Our Volunteers

Randi Adleberg

Randi has been a reader since she was 3 years old, when her big sister taught her to read so that they could both go to the weekly Bookmobile to sign out books! Randi's love of reading has bolstered her through joy and sadness, poor times and times of abundance! Her love of reading led her to a BA in English Literature, a Master of Arts in Teaching, and a career teaching 6th through 12th graders in Albemarle County and Fairfax County the thrill of reading, dissecting literature, and discussing great authors and their works. Her great friend, Kelly Price, invited her to join Read On Young Readers.

Melanie Berman

Melanie Berman is a retired educator who has served as Head of School, Department Head, Director of Education, teacher, and tutor in Jewish Day Schools and congregational schools across the country. She has worked privately with students, including many with special needs, tutoring reading and math for grades 1-8.

She has a lifelong passion for children's literature, and is excited to become an active volunteer for Read On Young Readers

Tia Harrison

Tia is an active duty Soldier with over 20 years in the Army as a Logistics Warrant Officer. She is preparing for retirement and wants to continue to give back to the community in any way that she can. Her hobbies include traveling, scuba diving, health and fitness, and spending time with her family. She is currently working towards her personal trainer certification to continue her journey in fitness.

Lew Baylor

Lew loved reading as a child, and still loves reading. He also enjoys reading to his grandchildren. He and his wife, Mary, have lived in Springfield for 40 years. He is a retired attorney who now enjoys family time, gardening, traveling, biking, swimming, and the company of his two dachshunds. He now has the time to give back to my community and is looking forward to volunteering with ROYR. He believes Read-On Young Readers offers a wonderful opportunity to instill a love of reading in future generations.

Grace Reef

Grace is an early childhood policy consultant working across states to expand access to high-quality child care and pre-k. She regularly works with state policy leaders, county and local policy and program leaders, as well as non-profits who train and support the early childhood sector. Read-On Young Readers is a great way to have a hands-on impact on the next generation. Reading is fundamental to a child's success in school and life.

Stephanie Bisson

Stephanie is a retired Fairfax County elementary school principal. She has worked as an elementary classroom teacher, reading specialist, Reading Recovery teacher, and Title 1 Coordinator. Her experience includes providing professional development and teaching college courses in reading; coaching reading specialists; and supervising teachers. Stephanie is currently working as an educational consultant teaching and coaching leaders, teachers, and parent groups in effective instruction, improving student achievement and educational leadership.

Jacki Bookbinder

Jacki is a retired Fairfax County teacher, school counselor, adjunct at GMU and life coach. Her entire career was dedicated to assisting students to reach their potential. Her experience as a reading teacher helping elementary children develop a love of reading was one of her favorite positions. She worked in many innovative reading programs in Fairfax County. She is also an avid reader who loved to read to her children and now her grandchildren. She is excited about sharing the world of children’s literature with young readers.

Patty Bortz

Patty is a lifelong native of Northern VA -- she actually grew up and still lives in Fairfax County, although she enjoys traveling outside and across the U.S. Patty has been in the IT industry most all of her career and is counting down the months to retirement and enjoying the beach condo she bought last year. At this point in life she is looking forward to having more time to give back and is especially excited to work with children as well as Veterans - continuing to volunteer and work with the Fairfax VFW Auxiliary as well as other Veteran organizations. Patty is excited to be a part of the ROYR community.

Claire Palmer

Claire Palmer is a retired international trade consultant and Army spouse. She has lived in several European countries and speaks French and Italian, in addition to English. She is active in her Episcopal church in several volunteer areas. She and her husband have two grown children. She is a life-long reader and passionately believes that fluent reading is critical to lifelong success.  She loves helping children improve their reading skills!.

Suzanne Fackner

Suzanne is a retired ( 2017) Fairfax County Public Schools teacher. She has a BS in Elementary Education/Special Education minor in Reading and a MED in guidance and counseling. She has enjoyed working in preschool and grades K-8. Suzanne loves gardening, drawing, watercolors, dogs, reading and her three grandsons.

**This could be YOU! Join our team!

Gwen Gillespie

Gwen is a retired educator who believes that success in education is about building relationships with students and establishing strong connections with colleagues and families. She fulfilled her passion as an educator teaching in Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, Germany, South America, and last but not least, Virginia. Her 50 plus years as a teacher molded her beliefs in equity, diversity and inclusion. She looks forward to sharing her love of reading as a Read-On Young Readers volunteer.

Lisa Holm

Lisa is passionate about literacy and equity in educational opportunities for all children. She has always loved reading and believes that reading is an essential factor in opening the mind to new ideas and possibilities. In her career as an educator, Lisa was a classroom teacher, Reading Recovery teacher, Reading Specialist, and Literacy Coach working with students and teachers in Kindergarten through Grade 6. Lisa is actively involved with Dyspraxia DCD America, a charity dedicated to raising awareness and supporting those impacted by Dyspraxia/DCD.

Kelly Barratt

Kelly is a retired mathematician. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from the University of Dayton (Go, Flyers!), and a Master of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Florida (Go, Gators!). Over the years, Kelly taught math at the high school, community college, and university level.  She also worked as an actuary, and as a Data Quality Analyst for companies like Dell and Apple. Kelly's favorite hobby is reading. In fact, her favorite present is a book! Her favorite places are libraries and bookstores. She has an adult son who says that one of the things that he is most grateful for is that they read together and visited libraries together. She also has a granddog that is 50% Basset Hound, 50% Rhodesian Ridgeback, and 100% Good Girl! Kelly volunteered with the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program, In-School, for 3 years. Now, she is excited to pass on the joy of reading through the Read On Young Readers Program...

Debbie Porter

Debbie Porter is a retired Early Childhood resource teacher with Fairfax County Public Schools. She worked in the Family and Early Childhood Program (FECEP/Head Start) for more than 20 years.

**This could be YOU! Join our team!

Valerie Shapiro

Valerie is a retired Fairfax County Public School teacher. She has a background in early childhood, elementary education, reading, and special education (learning disabilities). Her hobbies include organizing photos into scrapbook albums, travelling, walking/exercising, reading and pre-Covid attending theater at the Center for the Arts. She is also dabbling in learning Spanish. Her grandson, Liam (still a baby) is already enjoying shelves filled with books and family reading time. She looks forward to doing shared reading and reading aloud with her mentees.

Cindy Sweeder

Cindy is a retired Early Childhood Resource teacher with Fairfax County Public Schools. In her 25+ years of teaching, she taught children in preschool special education, the Family and Early Childhood Education Program and kindergarten.

**This could be YOU! Join our team!