Dr. Judith C. Hochman is the creator of the Hochman Method and founder of The Writing Revolution. Dr. Hochman served as the Head of The Windward School in White Plains, New York, a nationally renowned independent school focused on teaching students with learning disabilities. She is the founder of the Windward Teacher Training Institute and a former Superintendent of the Greenburgh Graham Union Free School District in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. In addition, Dr. Hochman lectures, presents workshops, and gives courses for educational organizations, colleges, and universities, as well as public and independent schools throughout the United States.
She is on the Advisory Board of Everyone Reads, a national advocacy organization for dyslexia and related learning disabilities. She received the New York Branch Award from the International Dyslexia Association. The Reading Reform Foundation presented Dr. Hochman with the Leona D. and Phillip J. Spector Leadership Award. Dr. Hochman is the author of The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing In All Subjects and Grades (along with co-author Natalie Wexler), Teaching Basic Writing Skills, a chapter entitled “Composition: Expressive Language and Writing” in the publication Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills, and numerous articles.
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Toni-Ann Vroom was a founding member of TWR in 2014 and co-leads the organization, setting the strategic vision for its programs, communicating its mission and ensuring its sustainability. She presents regularly on the topic of writing at literacy conferences and has presented on the Hochman Method and TWR for the College Board, the Aspen Institute and SXSW EDU. Previously, Toni-Ann served as the schoolwide writing coordinator and lead social studies teacher at New Dorp High School in Staten Island, New York. She received a Ph.D. in literacy from St. John’s University.
Dina Zoleo was a founding member of TWR in 2014 and co-leads the organization, setting the strategic vision for its programs, communicating its mission and ensuring its sustainability. She presents regularly on the topic of writing at literacy conferences and has presented on the Hochman Method and TWR for the College Board, the Aspen Institute, SXSW EDU, the Mississippi Literacy Association Conference and the Louisiana Teacher Leader Summit. Previously, Dina served as a social studies teacher and assistant principal at New Dorp High School in Staten Island, New York. She received a Ph.D. in literacy from St. John’s University.
Kathleen Maloney collaborates with the co-executive directors to develop the strategic vision for TWR, and oversees its implementation by leading the organization’s daily operations. Previously, she served as a literacy assessment specialist for the New York City Department of Education and as an English language arts teacher and Title I coordinator at New World Preparatory Charter School. Kathleen was the founding literacy coach at New World Prep, where she helped all teachers to be literacy instructors by leading the schoolwide implementation of the Hochman Method. She holds an M.A. in literacy from NYU and a B.A. in childhood education from Macaulay Honors College (College of Staten Island).
Kirk Clarke supervises and works with TWR staff to plan, design and manage all operations on the technical side of the organization, ensuring the efficiency of network systems to secure the stability of business functions. He has led in the adoption of several major technologies to support TWR infrastructure, including Salesforce Marketing Cloud Account Engagement. Previously, Kirk was a senior web designer and UI developer at the 92nd Street Y, a web developer at StarChefs, and a freelance web and IT consultant. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in studio art, with a concentration in drawing and graphic design, from Binghamton University (SUNY).
Joie Langford is a certified fund raising executive who oversees all of the organizations’ fundraising and development initiatives, building relationships to secure philanthropic support. Before joining TWR, she served as the Senior Development Manager at the All Stars Project of New Jersey. Joie holds a Master of Arts in Media Studies from The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism, with a minor in African American Studies from Temple University. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Union County College.
Alexandria Chalonec teaches courses, works with high-impact partner schools and helps on various programmatic projects at TWR. Alexandria led the process of embedding TWR’s strategies in Louisiana Department of Education Guidebooks to enhance student writing and understanding. Within the organization, she supports the onboarding of new faculty and ongoing faculty development. Before joining TWR, Alexandria taught English language arts and social studies at The Windward School and served as a learning specialist and special education teacher at the Urban Assembly School of Business for Young Women. She earned a Master of Science in education through the New York City Teaching Fellows program, graduating with honors.
Djamika Smith is responsible for leading and overseeing TWR’s visual and creative initiatives, ensuring that the messaging and branding effectively convey the mission and values of the non-profit to engage and inspire donors, supporters, and the community. She was Senior Designer at Niftic (design agency), Senior Designer at 92Y, and worked with various mission-driven companies (RepresentUS, Concern Worldwide, the Union Square Partnership, the Story of Stuff) as a freelancer. Designer at Blackstone Publishing, Designer at Cropper Medical. Has Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Katie Kennedy provides executive support to TWR’s co-executive directors and leadership team, with expertise in determining project objectives, organizing and arranging resources, and ensuring on-time delivery of assigned projects. Before joining TWR, she served as an executive assistant at Skyview Constructors. Katie is a proficient user of Peachtree, MRI and QuickBooks accounting systems and holds certificates in various Microsoft programs.
Tania Haselwander-Chang teaches courses, works with high-impact partner schools and helps on various programmatic projects at TWR. She also serves as an implementation manager with a focus on the elementary grades, working with partner schools and districts on implementation and contributing to special projects, including Revolutionary Workshops, webinars, and course refinement and creation. Tania received a Master of Science in education from the City College of New York and a Bachelor of Arts in women’s and gender studies from Stony Brook University.
Madalyn Roig teaches courses, works with high-impact partner schools and helps on various programmatic projects at TWR, where she is also an implementation manager. Madalyn is a seasoned literacy coach with over 10 years of teaching experience working with historically underserved populations. Most recently, at the Renaissance Charter High School for Innovation, she served as the language department chair and TWR coordinator, developing and overseeing the program’s schoolwide implementation. Madalyn holds an M.A. in adolescent literacy education from Hunter College and a B.A. in English and education from Marist College.
Christine Teahan teaches courses, works with high-impact partner schools and helps on various programmatic projects at TWR. As specialty courses manager, she coordinates the development and maintenance of courses, webinars and offerings outside of TWR’s main introductory course, Advanced Thinking Through Writing (ATTW) I. Among these, Christine developed the ATTW STEM course. Before joining TWR, she served as a special education teacher, teaching middle school English language arts, math, science and social studies. She holds an M.A. and a B.A. in special education.
Sean Cioffi teaches courses, works with high-impact partner schools and helps on various programmatic projects at TWR. He previously served for 10 years as a seventh- and eighth-grade English language arts, social studies and research skills classroom teacher at The Windward School, an independent school in White Plains specializing in targeted instruction for students with language-based learning disabilities. Sean received Windward’s Sandi Galst Scholar Award for exceptional reading teachers. He holds an M.S. in secondary education, social studies and special education, grades five to 12, and a B.A. in history from Binghamton University.
April Laing teaches courses, works with high-impact partner schools and helps on various programmatic projects at TWR. Previously, she taught middle school language arts and social studies for three years at The Windward School in White Plains, New York, a nationally renowned school for students with language-based learning disabilities. April also served as a middle school English language arts and history teacher and a high school history teacher in New York City for approximately 10 years. She holds an M.S. in childhood education and a B.A. in mass communication from Herbert H. Lehman College.
Ailish McDemott teaches courses, works with high-impact partner schools and helps on various programmatic projects at TWR. She presented at the 2022 Teacher Leader Summit in Louisiana for TWR and helped develop the TWR asynchronous course for the Louisiana Department of Education’s ELA Guidebooks 3-5 (2022). Previously, Ailish worked as an elementary school teacher in Title 1 schools in New York City. While teaching at P.S. 60 Woodhaven, she led the school’s writing team and served as its TWR coordinator. Ailish received a master’s degree in literacy from Lehman College and a bachelor’s in special education from Marist College.
Samantha O’Brien teaches courses, works with high-impact partner schools and helps on various programmatic projects at TWR, where she also develops TWR materials for Louisiana Department of Education Guidebooks. Previously, Samantha served for 10 years as a middle school English language arts and math classroom teacher and a sixth-grade team leader at The Windward School, a nationally renowned school for students with language-based learning disabilities. She received a master’s degree in elementary education and special education from Manhattanville College and a B.A. in history and American studies from Providence College.
Kiersten Peltier teaches courses, works with high-impact partner schools and helps on various programmatic projects at TWR. Notably, she led TWR’s development of asynchronous workshops, which provide educators with varied options for accessing ongoing support with the implementation of writing strategies. Previously, Kiersten served as an education program consultant for the Louisiana Department of Education and as an elementary English language arts and social studies teacher. She holds a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction (reading) from Louisiana State University Shreveport.
Julie Duignan teaches courses, works with high-impact partner schools, and helps on various program projects at TWR. Julie worked as the Middle School Learning Specialist at Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City. Prior to that, she served as a 6th and 7th grade English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Research Skills classroom teacher at The Windward School, a nationally renowned school for students with language-based learning disabilities. Julie has an MA in Adolescent Special Education from Manhattan College and a BA in History and Secondary Education.
Nicole Enterlin teaches courses, works with high-impact partner schools, and helps on various programmatic projects at TWR. She taught middle school language arts, social studies, and science at The Windward School in White Plains, NY for 6 years and was a 5th grade language arts teacher at AIM Academy in Conshohocken, PA for a year. Nicole has a MA in Childhood Education and Special Education from Manhattanville College and a BA in Psychology from Elon University.
Sophia Knight-Hogg teaches courses, works with high-impact partner schools and helps on various programmatic projects at TWR. Previously, she spent 20 years as a seventh- to 12th-grade English language arts teacher, five years as a New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) teacher leader and mentor, six years as an adjunct professor at Syracuse University Project Advance, two years as a TWR school lead and coordinator, one year as an NYCDOE equity ambassador for culturally responsive-sustaining education, and two years as co-lead of an English language arts department. Sophia holds an M.A. in curriculum and instruction for English language arts from the University of Phoenix and a B.S. in professional management from Nova Southeastern University.
Itzel Zarate provides support to the program team by creating and maintaining systems of organization related to course delivery, partnership services, and school implementation. Additionally, she collaborates across departments to update resources on the Resource Library and communicate new materials available to educators. She was an assistant project manager at AMP Tech Inc. Itzel has an Associate’s Degree in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Management. She is a Notary Public and became an OSHA Authorized Trainer in 2020.
Sydoni Ellwood manages TWR course and resource library operations, creating and maintaining systems that allow participants to have a seamless experience. Before joining TWR, she served as an adjunct professor in public higher education. A published scholar, Sydoni holds an M.A. in urban education and a B.A. in political science and African studies.
Justin Carlisle provides logistical support with regard to TWR course offerings. This includes, but is not limited to; building courses, analyzing enrollment data, and providing timely assistance to course participants. He was the Community School Director, Civic Education Coordinator, and Program Associate for the Office of Renewal Schools. He attended Brandeis University where he studied International and Global Studies. Upon completion of his studies, he joined the NYC Dept. of Education where he received a City Council Citation from NYC Councilman, I. Dankeek Miller, for his work with students who resided in Jamaica, Queens.
Rozanne Dolly provides support with logistics around TWR courses and workshops, creates and maintains systems that allow participants to have a seamless experience, and produces various reports to facilitate internal and external data analysis.
Jessica Creech-Levine works directly with TWR’s partner schools to assess student writing and measure progress. Before joining TWR, she served as the writing coordinator and lead seventh-grade English language arts teacher at New World Preparatory Charter School and as a senior children’s librarian at the New York Public Library. Jessica holds an M.S. in library and information science from Pratt Institute and a B.A. in English literature from the State University of New York at New Paltz.
Marianna Campese provides support to TWR’s partner schools to assess student writing and measure progress. Before joining TWR, she worked as a seventh grade ELA teacher and cluster coordinator at Mark Twain I.S. 239 for the Gifted and Talented. Marianna holds an MA from Brooklyn College in English Education and a BS from New York University, also in English Education.
Annyce Brackins supports the growth of TWR’s philanthropic footprint through cultivating new relationships, deepening relationships with existing supporters and expanding the reach of the organization, especially to non-educators. Before joining TWR, she worked in database management as well as a front-line fundraiser for an afterschool development youth program. Annyce received a Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Kean University.
Mayra Guallpa Calle is responsible for data elements maintenance, administration and support at TWR, where she helps develop reports and analyses. Mayra served as an intern at TWR for four years before taking on her current position. She received a degree in computer science from Fordham University.
Phieford Nash assists with graphic design and video production at TWR, where he was previously a graphic design and marketing intern. Phieford holds an associate’s degree in graphic design.
Lori Pendleton-Woods raises awareness of TWR’s programs and activities by managing the organization’s social media presence and providing support for other marketing strategies. Before joining TWR, she was the Marketing Coordinator at Ubiqus and spent several years as a freelance writer and marketing specialist for clients in the nonprofit and private sector. She holds an MS in Direct and Interactive Marketing and a BA in English and Creative Writing from New York University.
Shandel Charles is responsible for accounts receivable and other finance functions at TWR. Previously, Shandel provided support with logistics around TWR courses and workshops. Before joining TWR, she served as an administrative supervisor. Shandel holds a B.S. in accounting from Brooklyn College.
Julio Ramos is responsible for accounts payable and other finance functions at TWR such as building relationships with customers to resolve discrepancies. Before joining TWR, he served as a shift-supervisor, before transitioning to finance as a bank teller and then a bookkeeper. Julio holds an Associates Degree in Business Administration.
