Team

Read to Succeed Buffalo (RTSB) is strategically focused on creating a continuum of aligned, evidence-based, data-driven, professional development literacy supports for teachers of economically disadvantaged children from birth to 3rd grade. In addition, RTSB is the local affilate for Vroom, a program supported by the Bezos Family Foundation, that helps parents with affirming and reinforcing activities and tips that inspire positive and brain building interactions with their children.

Staff

Anne S. Ryan has served as Executive Director of Read to Succeed Buffalo since she joined the organization in 2011.

Ryan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to RTSB in early childhood education, organizational leadership and development. Prior to Read to Succeed, Anne served as Director of Resource and Project Development with Catholic Charities of Buffalo and VP of Community Impact with the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County.

Anne was responsible for implementation of Success by 6, UW's early childhood initiative, successfully developing leadership capacity in the field serving as its first Executive Director. In 2006, Anne was awarded the NYS Association for the Education of Young Children's Champion for Children award. Anne is a 1999 graduate of Leadership Buffalo.

Currently Anne is a board member of the Episcopal Church Home and Affiliates, Inc. and Canterbury Woods, Chair of the Birth to 3rd Grade Task Force for Say Yes to Education Buffalo and a Health Fellow through the Health Foundation of Western and Central New York.

 

 

Kristen Bellomo is an Experience Corps Literacy Coach at Read to Succeed Buffalo focused on supporting Experience Corps Volunteer Tutors in PreK through 3rd Grade classrooms. Kristen's primary responsibilities are to guide, monitor, and assist Experience Corps Volunteer Tutors in adapting instructional strategies using data and materials for students who demonstrate risk of reading difficulty and who require more intentional instructional intervention to meet grade-level goals. Prior to becoming and ECLC, Kristen was a Literacy Intervention Specialist for RTSB.

 

 

 

Julia Brueckl is the Director of Program for Read to Succeed Buffalo, supporting CARE Child Care, CARE Preschool, and Experience Corps programming. She has been with RTSB since 2008, employed as a literacy coach and literacy intervention specialist, where she collaborated with teachers to enhance the language and literacy skills of students. In addition, Julia has presented at local, state, and national conferences about vocabulary, comprehension, and literacy in the content areas. Before working at RTSB, Julia was a prekindergarten teacher. She has her M.S. in Literacy and B.S. in elementary education from the State University of New York at Fredonia.

 

 

 

Kristin Cook is an Experience Corps Literacy Coach at Read to Succeed Buffalo focused on supporting Experience Corps Volunteer tutors in PreK through 3rd Grade classrooms. Kristin's primary responsibilities are to guide, monitor, and assist Experience Corps Volunteer Tutors in adapting instructional strategies using data and materials for students who demonstrate risk of reading difficulty and who require more intentional instructional intervention to meet grade-level goals. Prior to becoming an ECLC, Kristin spent time as a Special Education teacher in a local district and a Youth Programs Director at a local nonprofit. She has her M.S. in Special Education and B.S. in Elementary and Special Education from Daemen College.

 

 

Shannon Davis is an Experience Corps Literacy Coach at Read to Succeed Buffalo focused on supporting Experience Corps Volunteer Tutors in PreK through 3rd Grade classrooms. Shannon's primary responsibilities are to guide, monitor, and assist Experience Corps Volunteer Tutors in adapting instructional strategies using data and materials for students who demonstrate risk of reading difficulty and who require more intentional instructional intervention to meet grade-level goals. Prior to becoming an ECLC, Shannon was a Literacy Intervention Specialist for RTSB.

 

 

 

Amy Toy is an Early Literacy Intervention Specialist with Read to Succeed Buffalo. Amy holds a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education as well as a Bachelor's degree in Childhood Education from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Prior to joining RTSB Amy was a pre-kindergarten teacher at Bethel Head Start for 7 years. In 2022 she attained New York Association for the Education of Young Children (NYAEYC) Training and Technical Assistance Professional Coaching credential for early childhood teachers and leaders.

 

 

 

Elizabeth Wilk is an Early Literacy Intervention Specialist with Read to Succeed Buffalo. As part of the CARE initiative, her role is to increase language and literacy skills for children birth to five years old. Elizabeth holds a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University at Buffalo, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the State University of New York at Geneseo. Prior to joining RTSB Elizabeth was a Universal Pre-Kindergarten teacher at Bethel Head Start for 15 years. In 2022 she attained New York Association for the Education of Young Children (NYAEYC) Training and Technical Assistance Professional Coaching credential for early childhood teachers and leaders.

 

 

   

Board of Directors


Mary Jo Hunt - Chair
Executive Director
James H. Cummings Foundation

Carmen Snell, Esq. - Vice Chair
Vice President, Deputy General Counsel
Highmark Western & Northeastern NY

Michael Noah - Treasurer
President
Bank On Buffalo

Hon. Betty Calvo-Torres - Nominating & Governance
Judge of the Court of Claims
New York State Supreme Court
 
 
 
 
                                        
Victoria Nappo Ticco
Medicare & Benefits Specialist
Sheridan Benefits
Crystal J. Rodriguez-Dabney, Esq. L.L.M.
Chief of Staff/Deputy Mayor
City of Buffalo
Wendy L. Montante
Community Volunteer
 
David Rogers
  Co-Founder and CEO Life Storage
Retired
 

Paul Olszewski
Senior Portfolio Manager
Vice President, Key Private Bank

Carol Goulding
Group VP
Wilmington Trust, M&T Bank

Dr. Marvel Ross-Jones
Campus Director (Downtown)
Bryant & Stratton College - Retired

Programs

We are focused on creating support for teachers of economically disadvantaged children.

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Get Involved

Thank you to the inaugural group of Experience Corps Volunteers!

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Parent Resources

You have the power to build your child’s brain – right from birth!

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