Reading Partners South Carolina 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 South Carolina has the support they deserve to become strong readers and lifelong learners.
Reading Partners South Carolina 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.
Meet our team
Dyrell joins Reading Partners with more than 15 years of experience as a nonprofit leader with a strong track record of executing results. A Brooklyn, New York native and AmeriCorps alum, Dyrell has always had a passion for leadership and serving the community. Most recently, Dyrell served as a site director for Saga Education (specifically the Charleston region), a national education nonprofit that leverages dedicated staff and AmeriCorps members to provide high-impact, in-school tutoring. Previously, Dyrell served at City Year Columbia, in various capacities over the years, including as the interim vice president and executive director, director of student impact, and senior program manager. In each of these roles, Dyrell helped to lead and develop a full-time staff and team of 24 City Year AmeriCorps members to implement Whole School, Whole Child programming, which includes working with all students through Tier 1 initiatives. Dyrell attended Benedict College where he received his Bachelors in Business Management. While in college he became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., which led to his unwavering dedication to service. After graduating from college, Dyrell decided to further his education at Webster University and received his Masters in Counseling. We are especially excited about the fact that Dyrell started his career as an AmeriCorps member, serving at City Year Columbia. Also, Dyrell is passionate about our REDI work at Reading Partners and how it can support our students.
Lucas has been in education for over 20 years. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston. Before coming to Reading Partners, she taught first, second, and third grades in North and South Carolina. In addition, she was the director of admissions and recruitment for a small nonprofit college. As a program manager, Lucas brings a wealth of knowledge to Reading Partners and the volunteers and schools with which she works.
Emma is a graduate of South Carolina State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering Technology. She has 36 years in the industrial industry gaining leadership and management skills. She also attended Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College in Early Childhood Education. While attending O.C. Tech, she volunteered with an elementary school assisting students with reading and math. She also volunteered with the Orangeburg Adult Literacy program helping adults accomplish their goal of learning to read. Her volunteer experience inspired her to become an AmeriCorps member for four service years as a literacy lead and program coordinator.
Volunteering gave her insight into the challenges many students and adults face with reading. Her service years as an AmeriCorps member have deepened her commitment to supporting students. She is honored to join Reading Partners to utilize her leadership and educational skills. Emma believes that every child should be a lifelong reader.
Emma is a graduate of South Carolina State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering Technology. She has 36 years in the industrial industry gaining leadership and management skills. She also attended Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College in Early Childhood Education. While attending O.C. Tech, she volunteered with an elementary school assisting students with reading and math. She also volunteered with the Orangeburg Adult Literacy program helping adults accomplish their goal of learning to read. Her volunteer experience inspired her to become an AmeriCorps member for four service years as a literacy lead and program coordinator.
Volunteering gave her insight into the challenges many students and adults face with reading. Her service years as an AmeriCorps member have deepened her commitment to supporting students. She is honored to join Reading Partners to utilize her leadership and educational skills. Emma believes that every child should be a lifelong reader.
Kelly brings over a decade of education and leadership experience to Reading Partners. Prior to her role as program director, Kelly was a Reading Partners program manager in the South Carolina region. In this role, she had an opportunity to work with schools to implement the Reading Partners Program and saw great gains among the students that were served. Even before that she was an elementary school principal in a Title 1 school, had experience teaching grades K-5 during her tenure as an elementary school teacher, and also helped create and lead an alternative education program that she named LEAP (Learning Everyday Accelerates Progress). Kelly has earned two Bachelor of Science degrees, the first from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Education of Exceptional Persons and the second from the Pennsylvania State University in Elementary Education. Kelly also holds a Master of Science Degree in Educational Leadership from Saint Francis University. Kelly has been certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and South Carolina Department of Education and holds Administrative II and Principal Certificates for PK-12 in both states. Kelly’s deep passion for learning, education, leadership, equity, and equality is what drives her to make a difference in the communities we serve.
Danielle L. Daniels brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role, with over a decade of dedicated service in education through the Charleston County School District. Danielle’s career flourished notably during her tenure as a Family Service Advocate at Sanders-Clyde Creative Arts Elementary School, and this pivotal role laid the groundwork for her role as a community engagement officer for the district. Her profound connection to Charleston’s communities and unwavering commitment to dismantling barriers to educational equity has been the cornerstone of her professional journey. A native of Charleston, South Carolina, Danielle’s journey toward fostering community engagement through education has been deeply influenced by her professional experiences, academic achievements, and inherent love for learning. Danielle graduated from the Charleston County School of Arts and holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Francis Marion University, and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Charleston Southern University, where she gained invaluable insights into the intersection of law and social behavior. Currently pursuing her EdD in Educational Leadership at Charleston Southern University, Danielle is driven by a steadfast dedication to enhancing educational outcomes and leadership within schools and communities. Danielle’s approach is rooted in Maya Angelou’s profound wisdom: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Danielle’s genuine compassion for helping others and her commitment to instilling a love for learning motivates her to impact the lives of students and families throughout the region.
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.
Cierra is a graduate of College of Charleston, where she received her bachelor’s degree in communication and minor in linguistics. She has dedicated her career to serving youth and education in Charleston County since 2009, as she is passionate about supporting dynamic organizations that work to change the lives of youth. Prior to Reading Partners she worked as a Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School Servant Leader Intern. She later served three terms as an AmeriCorps* VISTA member under Charleston County Mayor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families, as a volunteer coordinator and literacy site coordinator. In 2013, Cierra joined Reading Partners Charleston team as a site coordinator for Chicora Elementary School, and served there until the spring of 2016. Cierra is excited about her transition into a full-time position with Reading Partners, where she will work directly with AmeriCorps members to make their service year as meaningful as possible.
Sheffield “Sheff” Webb comes to Reading Partners from a remote position as director of development at Eggleston in Norfolk, VA where he advanced their mission of training, educating, and employing adults with disabilities. Prior to Eggleston, Sheff was with the Historic Charleston Foundation, where he served as chief philanthropy officer. He also spent four years as director of development with Coastal Community Foundation here in Charleston. Sheff’s background brings over thirty years of relationship-building and fundraising experience, including time with the Cleveland Indians, CBS Radio Sports in DC, and DC United Soccer. Sheff’s wife is an artist and a sculptor, who works in wood and metal. They’re long-time Golden Retriever owners, currently without a pet…but looking. Their daughter is an attorney in D.C. and lives in Bethesda, MD with her husband. Sheff is honored to join the Reading Partners team, helping children become lifelong readers with the skills needed to reach their full potential.
AmeriCorps team
Program coordinators
Kenleigh Douglass
Mark Galera
Kenisha Green
Heather Hardwick
Roniesha Kaboggoza
Hali Kai Cecilia Lujan Castro
Daniel Mack
Nacole Manigault
Moresha Williams
Loki Willis
Krystle Young
Volunteer coordinators
Bethany Bair
Elizabeth Glanden
Laurel Mitchell
Jasmine Tabor
Literacy leads
Joy Brown
Achieva Day-Foster
Julia Green
Zaria Hamilton
Latasha Horry
Zora Johnson
Nadajia Lewis
Eric Michaelson
Tracy Mills
Emily Morris
Leigh Nelson
Cynthia Williams
Mara Zomok
Board
Dwayne Green, Owner and founder, Green Consulting | Board chair
Emily Swanson, Community advocate and volunteer | Board governance committee chair
Gerald Stinson, Retired military, Community advocate and volunteer | Strategic volunteer engagement chair
Kenny Harrell, Managing partner at Joye Law Firm | Development committee chair
Hacker Burr, Managing director & senior search consultant, Big Back Pack LLC
Elizabeth Crumley, Director of corporate communications, South Carolina Ports
Allie Darby, Private counselor
Dr. Elaine Graham, Principal at St. Stephen Elementary School
Chenoa Reed, Retired education professional
Eric Elliott, Owner & president, VIP Marketing and Advertising
Roger Jones, CEO, Companion Associates, Inc. | Board member emeritus
Louise Kohlheim, Community advocate | Board member emerita
Richard Star, Principal, Nexgistics, LLC | Board member emeritus