Literacy Advisory Council

The Literacy Advisory Councils support the Maine Department of Education’s implementation of the State Literacy and Numeracy Action Plans by bringing practitioner voice and field-based perspective into statewide work.

Council members serve as thought partners and ambassadors, helping ensure that Maine’s literacy and numeracy efforts remain grounded in classroom practice and responsive to the diverse contexts of schools and communities across the state.

Specifically, the councils:

  • Share insights from daily practice to inform ongoing refinement of resources, guidance, and professional learning
  • Strengthen connections between the Department and educators, school leaders, and higher education partners
  • Help surface implementation challenges and promising practices from the field
  • Champion high-quality, equitable literacy and numeracy learning for all Maine students
  • Support alignment and coherence across related statewide initiatives

The councils do not oversee programs or make policy decisions. Instead, they provide an ongoing forum for collaboration, reflection, and practitioner-informed guidance as Maine advances its long-term literacy and numeracy goals.

County Name Role / Affiliation
Cumberland Dr. Peter Lancia Facilitator, Westbrook Superintendent of Schools
Cumberland Chris Pirkl Portland High School ELS Teacher and MDOE MLTI Ambassador
Cumberland Kim Fadrigon Gorham K-8 Instructional Leader
York Leslie Constantine Saco Middle School Grade 7 Teacher
York Julie Montalbano Biddeford Primary School Literacy Coach and MTSS
Sagadahoc Dawn Lee RSU 1 Bath, Morse High School Librarian and Literacy Teacher
Washington Amanda Belanger AOS 90 Baileyville Superintendent
Kennebec Amy Tucker RSU 39 Middle School Teacher
Kennebec Penny Inman MSAD 11 Thompson Title I Teacher
Franklin Jennifer Ladd RSU 9 Cascade Brook and Mallett PK-5 Literacy Coordinator
Androscoggin Amanda Doherty Lewiston Connors Multilingual Teacher
Androscoggin Carole Celani Auburn Fairview Washburn Literacy Coach
Hancock Rhonda Ulichny Hancock K Teacher
Penobscot Allison Woodard RSU 34 Old Town Elementary Assistant Principal
Somerset Carolyn Hatch MSAD 54 Somerset ELA Teacher at CTE
Knox Jennifer Strazzulla Union 69 Hope Grade 3/4 Teacher
Piscataquis Linda Martin RSU 41 Milo MTSS Teacher
Penobscot Lori Smith RSU 19 Grade 3 Teacher
Alternates
Cumberland Julie Riordan Westbrook Grade 5-12 Instructional Coach
York Shannon Swiger MSAD 60 Director of Teaching and Learning
Washington Haley Fenton RSU 24 Ella Lewis School MTSS and Principal
Hancock Tarsha Lescourd School Union 19 Blue Hill MTSS