Reading Power welcomes Lisa Bulzoni as new program director
It is with great enthusiasm that Reading Power welcomes Lisa Bulzoni, M.Ed in administration and supervision, as its new program director, effective Aug. 1, 2017.
Bulzoni will succeed Rebecca Mullen, M.S.Ed, who has held that position since 2010 and is relocating to be closer to family. They will work together to plan for the 2017-2018 school year until Mullen's fall departure.
Reading Power is an individualized literacy tutoring program serving prekindergarten through second grade children in North Chicago and Zion, Illinois public schools.
Bulzoni shared, "I am incredibly excited to be joining the Reading Power family! The work that has been done by the staff and volunteer tutors since 2003 leaves me in awe. I am looking forward to a future at Reading Power that is filled with growth, collaboration, and as always, doing what's best for the kids."
Bulzoni is moving from public education to the nonprofit Reading Power where she will manage a professional staff of seven and a volunteer force of nearly 200. Bulzoni is a certified classroom teacher with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision, both from National Louis University. An educator for over 20 years, as both classroom teacher and administrator, Bulzoni began her career as a Title 1 (federally funded) reading teacher before moving into administration in the Illinois communities of Park Ridge, Mt. Prospect and Skokie.
Literacy has been a passion of Bulzoni's since she began teaching and served on her first language arts committee. She has designed and presented professional development on vocabulary, guided reading, read-aloud books, writing and reading workshops, and literature circles and assessment. She also authored a third-grade curriculum guide for Kendall Hunt Publishing. Bulzoni and her family live in Highland Park, Illinois.
Reading Power CEO and Chairman Kathy McFarland, PhD, offered, "We're confident that Lisa's rich background, her understanding of the needs of the children we tutor, and her appreciation of the direction in which Reading Power is heading make Lisa the best person for the position. We're immensely pleased to have someone with Lisa's talents join our team."
The board welcomes Bulzoni and extends its deep gratitude to Mullen for her many contributions for over seven years to the students, the program, and the tutors.
All are welcome to attend the annual organizational meeting, learn about volunteer opportunities, and meet Lisa Bulzoni from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, 700 North Sheridan Road.
Reading Power's public/private partnerships with the North Chicago and Zion school districts have helped over 2,500 students learn to read and write since 2003. Reading Power is committed to accelerating children's literacy learning early before they fail and to instill in them a love of reading and writing. They believe all children deserve to reach their intellectual potential.
An individualized literacy tutoring program serving prekindergarten through second grade students in North Chicago, Illinois, and first and second grade students in Zion, Illinois, Reading Power provides trained volunteers who work under professional leadership to implement its research-based, cutting-edge curricula to individually tutor selected students up to five days a week. Reading Power is given its own classrooms to tutor students in schools during the school day. Reading Power students read multiple books to their tutors during each session, along with writing and word work. The organization's impactful student outcomes show qualitative and quantitative gains, from documented fluency improvement to increased self-confidence. Reading Power takes pride in knowing that its students are eager to come to the program each day. Reading Power is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
To volunteer and/or make a donation, visit www.readingpowerinc.org.