Reading Partners Mid-Atlantic is a nonprofit organization that engages community volunteers to provide students with the proven, individualized reading support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade. We seek to create a more equitable future, one where every child in Baltimore and DC has the support they deserve to become strong readers and lifelong learners.
Reading Partners Mid-Atlantic is powered by AmeriCorps, a federal agency for national service. We mobilize AmeriCorps members to recruit and coach volunteers, support students during and outside of tutoring sessions, work on capacity-building projects, and so much more.
Zenobia comes to us with more than 20 years of experience as a nonprofit leader with a strong track record working in the public and private sectors, including in healthcare, housing, education, and family investment. Most recently, Zenobia served as the director of student life & residential for The SEED School of Maryland, a statewide college-preparatory public boarding school where students live and learn on campus Sunday–Friday. Prior to her current role, Zenobia served as the chief executive officer of a regional association focused on developing non-profit, private, and public service organizations. She has held many other leadership roles in large and small educational, health and human service organizations. Zenobia holds bachelorʼs degrees in business and behavioral sciences and a masterʼs degree in business and organizational management. When she is not working, Zenobia enjoys historical excursions and serving as an amateur family genealogist. She is married with two adult children.
Barry Omar Brinkley (he/him) is an education leader with over 20 years of experience as a teacher, school and systems administrator, and nonprofit leader. Most recently, Barry served as the Chief of Staff at DC Prep, a high-performing charter network in the District of Columbia. In addition, Barry served as the Founding Site Director at College Track DC Ward 8 – building and designing college access programming and support for students attending several DC Southeast-based schools. He previously served as the Executive Director of Equity in Student Achievement for Guilford County Schools in North Carolina and as a Student Support Consultant for Turnaround For Children in Washington DC. He started his career as a 4th grade teacher in Compton California.
Barry has a MA in Elementary Education from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and a BA in Psychology with a concentration in Family and Child Development from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Barry was a member of the 2017 cohort of the School Systems Leaders Fellowship with Cambiar Education. He was also a 2018 American Express Leadership Academy Fellow with Campaign for Black Male Achievement. Barry currently serves on Teach For America’s National Advisory Board of The Collective, the organization’s national association for alumni of color, where he provides strategic guidance to Teach For America’s senior leadership.
Keyna is a seasoned network engagement professional with a multidisciplinary background in city and state government, private sector, and non-profit organizations, spanning ten years. As the community engagement manager, she will manage the onboarding and training for volunteer tutors, facilitate the retention and recruitment of community partners, and report critical volunteer insights throughout the Baltimore region. Keyna is no stranger to Reading Partners Baltimore, having served as a volunteer in 2014. She is excited to come back and find new ways to work with the community to close the literacy opportunity gap. Keyna earned her bachelor’s in Political Science from Saint Francis University.
Kyndall Brown (she/her) is a Washington, DC native, Temple University alum, and currently a graduate student at American University in the Education Policy and Leadership program. She also served as an AmeriCorps member at Reading Partners Washington, DC from 2017-19. After her AmeriCorps service terms, she went on to work as an early childhood teacher at KIPP DC. Kyndall is now currently a newly joined program manager at Reading Partners Washington, DC.
Kelly Clouser is a seasoned educator and dedicated advocate for literacy, committed to ensuring that all students have equitable opportunities to become confident, capable readers. Her career in education spans a wide range of roles, including classroom teacher across multiple grade levels, lead teacher in alternative education, school principal, and most recently the program director for Reading Partners South Carolina.
Throughout her professional journey, Kelly has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to educational equity and student achievement, with a particular focus on literacy development. She is passionate about creating inclusive, effective learning environments and empowering educators to support diverse learners in building strong reading foundations.
Kelly holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from St. Francis University, a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Penn State University, and certification in Special Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is a certified Pre-Kindergarden through Grade 12 principal in both Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
Through her leadership, Kelly continues to champion initiatives that close the literacy gap and expand access to high-quality education. She firmly believes that children are our greatest asset and deserve every opportunity to become thoughtful, engaged contributors to society.
Kelly Clouser is a seasoned educator and dedicated advocate for literacy, committed to ensuring that all students have equitable opportunities to become confident, capable readers. Her career in education spans a wide range of roles, including classroom teacher across multiple grade levels, lead teacher in alternative education, school principal, and most recently the program director for Reading Partners South Carolina.
Throughout her professional journey, Kelly has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to educational equity and student achievement, with a particular focus on literacy development. She is passionate about creating inclusive, effective learning environments and empowering educators to support diverse learners in building strong reading foundations.
Kelly holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from St. Francis University, a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Penn State University, and certification in Special Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is a certified Pre-Kindergarden through Grade 12 principal in both Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
Through her leadership, Kelly continues to champion initiatives that close the literacy gap and expand access to high-quality education. She firmly believes that children are our greatest asset and deserve every opportunity to become thoughtful, engaged contributors to society.
Diego Torres Diaz (he/him) grew up in Germantown, Maryland, and attended the University of Maryland – College Park, where he studied Cell Biology & Genetics. During his time in college, he discovered a passion for service and community empowerment through volunteer programs at local elementary schools. His journey in service continued as an AmeriCorps member with a non-profit advocacy group in Baltimore in 2018-2019 and Reading Partners DC during the 2019-2020 school year. During his two service years, he experienced the profound impact a community can have on the literacy potential of its youth. Diego is excited to return to Reading Partners as a program manager and continue his commitment to education equity.
Nere Eyeguokan is a former elementary and middle school teacher, having taught in Baltimore City Public Schools for 5 years. A Teach For America alumni, he is committed to working towards educational equity for all students in Baltimore and beyond. Nere has worked with youth in grades K-12 in various capacities, including teaching, coaching, and mentoring. He also has experience building and leading teams in the nonprofit sector. Nere believes scholars in Baltimore City are brilliant and that their brilliance shows up in multiple unique ways, and it’s his role to break down the barriers and obstacles that may prevent them from realizing their brilliance and potential. Nere earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Leadership Studies from Frostburg State University. Outside of Reading Partners, Nere is a hobbyist analog photographer and enjoys binge-watching TV series.
A native of Baltimore, Nancy attended Baltimore City public schools. Visits to the Enoch Pratt Free Library are among the earliest and most vivid memories of her childhood. She received her MA from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and completed the Certified Nonprofit Management Program at The Johns Hopkins University. Nancy has worked in Baltimore’s nonprofit sector for more than 25 years, with a focus on raising funds for education, affordable housing, and workforce development. She believes in the power of mutually supportive collaborations to create positive change. In addition to loving her work, Nancy enjoys reading books about history and political intrigue as well as works of fiction. She is also a budding beekeeper.
Jahnae Miller (she/her) is a Los Angeles, CA native who has called the DMV area home for over a decade. She earned a bachelor’s in elementary education from Howard University, where she discovered her passion for education during a campus-sponsored service trip aimed at battling illiteracy. Adding to her experience, Jahnae also served with Jumpstart, worked as a teacher’s aide at the early learning program on campus, completed a summer teaching fellowship with Uncommon Schools and fulfilled countless practicum hours in DCPS schools throughout the city. Jahnae began her professional teaching career with Prince George’s County Public Schools, where she taught Kindergarten before transitioning to teaching PK4 (GenEd and SpEd Inclusion) at KIPP DC, where she also taught Kindergarten and spent some time as a school interventionist. During this time, Jahnae completed a fellowship that earned her an additional teaching certificate in special education. In these roles, Jahnae had the pleasure of mentoring, coaching and facilitating professional development for resident teachers to prepare them for success as lead teachers. Following many years in the classroom, Jahnae is excited to join the Reading Partners DC team as a program manager, where she can continue being a change agent in education. In her spare time, Jahnae enjoys traveling, reading, hanging with friends and family, and spending quality time with her pup, Aspen.
Baltimore advisory board
Trey Bennett, senior manager of corporate partnership sales, Baltimore Ravens
Kris Caverly, vice president, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., Chair
Quinn Collins, founder, Collins + Co.
Ismanuela Denis, program associate, Annie E. Casey Foundation
Marla Johnson, magistrate, Circuit Court for Baltimore City
Stephen Plank, VP, research, evaluation, evidence & data, Annie E. Casey Foundation
Brendan Regan, principal, director of investments, Marketing
Ashlyn Sowell, associate vice president for campaign operations and engagement, Johns Hopkins University
Nick Umosella, development manager, The Bozzuto Group
Hershel Waites, foreign exchange sales trader, M&T Bank
DC advisory board
Silas Grant, board chair
Merci Bowie
Yamuna Dasarathy
Dr. Kenya Dugger, senior diversity, equity, and inclusion director at Chemonics
Fuzz Hogan, journalist and senior director for standards and practices at CNN
Eve Howard, partner at Hogan Lovells
Tommie Jones, Jr., chief of external affairs for the DC Department of Parks and Recreation
Ellen Kohn, retired attorney
Nabavi Oliver, COO of DowntownDC Business Improvement District
Eric E. Richardson
Eric Schultz, founder of the Schultz Group and currently a senior advisor to former President Barack Obama
Abby Walsh, vice president of strategy and operations for the Council on Criminal Justice