The mission of the Central New York Reading Council is to provide professional enhancement, service opportunities, and networking possibilities in order to promote personal and professional growth for those interested or involved in the field of literacy.
Our Goals
Goal 1: Literacy
To support the efforts of teachers in the utilization of sound teaching practices in reading and writing.
To promote and encourage the growth of research-based practices in the field of literacy.
Goal 2: Professional Development
To empower members of the CNYRC to become effective leaders in the field of literacy.
To provide quality professional development and in-service opportunities for Central New York education professionals.
Goal 3: Advocacy
To continually revise our strategic agenda for advocacy to further support teachers in the use of sound teaching practices in the area of literacy.
Our Officers
President Havilah Carroll is a graduate of SUNY Oswego (BS ’11) and Syracuse University (’17), where she earned her Master’s Degree in Literacy Education (Birth-Grade 6). She has worked as an English as a New Language (ENL) teacher in the Syracuse City School District since 2012. Havilah believes that students’ experiences with literacy and literature can be life-changing and strives to make her district a place where all students can develop a love of learning.
Vice President Molly Lahr is a graduate of Syracuse University ('14 and '15), where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Secondary English Education and Master's Degree in Literacy Education (Grades 5-12). She also received a C.A.S in Educational Leadership from the University of Rochester in 2021.
Molly works in the Waterloo Central School District as the Director of MTSS. She believes foundational literacy skills and children's access to literacy across the curriculum is crucial in their development as global citizens and critical thinkers. Molly has seen the benefits of targeted support for struggling students while highlighting individual student literacy assets through tiered-response. Molly believes that opportunities to build literacy skills outside of the classroom, with a focus on community growth, helps children to build their own literacies and develop a love of learning.
Past-President Dr. Sarah Fleming is a visiting assistant professor of education at SUNY Oswego, and she received her doctorate in Literacy Education at Syracuse University in May of 2020. Sarah first taught English at Cazenovia High School for seven years before returning to Westhill, her alma mater ('93), where she taught for 14 years. She worked primarily with students in the 10th-12 grades, and her pedagogy centered around instructional strategy that allows young people to envision themselves as readers, writers and inquisitive thinkers. Her scholarly interests include critical literacy, critical inquiry and antiracist pedagogy, and she makes use of young adult literature, contemporary nonfiction and current events to invite her students to engage the world with a critical eye. Sarah's research investigates the use of guided inquiry design as means for developing student-researchers' critical literacies. To learn more about Sarah, please feel free to email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter: @MsFleming93.
Treasurer Sarah Marie is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Denver (’12) where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Art History, Emporia State University (’16) where she earned her Master’s Degree in Library Science and Syracuse University where she earned her Certificate of Advanced study in School Media (’20). Sarah is an elementary librarian in the Syracuse City School District. She is a passionate reader and an advocate for diverse literature. Sarah is dedicated to building meaningful relationships with her students while encouraging a lifelong love of reading.
Membership Chair Keith Newvine is an Assistant Professor of Literacy at SUNY Cortland and a PhD candidate in Literacy Education at Syracuse University, and the current President of the New York State Reading Association. Keith started his career in his hometown, Gouverneur, NY, where he taught 7th and 8th Grade English & Language Arts for two years. Since then, he has spent the last 15 years teaching AP Literature & Composition, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, and College Composition at West Genesee. It has been his daily work with students that has sparked his passion for teaching about life through literature. His research interests include New Literacies in the secondary English classroom, Critical Race Theory, and Anti-Racist Pedagogy. You can also contact Keith at [email protected].
Secretary Kate Franz
Board Members
Kathy Hinchman serves as an at-large board member of the Central New York Reading Council. A former middle school teacher, she is Professor Emeritus of literacy education at Syracuse University. She taught courses in childhood and adolescent literacy education and has also authored multiple chapters, articles, and books. She is also currently serving on the board of ProLiteracy and as a Regional Director of the New York State Reading Association. Feel free to contact Kathy at [email protected].
Andrea L. Tochelli-Ward is an Assistant Professor and the Accreditation Coordinator for Le Moyne College’s Education Department. She earned a Masters of Science in Education at St. John Fisher College (now St. John Fisher University) and worked as an elementary classroom teacher in Pittsford, NY. Andrea earned a Masters in Education for Literacy Specialists (K-12) before earning her doctorate in Curriculum, Instruction, and the Science of Learning with a concentration in Reading Education from the University at Buffalo, SUNY in 2015. Her research interests include technology and literacy education, responding to literature with various modes of communication, and reflection on pedagogical methods focusing on both K-12 students and undergraduate/graduate students. Feel free to contact Andrea at [email protected].
Dr. Heather Waymouth received her doctorate in Literacy Education at Syracuse University. Her scholarly interests include literacy instruction across the curriculumand on designing effectiveinterventions for adolescent learners. Currently, she is professor at the College of Education & Social Work in the Literacy (Reading) Department at West Chester University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Previously, Heather worked for 7 years at Honeoye Falls – Lima High Schoolas a literacy specialist and swimming and diving coach where she developed her passion for improving literacy experiences for adolescent learners. Feel free to contact Heather at HWaymouth@wcupa.edu.