Meet the Staff
Caroline O'Neal, Chief Executive Officer
Caroline O’Neal has more than 20 years of experience in educational leadership. As Chief Executive Officer of Reading Assist, she negotiates school contracts and is responsible for all aspects of organizational strategy and the implementation of the Reading Assist Intervention Program. Before joining Reading Assist, Caroline helped Uncommon Schools – one of the most successful charter school networks in the country – open its first middle school in Camden, New Jersey, as Camden Prep’s director of operations. Prior to her work with Uncommon Schools, Caroline spent 15 years in international education. She started in the classroom on a Fulbright teaching assistantship in Austria then spent 10 years working with EC English Language Centers, an international group of 25 English language schools across five countries. As part of EC’s executive team, she led the product development group, responsible for the group’s portfolio of digital and face-to-face programs for over 140,000 students annually. Her non-profit work includes serving as vice president of outreach and then president of EnglishUSA, the American Association of Intensive English programs, and as a board member on the Pennsylvania Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and Achieve Now.
Jeannine Bedford, Site Manager
As Site Manager for Reading Assist, Jeannine acts as a liaison between Reading Assist Fellows, schools, and the Reading Assist staff. Jeannine joined Reading Assist in 2021 after over 30 years in the retail management field. She has diverse experience in multi-site consultation and management, human resources, training, and business optimization. After serving as an AmeriCorps fellow for two years in the Wilmington area and becoming a certified Reading Assist Interventionist, Jeannine has found her passion in helping children learn to read. She was inspired by her mother, who started an after-school reading and homework program in their church for the neighborhood’s children. Jeannine earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University. In her spare time, Jeannine is an avid reader, enjoys travel, and spending time with family and friends.
Amanda Carreiro, Director of Student Success
Amanda Carreiro, Reading Assist’s director of student success, previously served two years as a Reading Assist Fellow. Following her graduation from Husson University, Amanda moved to Delaware in 2019 to serve with AmeriCorps. After her first year of service, she became certified as a reading interventionist and decided she wanted to pursue a career in reading education. As part of Reading Assist’s instructional team, Amanda monitors students’ educational outcomes throughout the school year, adjusting delivery for students, fellows, or school sites after considering student needs together with reading performance data. Originally from Cape Cod, Amanda enjoys exploring Delaware with her dog, Stu.
Jen Clinton
As Reading Assist’s Assistant Director of Operations, Jen is responsible for helping with day-to-day operations and the AmeriCorps member experience. Jen is passionate about supporting others towards their own goals. With over 10 years experience helping to operate a residential summer camp, Jen has broad experience working with youth, and staff from a variety of backgrounds, and countries. Originally from New Zealand, with work experience in the U.K., Jen combines a strong work ethic with the ability to build and maintain genuine working relationships that enable others to be at their best.
Debbie DeGrosky, Director of Instruction
Deborah DeGrosky, Reading Assist’s director of instruction, has more than 30 years of experience in teaching reading. In addition to her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and her master’s in reading, Deb holds multiple certifications, including Certified Acadience® Mentor, CERI Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist, New Jersey certified reading specialist, and LETRS Local Certified Trainer. Deb has logged over 600 hours teaching students with severe reading challenges. At Reading Assist, Deb oversees the coaches who support the Reading Assist Fellows as they deliver the intervention, as well as the instructors who design and lead training. Deb monitors all aspects of student learning data analysis.
Lauren DeGrosky, Administrative Coordinator
Lauren DeGrosky is a Delaware native. She graduated from Ursuline Academy and obtained a bachelor’s degree in information technology from Curry College, graduating magna cum laude with distinction in the honors scholars program. In 2012, Lauren earned a master’s degree in science in information systems technologies from Wilmington University. She began working at Reading Assist in 2013. As the administrative coordinator, Lauren manages and coordinates documentation for the AmeriCorps and Reading Assist Fellows program.
Leigh Fairley, Director of Operations
Leigh Fairley, Reading Assist’s director of operations, is responsible for day-to-day operations and the AmeriCorps member experience. Leigh graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in political science and sociology and has extensive experience working in public service and education. Following graduation, Leigh served as the STEM Education Coordinator for Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. After working for Morehead Planetarium, Leigh first moved to Liberia to serve as an education volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps, then moved to Botswana, where she served as a health educator for two years. She expanded her public education experience by working at a high-needs middle school in Camden, New Jersey, as part of the administration and compliance team. Leigh oversees all AmeriCorps compliance including background checks, references, service hours, and serves as Reading Assist’s partner school liaison.
Judith Graham Kane, Director of Marketing and Development
Judith Graham Kane, Reading Assist’s director of marketing and development, has more than 20 years of communications and marketing experience across sectors including government, education, nonprofit, and financial services. Judith is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications. After starting her career in journalism, she led the NYC Emergency Management communications office for more than a decade, where she was instrumental in introducing several public education campaigns. Since moving to Wilmington in 2014, she’s done communications and marketing work for organizations including Wilmington Montessori School, BlackRock, Inc., and the Rockefeller Foundation. Judith oversees communications, marketing, recruitment, and development for Reading Assist.
Christopher Kettering, Program Manager
Christopher Kettering, Reading Assist’s Program Manager, assists in the design, development, and implementation of programs and services. Originally from Minot and Fargo, North Dakota, Christopher graduated from Minnesota State University, Moorhead with a degree in political science in 2011. Christopher moved to Delaware in 2012 to attend graduate school at the University of Delaware. During his time in academia Christopher spent a number of years as a tutor and teaching assistant specializing in international relations and related topics. Christopher’s passion for public service led him to Reading Assist’s summer tutoring program. After such a positive experience serving in Reading Assist’s summer program, Christopher decided to dedicate a year to serve as an AmeriCorps Reading Assist Fellow. In his current role, Christopher oversees Reading Assist’s summer, after-school, and private tutoring services.
Tina Ponce-Hambright, Recruitment and Marketing Manager
Tina Ponce-Hambright, Reading Assist’s recruitment and marketing manager, oversees our recruitment and marketing strategies. Tina graduated from American Military University in 2017 with an associate’s degree in general studies and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Penn State University in 2023. Tina served over 11.5 years active duty in the United States Army, where she specialized in supply chain management and recruiting. Originally from Mays Landing, NJ, Tina is very passionate about organizational growth and development. She is currently pursuing her master’s in business administration through Penn State.
Peggy Prevoznik Heins, Development Strategist
Peggy Prevoznik Heins, Reading Assist’s development strategist, brings decades of experience in the education and nonprofit world, a passion for peace and justice, and a fierce commitment to community empowerment. A graduate of Notre Dame and Penn State, she served in and worked for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, taught high school math and science, and served as the Director of Parish Social Ministry for Catholic Charities where she authored the leadership training program, Building Communities of Salt and Light, and facilitated the training nationally and internationally. Peggy founded and led Serviam Girls Academy, a private, tuition-free middle school for girls. Peggy leads the development strategy for Reading Assist.
Robert Raup, Finance Director
As finance director, Bob is responsible for Reading Assist’s day-to-day financial activities. He joined Reading Assist in 2023 with more than 30 years’ experience working for not-for-profit agencies in the areas of accounting and finance. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania. Bob is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Alex Seeman, Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator
Alex Seeman, Reading Assist’s recruitment and outreach coordinator, served as a Reading Assist Fellow during the 2021-22 school year. As part of Reading Assist’s outreach team, they are responsible for identifying and hiring a committed and talented cohort of Reading Assist Fellows to serve each school year. Alex is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with a background in anthropology. Originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, Alex enjoys exploring different cultures through mythology.
Eric Williamson, Director of Data, Evaluation & Grants
Originally from Dallas, TX, Eric graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2013. That year, he relocated to Boston and participated in AmeriCorps, tutoring third- and fourth-grade students in Reading and Math. He would go on to spend two more years in K-12 education before enrolling in Boston College’s Masters of Education in Educational Research, completing this degree in 2018 and transitioning to the PhD for the same program that year. As a PhD student, Eric focused on program evaluation, coordinating evaluation activities for several evaluations, and contributing to research on equity in program evaluation with an evaluation university faculty member. At Reading Assist, Eric manages evaluation activities, establishes data systems for academic and socio-emotional student indicators, and manages grant writing.
Meet the Board
Virginia Biasotto, Founder
Pamela J. Scott, President
Israel Mercado, Treasurer
Israel Mercado is the Reading Assist board treasurer. He has been a member of the board since 2007 and has helped guide the organization on financial matters. A CPA, Israel works for the Santora CPA Group as an auditor. Israel is a graduate of the University of Delaware and has been involved with and volunteered time for various professional organizations and Delaware charities.
Madeleine Bayard, Vice President
Madeleine Bayard is senior vice president at Rodel, a nonprofit organization that partners to improve public education in Delaware. Madeleine leads the organization’s policy, programmatic, government affairs, and communications initiatives.
She is chair of the state Early Childhood Council and a Delaware Commissioner for the Education Commission of the States. She serves on boards and commissions including: St. Michael’s School and Nursery, Delaware Historical Society, Wilmington Rotary Club, Wilmington Children’s Chorus, and Delaware State Arts Council. She has served as a grant panelist for the Delaware Division of the Arts, Corporation for National and Community Service, National Endowment for the Arts, and Start Early Pre-K Partnership.
Previously, Madeleine worked at the National Governors Association as a policy analyst and The Alford Group providing management consulting to nonprofits. Madeleine earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University. She joined the Reading Assist board in 2021.
James Boyd, Secretary
James is a wealth management advisor at Van Buren Financial Group. Prior to joining Van Buren, he spent six years with FS Investments and two years at J.P. Morgan. He has also been serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserve for the last eight years. James is a graduate of Drexel University and currently a CFA Level II Candidate. He lives in South Philadelphia with his wife, Ginevra, and his energetic dog, Mickey. Outside the office, James enjoys playing any sport known to man, with a special affinity for golf. Beyond sports, James is fond of going on hikes, traveling the world, reading, and a competitive game of chess.
Kae Keister, Board Member
Kae Keister served for 33 years in public education as a preschool and middle-level math teacher in the Smyrna School District and the Cape Henlopen School District, as well as an elementary and middle level administrator in the Milford School District. As an educator, she attended Virginia Biasotto’s Reading Assist course in Georgetown at the Owens Del Tech Campus, and later worked with Reading Assist staff to gather empirical evidence for the effectiveness of the Reading Assist program. She is now an Associate Professor at Wilmington University in the College of Education, where she teaches in the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, and is a board member for Schools That Lead. She graduated from Pfeiffer College, Salisbury State University and Nova University, and is a native Delawarean.
Darren Mahoney, Board Member
Darren is one of the co-founders of CompassRed, a data analytics company with offices in Wilmington and Philadelphia. He is on a mission to grow their world class analytics team. In late 2020 he helped launch the Delaware Data Innovation Lab, a 501(c)(6) organization. His efforts included hiring a team of 22 professionals and directing their work on COVID-19 related problems.
Prior to CompassRed, Darren led the bank marketing operations team at Capital One, and the digital marketing team at ING DIRECT. He is married and has two children. His parents, both teachers, raised him and his brother in the suburbs north of New York City. Darren completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia in 1997, and received an M.B.A. from the University of Delaware. In his down time, Darren enjoys coaching youth lacrosse, which he has done for the past 8 years with The Wilmington Wings, Greene Turtle Lacrosse Club, and 302 Lacrosse. He joined the Reading Assist board in 2013.
Darryl Scott, Board Member
Darryl Scott was elected to the Delaware General Assembly in 2008 and served three terms as State Representative for District 31. During his tenure in the Legislature, he was an advocate for public education and access to higher education for Delaware students. One of his most significant legislative accomplishments was the creation of the Inspire Scholarship program which provides Delaware students tuition assistance for up to six semesters to attend Delaware State University. Since its creation, more than 1,000 Delaware high school graduations have received Inspire Scholarships. Beginning in 2012, Darryl was named to represent Delaware as a board member for the Southern Regional Education Board. In 2014, he joined the Rodel Foundation Advisory Council, and in 2016 the Delaware Campaign for Achievement Now (DelawareCAN) advisory board. Darryl has degrees in economics and marketing from Eastern Kentucky University. Darryl and his wife Carol live in Dover and have two sons.
Matt Sullivan, Board Member
Matt is the chief operating officer at Short Order Production House, Delaware’s largest video production company. He was a first-career journalist, working as a reporter and editor in upstate New York before relocating to Delaware to become the founding editor and general manager of Spark Magazine. After Spark, he spent five years as the managing director of Delaware Shakespeare while operating a small communications consultancy. During that time, he produced award-winning content and provided strategic communications for the Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Wilmington Alliance, Reading Assist, the World Trade Center Delaware, the Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence, and the Delaware Charter School Network (among others).
He’s been a columnist, blogger, podcaster, restaurant critic, and spent eight years reviewing movies that he had not seen. He still commits random acts of journalism, usually in Delaware magazines. He lives in Newark with his wife, Janice, and two kids.
