests:

• Culturally Relevant Pedagogy

• Culturally Responsive Literacy Instruction

• Using picture books as a window, mirror and sliding glass doors into the diverse lives of characters

• Read Aloud for all

• Reading as a civil right 

• How to choose diverse texts for the middle school classroom

• Reading books as a ways to disrupt non-responsive curriculum 

• Cultural Sustainability in middle school texts

• Urban classroom management

• Children’s Right To Read

Dr. Eugenia Cooley holds a bachelor’s degree in Management Science & Marketing from Kean University, a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Saint Peter’s University, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Saint Peter’s University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Trident University International. She holds certifications as an elementary teacher, reading specialist, supervisor, and principal.

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Gena’s career in education began in 2006 and has held positions of classroom teacher, Reading Interventionist, and ELA Instructional Coach. She is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, International, past president of the Epsilon chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization for women educators, a Montclair State University Network for Educational Renewal Clinical Faculty member and Leadership Associate, a longtime Scoring Leader for ETS reading programs, and an Early Intervention Child Development Specialist. She was also recognized as Teacher of the Year during her tenure with Hillside Public Schools.

Gena enjoys sharing the love of reading with family, especially her granddaughter, Gianna and spending time outdoors with her Yorkie, Egypt.

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Literacy Interests:

• Creating Culturally Responsive Classroom Communities

• Student-led Activities/Strategies

• Methods to Enhance and Increase Reading Comprehension & Student Engagement

Jenna has taught 4th and 6th grade for 13 years. She was the 2016 NJ Governors District Teacher of the Year. Jenna currently serves as a member of the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development Advisory Board. She is the advisor of the afterschool club-EarlyAct (a division of Rotary International) that is comprised of 50+ members in 1st -6th. Jenna specializes in Visual Literacy and Sketchnoting.  She also supports John Hattie's Visible Classroom philosophy.  She presents annually at the NJEA convention on literacy and acts as a literacy coach in her district.  

Bio coming soon...

Gina holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Science and Environmental Education. Gina also has completed 30 additional credits in Literacy and Reading Instruction. Gina is currently enrolled in a Supervisor’s certificate program which she plans to complete in June 2019. Gina is a certified K-6 teacher in New York and New Jersey.

Gina started her career in New York teaching 2nd and 3rd grade and her passion for teacher leadership and coaching began to take hold. Gina worked as a literacy coach for Children’s Literacy Initiative for 10 years, coaching best practices and facilitating Professional Development mostly in the tri-state area. Gina has also facilitated Professional Development workshops in multiple states across the country.

Gina presently works at Dr. William H. Horton School in Newark NJ as a school-based literacy coach, working with grades K-5. Gina works in classrooms with teachers on Literacy Environment, Guided Reading practice, Learning Centers, International Read Aloud, and Classroom Culture. In addition, Gina facilitates professional development, teaches small groups and works with teachers to impact practice and increase student achievement Gina is a board member of NJLA and serves on Professional Development committee. Gina is a published writer of the NJLA newsletter.

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Literacy Interests:

● Guided Reading

● Independent Reading and Conferring

● Read Aloud

● Literacy Environment/Classroom Culture

● Family Literacy

Ms. Spaulding holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Preschool from Rider University and a masters in Reading Specialization from Rowan University. She is a certified Elementary Teacher, Preschool Teacher, Special Education Teacher, Reading Specialist, and Supervisor.

Ms. Spaulding is a former reading teacher, and special education teacher. Currently, she is a third-grade teacher in a (K-5) elementary school in the Clayton School District.

Ms. Spaulding has served as a Board Member and President of the South Jersey Reading Council and is a member of International Literacy Association. She currently serves as a Board Member of NJ Literacy Association

She has presented workshops on Project Read, a literacy program encompassing phonics, reading comprehension, and written expression. She has served as language arts chair for three years in the Clayton School District.  She lives in Atco, NJ with her husband, three children, and two rescue pets.  Ms. Spaulding enjoys music, scrapbooking, and spending time with friends and family.

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Literacy Interests:

• Guided Reading/Differentiated Small Group Instruction

• IEP Planning

• Comprehension

• Literacy Environment

• Literacy Strategies