Our People

David Weinstein

David Weinstein is the founder of Joyful Readers. His parents will tell you that he entered kindergarten claiming he would never learn to read, but by 2nd grade he was voraciously consuming Goosebumps books faster than R.L. Stine could write them. David attended public schools his whole life, and is a graduate of the College of New Jersey, where he could often be found working in the college’s tutoring center. In 2007, he moved to Philadelphia to do a year of AmeriCorps service with City Year, spending a life-changing year working at Kensington High School. That 1-year program turned into a 15-year career, with David ultimately managing all of City Year’s school-based services. His experiences (and the research!) inspired his belief that well-trained and well-supported AmeriCorps members can make a tremendous difference in the lives of students.

Emily DeCarlo

Emily DeCarlo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of non-profit experience. She’s worked in youth-serving organizations doing direct service work and serving as a Client Services Director and a Program Director. Her areas of focus include program development, implementation and evaluation, grant management, culturally-responsive best practices for inclusive organizations, and non-profit finances. Emily has over a decade of experience implementing evidence-based programs in school and community-based settings including but not limited to: Positive Action, Healthy Families, and Communities That Care. Emily has served on the Phi Sigma Sigma National Housing Corporation Board as Vice President since 2018, is a member of the NASW-PA Workforce Development Committee, and she was a New Leaders Council Fellow in 2022. As a child, she was an avid reader, and made her way through most of the books in her Elementary School’s library. She loves reading to her two young kids, particularly Red: A Crayon’s Story and anything by Mo Willems.

Nichelle Morgan

Nichelle Morgan is the Founding Literacy Director at Joyful Readers. With over ten years of experience, she believes in empowering students and teachers to be the best version of themselves. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Teaching degrees at Howard University. Her roles as a classroom teacher, literacy coach, and equity-minded leader have aided the formation of her specialty area: literacy-focused education, teacher empowerment, and providing exceptional professional development to the nation’s urban schools. Nichelle is determined to provide quantifiable positive changes within education. She is deeply committed to utilizing her expertise in culturally relevant classroom practices and empathetic coaching strategies to bring about individual liberation and empowerment. Nichelle’s resiliency drives her passion to dismantle educational inequities and ensure all students have equal access to resources. Her favorite childhood books are Amber Brown is Not a Crayon and Holes.

Carly Kiess

Carly is passionate about ensuring all children develop strong literacy skills that open doors for their future. She began her career teaching kindergarten through third grade before serving as an assistant principal and principal at an elementary school in New Orleans. Following her time as a school leader, Carly coached other leaders for four years with Jounce Partners, focusing on the implementation of high-quality instructional materials, deepening content knowledge in literacy, and developing effective coaching practices. She also partnered with Amplify as a Professional Learning Specialist, supporting educators in their use of the CKLA literacy curriculum. Carly holds a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University, completed graduate-level Reading Specialist training at Point Park University, and earned her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Binghamton. In her role with Joyful Readers, she continues to help schools and educators create joyful, equitable opportunities for every child to learn to read. Her love of stories began with The Velveteen Rabbit and evenings listening to her dad read The Lord of the Rings.

Jesse Grant-Skinner

Jesse is an accomplished educator with 11 years of experience in early childhood education. His career began as a Capital Teaching Resident with KIPP DC. After six years in the classroom, Jesse moved into an administrator role, spending the next five years as the Assistant Vice Principal. Jesse believes that student growth has no limits and is excited to implement effective, targeted and joyful instruction methods that unlock student’s reading potential. Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, urban education has been the main driver of Jesse’s purpose and passion throughout his career. Jesse’s favorite children’s books are Corduroy and The Rainbow Fish.

Colleen D’Orazio

Colleen D’Orazio is a passionate educator with two decades of experience in education. An avid reader since childhood, she was inspired by her second-grade teacher to channel her passion for literacy into a teaching career. After graduating Cabrini College with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Psychology, Colleen began her career as a kindergarten teacher at Chester Community Charter School where she witnessed first-hand the importance of mastering foundational reading skills in building students’ confidence and fueling academic growth. The experience spurred her decision to transition into a specialized role as a reading interventionist in the Upper Darby School District, where she spent six years honing her expertise in the Science of Reading. As a Literacy Coach with Joyful Readers, Colleen is sharing her knowledge and support with tutors as they empower young readers across Philadelphia. Her favorite childhood books include The Babysitter’s Club and Sweet Valley High series.

Sarah Budlow

Sarah Budlow is dedicated to expanding access to high-quality education and fostering joyful, inclusive classrooms across Philadelphia. She holds a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, where she received the Excellence in Teaching Award, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland. Sarah began her career teaching kindergarten and second grade in West Philadelphia and Fairhill, developing a practice grounded in responsive teaching, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and evidence-based literacy and math instruction. She honed her leadership skills through the Academic School Leadership Fellowship with Teach for America and by serving as a teaching assistant at Penn GSE. As a literacy coach at Joyful Readers, Sarah is excited to collaborate with tutors, schools, students, and families to deliver structured instruction that empowers children to become confident, capable readers. Her favorite children’s books are The Most Magnificent Thing and The Day You Begin.

Molly Senour

Molly Senour’s passion for education began at the age of six, when she first discovered the joy of teaching while playing “school” with her dad and sisters in the family’s basement. Since then, she has committed her life to fostering a love of learning in others. After graduating from Penn State with her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Molly taught Kindergarten in Fairfax County Public Schools. After 4 years of direct classroom experience, Molly joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago as the Literacy Manger. In this role, she used her expertise to develop and implement after-school literacy programs grounded in the Science of Reading. As a lifelong learner and literacy advocate, Molly hopes to ignite excitement and joy for reading in students across Philadelphia through their Joyful Readers experience. Molly’s favorite children’s book is I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen.

Cheri Sledge

Cheri Sledge is an educator focused on connecting people with places where they can thrive. An alumna of UCLA and the University of Pennsylvania’s Teaching residency, she began her career as a special education teacher in North Philadelphia. Alongside teaching, she worked with Teach for America as a school operations manager, supporting new teachers and leading sessions aligned with the science of reading, with a focus on special education and intervention. This experience led her into systems and program management. In her role as the Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator, with Joyful Readers, she is committed to bringing high-quality tutors into classrooms to make a meaningful impact on children’s lives, one syllable at a time. Her love of reading began with the Magic Tree house series and now she enjoys niche historical narratives.

Antonio J. Burrell

Antonio is General Counsel (nix the “Associate”) of Snipes USA, a 300-store sneaker and streetwear retailer. Prior to Snipes, Antonio was an attorney in Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation’s (PHDC’s) legal department where he represented PHDC, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and the Philadelphia Land Bank, supporting government initiatives and public-private partnerships for the development and growth of the City, with the goal of primarily benefitting moderate and low-income Philadelphians. Before PHDC, Antonio served as an Assistant City Solicitor in the Philadelphia Law Department’s Real Estate and Development Unit, supporting the City’s economic development initiatives, and representing City departments including Philadelphia’s Departments of Public Property and Parks & Recreation. Antonio began his career as a litigator with Blank Rome LLP, representing clients in complex commercial and civil litigation matters. A native of Southwest Philadelphia, Antonio graduated from Villanova Law School in 2013. His favorite book growing up was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Andrea Carter

As Founder & Chief Executive of AC Media, Andrea Carter helps organizations turn marketing and communications into a strategic powerhouse. She partners with leaders to sharpen messaging, strengthen positioning, and maximize impact. She is an accomplished storyteller, driven to uncover what matters most to the audiences she serves and to find creative ways to engage them. Her efforts have led to increased stakeholder engagement, earned media attention and recognition, and delivered nearly $1 million in government funding. Andrea attributes her career success to three factors: a leadership style centered on thoughtful relationships; communications strategies rooted in collaboration and innovation; and being a lifelong learner. She is a proud Philadelphia native and resident with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from Millersville University and a Master of Arts in Communication from Villanova University. When she’s not obsessing over all things communications and storytelling, Andrea enjoys cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies, traveling, reading, enjoying good food and music, or participating in annual distance run events. As a child, her favorite author was Judy Blume, and she rarely missed a title from the Sweet Valley High series.

Samantha Ellis

Samantha Ellis is Director of Strategic Operations & Analytics on the Reliability Experience team within Comcast’s Technology & Product organization. In her role, she leverages network and operational data to uncover key insights and support strategic decision-making, all aimed at driving more reliable product experiences for customers. A proud Philadelphia-area native, Samantha graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned degrees in Finance and Electrical Engineering as part of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology. Samantha is excited to bring her analytical expertise and a deep understanding of the role literacy plays in shaping future opportunities to her board role. Samantha also enjoys experimenting with new cooking projects (the spicier, the better), playing recreational soccer, and exploring coffee shops throughout Philadelphia. Her favorite childhood book was Frindle by Andrew Clements.

Tim Galaz

Tim is a Tax Senior Manager with PwC’s Exempt Organizations Tax Services practice, based in Philadelphia. Tim provides tax compliance and consulting services to a variety of tax-exempt organizations, including hospitals and health systems, education institutions, and various tax-exempt trusts. A native of Tucson, Arizona, Tim received a BA in Studio Art from University of Arizona before relocating to Philadelphia to serve as a City Year, AmeriCorps member. After AmeriCorps service, Tim received a JD from Villanova University School of Law. His favorite childhood book was the B.F.G. by Roald Dahl

Amanda Gamble

An AmeriCorps alum of both City Year and VISTA, Amanda Gamble has devoted her life to serving and creating positive change for Philadelphia’s communities. Amanda has worked for the City of Philadelphia for almost a decade and currently oversees the Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service as the City’s Chief Service Officer. Throughout her career, Amanda has strived to make best practices in civic engagement, volunteering, and National Service programs more accessible through community education efforts like the Civic Engagement Academy and establishing new AmeriCorps programs like the Community Resource Corps. Amanda is excited to serve as a board member of Joyful Readers and to continue to expand National Service Programs in Philadelphia while connecting students to invaluable literary skills. Amanda has always been an avid reader herself — as a child, she reveled in the joys of reading and was a frequent visitor to the local library, where her mother would encourage filling up a weekly laundry basket full of books! Today, she keeps up that tradition with her own nephews, reading old favorites like The Whingdingdilly by Bill Peet.

Tessie Kenney

Tessie is Managing Counsel and Pro Bono Chair at Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, where she works with teams around the world to help bring much-needed medications and vaccines to the patients who need them. Her work also includes chairing the volunteer legal services committee, with legal professionals donating thousands of hours of free legal work to people around the world. Prior to joining Merck, Tessie represented multinational clients in mass tort litigation at both Dechert LLP and Jones Day, as well as serving as an active member of their pro bono teams helping domestic abuse victims and those who had their civil rights violated. Tessie graduated from The Ohio State Law School and Bridgewater College. In her spare time, Tessie runs two Girl Scout troops and volunteers with Wet Nose Rescue, a foster-based animal rescue. Mom of two active, now-teenaged kids, she shared her own love of reading, taking weekly trips to the library selecting armloads of old and new favorites, finding adventures beyond the pages, and reading together at night. Growing up, one of Tessie’s favorite books was Little Women, showing what sisterhood and “little” women could do together at their hardest times.

Sharon Marino

Sharon is Founder and Principal of Marigold Educational Coaching and Consulting LLC, an independent practice that serves school systems and educational nonprofits. In this role, she leverages 20+ years of experience with the School District of Philadelphia (SDP), where she built programs to improve access and outcomes for students and families. In her recent role as a Principal, she secured “Community School” designation from the Mayor’s Office of Children and Families. In addition, the school was awarded “Overall School Progress Report Highest Three-Year Improvement” in 2019—2020 after moving from “Intervene” status in 2015—2016 to “Reinforce” status in 2018—2019. Sharon also secured numerous local, state and federal grants, including the “Good to Great Early Literacy Grant” ($45K). A native of southwest Philadelphia, Sharon holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Rosemont College, a Masters in Elementary Education from St. Joseph’s University, ESL (English as a Second Language) Certification from Penn State Abington, Principal (K-12) Certification from Cheyney University, and is a certified 200-hour Yoga/SEL teacher. Beyond her consulting practice, she promotes equity in education through her service on the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Board, the Colonial School District Board and the Colonial Area Anti-Racism Social Equity Alliance (CAARSEA). Sharon is also a member of the Neubauer Fellowship’s Philadelphia Academy of School Leaders. Sharon enjoys traveling, cooking, yoga, reading, and spending time with her husband, father, siblings, and 14 nieces and nephews. Her favorite childhood book was The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein.

Brittney Matyas

Brittney is a Director with PwC’s Cyber, Risk and Regulatory practice, based in Philadelphia. Brittney provides Internal Audit, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, and risk management consulting services to both public and private clients in varying industries. Her focus is around helping companies identify and mitigate financial, compliance, and operation risks. Brittney lives in New Jersey and received a BS in Business Administration from Drexel University. She is a licensed CPA in the state of Pennsylvania. As a mom of 3, she spends tons of time reading both to and with her children. Her favorite childhood book was the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

David Rhoden

David Rhoden is committed to creating inclusive workplaces that foster engagement, innovation, and organizational success. With over 15 years of experience, David excels in shaping diverse cultures and empowering individuals to contribute authentically, driving sustainable performance.
As the Vice President of Culture and Inclusion at Chubb, David leads a comprehensive strategy across North America and Global Functions, collaborating with HR and divisional leaders to align workplace culture with business goals. His initiatives have significantly enhanced employee engagement and organizational effectiveness.
David holds a Master of Science in Organization Development and Leadership from Saint Joseph’s University and a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from The Pennsylvania State University. He is a Korn Ferry certified Leadership Architect and a Prosci certified Change Practitioner.
David’s passion for educational equity was sparked during his time as an AmeriCorps volunteer, where he worked with elementary students in Philadelphia public schools, focusing on math and reading. He believes reading is a foundational pathway to experiencing the world and achieving one’s potential. One of his favorite childhood books was the Bernstein Bears series.

Barry Silver

Barry joins Joyful Readers after a 40-year career in banking and financial markets and believes that education is the smartest investment a society can make. He retired from global leader MUFG Bank’s New York-based Corporate and Investment Bank, where he was a Managing Director in Risk Solutions, serving domestic and multinational clients in the US and Canada. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Barry feels lucky to have been born, raised, and very well educated in the Philadelphia area. After some years in Brooklyn and Tokyo, he settled in Connecticut with his wife Akiko, a violinist and teacher. They have two adult children. Barry has served on the boards of Connecticut Swimming, Inc. and the Norwalk Symphony Society. He was also an elected representative in his town’s legislature. Barry is a very joyful and relentless reader, a music (mainly jazz) obsessive, a boisterous Philly sports fan, and an awkward but enthusiastic skier. One unforgettable book from his childhood is Norton Juster’s “The Phantom Tollbooth” and there were many magic moments reading “The Chronicles of Prydain” series by Lloyd Alexander to his kids when they were little.

Prerna Srivastava

Prerna is a lifelong educator, advocate, and organizer who aspires to create liberatory spaces for black and brown children that affirm their identities, amplify their potential, and enable them to step into their power. Over the course of the past 20 years, Prerna has served across multiple sectors – from non-profit international development work with self-help groups and community health workers in rural India and Rwanda, to the training and development of over 500 women and minority business owners across the US. Most recently, Prerna served as AP/ Principal with the School District of Philadelphia for 7 years, where she secured over $40K in funding and partnerships through multiple organizations, including Americorps VISTA and the Delaware Valley Fairness Project, as well as achieved academic growth of 16% in K – 2 for percent of students on grade level for reading. In her current role, Prerna serves the children of Camden as Deputy Head of Schools with KIPP NJ, where she coaches and develops elementary school Principals. As an immigrant woman of color and mother of 3 young, joyful readers, Prerna collects social justice children’s books that elevate the voices of black and brown and immigrant youth, including her favorite children’s books, “The Proudest Blue” and “Always Anjali.” Prerna is a proud graduate of Bryn Mawr College, and holds Masters degrees from Harvard and Relay. In her free time, you can find Prerna hiking her beloved Wissahickon trails!

Our Staff

Our Board