Reading ASSIST hires Marilyn Monahan as downstate coordinator

Reading ASSIST Institute’s Executive Director Marilyn Monahan announced the addition of Katie Freer as the organization’s new Kent and Sussex County coordinator as of June 1. Freer brings considerable organizational talents, her passion for reading and her natural exuberance and love of children to the job.

Freer will be responsible for forging relationships with public, government and private entities, recruiting and supporting volunteer teams, and identifying and fostering funding sources . She will also staff the institute's office at 1002 Mattlind Way in Milford.

Freer hopes to be a fresh face for southern Delaware. “I want to help create and support new volunteer teams and support expansion into more southern Delaware school districts as well as overall RAI awareness downstate through community events and social gatherings,” she said.

Originally from Voorhees, N.J., Freer has a master’s degree in early childhood and elementary education from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. She has lived in Lewes for six years, teaching preschool and starting her business, Sprouting Chefs, which joins her passions for food and teaching in a program to educate children about fresh local fruits and vegetables through cooking classes, summer camps and parties.

Reading ASSIST Institute is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the literacy skills of children at risk for reading failure. RAI trains volunteer tutors to work with struggling readers in grades K-3 in schools statewide. RAI also trains area teachers in research-based reading instruction methodologies for individual intervention and whole classroom application.

For more information, contact Sally Coonin, director of development and public relations, 302-425-4080 or scoonin@readingassist.org or go to www.readingassist.org.