BOARD  MEMBERS

Jamie has proudly served in education since 1996 as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and director. He has taught courses in Assessment at CSUSB, Reading & Literacy at the University of Redlands, and Teacher Education at California Baptist University. He also coached age-group swimming & water polo for 16 years. Jamie has recently been awarded Administrator of the Year by the California State Library Association for helping to modernize libraries in the Redlands Unified School District. Sharing a passion for literacy, helping kids succeed, and serving the community through Readers Rising is among the greatest honors and privileges of his career. 

Ed has taught in higher education since 1993. He currently serves as the Chair of the History Department at San Bernardino Valley College where he has taught for 25 years. He works closely with many organizations in the region to provide services to families and individuals in need. His committment to the ideal of a quality education for all people is the driving force behind his work with Readers Rising. 

Ph.D. candidate Moreak Gomez-Diaz has worked with children and community at various levels throughout his life. His commitment to education drives his love for reading, which he shares with the children in Readers Rising in hopes that they too will grow into avid readers themselves. 

Tory is a native of Redlands and currently works for the nonprofit organization Options House Inc. in San Bernardino, which provides shelter and services for survivors of domestic violence in the area. She has a BA in communications from Loyola Marymount and an MPA in Nonprofit management from Cal State Dominguez Hills. Tory delveoped a strong sense of devotion to public service working in Easter Europe to help survivors of sex trafficking within the Romani community in Budapest. This experiences gave her an appreciation and value for being able to provide the community with the best start possible so that they have the opportunity to do well in life. She believes that Readers Rising can provide families with the best opportunity to learn about themselves and form educated opinions so that they can go out and make a difference in our community. 

Program Director- Leslie Bryan is a recently retired CSUSB faculty member for Theater Arts and Liberal Studies, working with Liberal Studies students studying to become teachers. She is the founder of the Family Night at the Theater program where CSUSB students along with elementary school children devise and perform theater pieces based on themes from children's literature. She has choreographed several CSUSB Theater Arts performances over the past 25 years and has mentored Liberal Studies students in the preparation for their Multiple Subjects Credential. Ms Bryan is also a teacher leader for the California Arts Project providing professional development tanining in dance and theater for K-12 students. The Readers Rising program will allow Ms. Bryan to share the joy of reading with children by teaching them how to use movement and voice to bring stories to live. 

Program Director- Amber Wallick has worked in the field of education over the past 35 years and has served as a teacher of toddlers, preschoolers, early elementary, and high school students. She has taught in higher education since 1998. For the San Bernardino Community College District, and within the Childhood Development Department, Amber has taught a variety of courses for students studying to become teachers, and for parents honing their parenting skills. She is passionate about supporting all students to become educators who honor and respect the culture and linguistic diversity of the children and families they serve. She promotes developmentally appropriate practices, including play, in the classroom and outdoors. Amber recognizes that the work of Readers Rising can offer children powerful ways to make sense of the world, to find their place in it, and to gain confidence to rise up to meet their future. 

Gloria recently received her Bachelor's in Music Performance and a minor in Ethnic Studies from the University of Redlands. Throughout her undergraduate career, she was a volunteer and intern for the REACH youth outreach program. She has worked with San Bernardino County high school students in and out of the juvenile justice system, organizing and teaching creative writing workshops. Gloria has also worked as an editor of the San Francisco-based publication of The Beat Within, a literary magazine that reaches incarcerated communities throughout California and Arizona. In addition she has worked in group homes providing elementary-children with creative arts summer programs and activities. Gloria is passionate about youth outreach and bringing arts education to communities with less access. Growing up in a family of educators who fostered a love of reading, she’s excited for Reader’s Rising to help create the same for children in the Redlands community through storytelling, dance, and art.

Zachary is a graduate student working with the Crafton Hills College student services department. He has worked closely with community stakeholders to bring about equitable community change. Coordinating volunteers for the Readers Rising Program has been a great joy and opportunity for him to inspire a younger generation to pursue their passion for reading. 

Sandra has spent her career supporting the academic and social growth of kindergarden and pre-school children. She has a passion for combining literacy with the arts to inspire creativity, critical thinking, and love for reading in children.