​"2/3 of fourth graders who struggle to read will end up in jail or on welfare."
— WriteExpress Corporation, Accessed June 2015

READ USA began as a voluntary project created by Ellen Wiss and teacher Vanessa Tussey at George Washington Carver Elementary School. As a tutor in Vanessa’s classroom, Ellen witnessed the gains from some of the most struggling students and became hopeful and passionate about expanding the impact for transformational change in one severely impoverished neighborhood.  Asking Vanessa what was needed most, her response was “this school has never had a book fair and kids need books. Parents care about their kids, but they don’t have the resources to organize and run a book fair like traditional PTA’s in more affluent schools. Even if they could organize the fair, the kids don’t have the resources to buy the books. Think about it, when you’re faced with keeping a roof over your family or putting food on the table, books don’t rank.  Our kids don’t have books of their own. And, book ownership is key. When kids can read, they can succeed.” Together, they successfully carried the project out with funds they raised from private donors and additional volunteers they recruited from established education organizations, non-profits and several corporate sponsors.

Partnerships with Duval County Public Schools, City Year Jacksonville, Scholastic, Jacksonville Public Education Fund, The Community Foundation for NEFL Teach for America, Seniors on a Mission, corporations, community volunteers and many others make it possible to keep costs low with almost 100% of funds going toward new books. A new partnership in 2019 with Jacksonville’s Kids Hope Alliance allowed READ USA to provide jobs to teens with training, supervision and successful implementation of a research based Peer to Peer tutoring program for positive impact on both the teen tutors and the younger students they lead. Another partner, Jacksonville University, analyzed and verified the reading gains for the 88 teen tutors and the over 300 younger students they led. Expanding the board with committed leaders, and the continued collaboration with many more partners, READ USA is now serving most all of Duval County’s highest need elementary schools and many community centers. The vision is to scale the model throughout the country one day.

The goal is to put books in the hands of every low-income child, employ teens as tutor leaders, promote the love of reading, encourage a culture of literacy for lifelong learning, social justice, and to end the cycle of poverty.

Ellen A. Wiss

Co-Founder, President of the Board

Ellen is a real estate management/marketing professional (President, Homkor Florida) and community volunteer. She has led several nonprofit efforts in the areas of education and social justice.  She serves as Co-Chair of Florida Women’s Funding Alliance (an affinity group of The Florida Philanthropic Network), President Emeritus of the Women’s Giving Alliance, Founder/President of READ USA, Inc., and serves the boards of City Year, Jacksonville Public Education Fund, Teach For America, Hubbard House Foundation, World Affairs Council, serves the Steering Committees for Beaches Community Fund, Jacksonville Women’s Leadership Initiative, Mayor’s Youth at Work Partnership, serves the Kids Hope Alliance Literacy Task Force, and serves as a trustee member of Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. She is a leader for Lift Jax (formerly #nopovertyjax), an all sector movement aligned with global, national and state 2030 agendas around the common agenda for eradicating poverty in all of its forms. Ellen collaborates with other nonprofits working to improve literacy, education and health opportunities for low-income youth and families, women and girls. Ellen, is married to husband Jim and has three children.

Vanessa Tussey

Co-Founder, Vice President of the board

In 2009, Vanessa Tussey was placed at George Washington Carver Elementary School as a Teach For America Corps Member. She stayed beyond her two-year Teach For America commitment, teaching at the school for three years. During her time teaching in this high-needs, high-poverty school, she was selected Teacher of the Year by her peers, with her students enjoying some of the highest learning gains in the district. She led students to achieve outstanding growth and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Facing a severe budget crisis, she wrote grants and raised money to purchase needed classroom books, supplies, and technology. She worked with Ellen Wiss to bring George Washington Carver its first ever book fair, providing every student with books to read over the summer. In 2016, Vanessa graduated from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law at the top of her class. While in law school, she served as a Teaching Assistant, teaching a class on the Civil Rights Movement to undergraduate students alongside the President of Ohio State University and the Dean of the law school. Vanessa clerked for the Honorable William P. Dimitrouleas, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida. She is an associate in the Ft. Lauderdale office of Boies Schiller Flexner. She is fiercely passionate about READ USA’s mission and the transformational impact she has seen firsthand.

OUR BOARD

Susan D Brandenburg, Secretary of the Board

Susan D. Brandenburg is an award-winning biographer and freelance journalist with more than thirty years’ experience writing newspaper columns, feature articles, press releases, personal and professional profiles, brochures and biographies. She is President of Susan the Scribe, Inc. Publishing, a member of the Florida Writer’s Association and the National League of American Pen Women, and teaches a class, “Remember Who You Are,” at the University of North Florida’s OLLI Program.A former columnist for the St. Augustine Record and Florida Times-Union newspapers, Susan’s feature articles have appeared in Women’s World Weekly, Chicken Soup for the Golfer’s Soul, FolioWeekly, ARBUS, Jacksonville Luxury Living Magazine, Jacksonville Magazine, Women’s Digest, H Magazine, Waters Edge, Ponte Vedra Recorder, Resident Community News, San Marco & Beaches Magazines.Susan’s biography of Jacksonville businessman, Doc Garland Granger, entitled Sharecropper’s Son, won the Florida Writer’s Association 2010 Royal Palm Literary Award for Biographies. She is currently at work on her 42nd manuscript, having completed biographies/memoirs of many local luminaries including Carlton Spence, Scott McLucas, Marilyn Peyton, Drs. Gaston & Maria Victoria Acosta-Rua, Jimmy Stockton, Richard Conway, Malcolm Stephens, Bessie Forbes Franklin Macdonald Turk, Major Joe Bracewell, Ray Ross, Marvin Edwards, Harry Frisch and others, as well as Historical Memoirs of Rodeheaver Boys Ranch, Pace Center for Girls, Smoak, Davis & Nixon, CPA’s, and more.A board member of READ USA, The Stetson Kennedy Foundation and The Carpenter’s Shop Center, Susan is a world traveler who now lives in the Lakewood section of Jacksonville. She is mother of two, grandmother of four and great-grandmother of one.

Greg Burton

Greg Burton is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana. He attended Southern University in Baton Rouge and was later commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army, until he was honorable discharged in 1993. Greg moved to Jacksonville in 1990 where he later attended Edward Waters College and culminated his education at Jacksonville University receiving a Master of Education degree. Greg joined the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in 1994 as a police officer. During his 25 years with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Greg has worked in various positions as a police officer, sergeant, and lieutenant. Greg has served on the administrative staffs of former Sheriff and now Congressman John Rutherford, and current Sheriff Mike William where he attained the rank of Division Chief. Chief Burton retired in 2020 and currently enjoys his life serving the community with his wife Lakesha and traveling. Greg has many hobbies, archery, golf and reading, but his greatest pleasure comes from helping others. He is an active member of the Jacksonville community, where serves in various organizations, most notably,

• Hopewell Church (Board Member)

• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.,

• Leadership Jacksonville

• Tesha’s Hands, Inc. and of course

• Read USA, Inc.

Greg is happily married to LaKesha Burton, they have five children and five grandchildren.

Assistant Chief Lakesha Burton

Lakesha Burton is the Assistant Chief of Community Engagement and a 20-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. She holds the distinctions of having been the second African American woman to obtain the rank of police lieutenant and fourth African American woman to be appointed as a member of the Sheriff's staff to Assistant Chief in the 190-year history of Jacksonville Law Enforcement agencies. She is the former First Female Executive Director of the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville in over 48 years of its existence. PAL is 501(c) (3) youth serving organization.
Chief Burton is a native of Miami, Florida. She moved to Jacksonville with her family as a young child where she began her secondary education. Chief Burton excelled in sports, especially basketball and upon graduation from Wolfson High School she received a basketball scholarship to attend the Lake City Community College. After two years and earning an associate’s degree she accepted a scholarship to the University of Central of Florida where she later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology. Chief Burton was hired by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in 1999. She quickly established herself as one of Jacksonville’s finest on and off of the job. She has worked in a multitude of areas including the patrol division, community affairs, recruiting, detectives division and the field training unit, to name a few. Chief Burton continued her education, earning a Master’s Degree in Criminology from Florida Metropolitan University in 2002, and she is currently working on her terminal degree in Christian Counseling. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and a lifelong member of Hopewell Church.
Chief Burton is married to Assistant Chief Gregory Burton and they have five children, ranging from ages 9 to 30

Lashawn Caldwell

LaShawn Blackshear Caldwell is proud to serve on the board for READ USA. She has been in the educational field for over 20 years and during that time, held multiple positions prior to beginning principalship 10 years ago. LaShawn attended Jacksonville University for undergraduate studies, followed by graduate studies at the University of North Florida. She holds master’s degree in educational leadership. LaShawn is a skilled administrator who exceeds the standard, having earned the confidence of students, parents, fellow staff members and colleagues alike. She is always willing to help and has an excellent rapport with others. She is recognized as a valuable resource, a solid educator, and an advocate for children, as shaping the lives of children is her motivation. When she is not working, LaShawn enjoys spending time with her family, playing board games, and traveling.

Roxie Garcia-Marcus

Roxanna “Roxy” Garcia Marcus is a non-profit professional with more than fifteen years’ experience working in everything from programming and fundraising to operations and human resources.  While her professional experience is varied, it is always centered around problem solving, team building, creativity and people. She loves developing new systems and programs, building relationships, working on challenging projects in a team environment, and making sure everyone has a good time in the process.  Her professional goals are to do good and have fun. Roxy has a bachelor’s in public relations from the University of Florida and a master’s in organizational leadership from The George Washington University.  She is currently serving as a People Business Partner for City Year where she provides offices with support and guidance around effective performance management, team culture and people development. Having previously lived in Chicago and Washington, DC, Roxy says aside from the beautiful weather, her favorite thing about Jacksonville is how sincere and accessible people are. “This is the kind of city where you feel like you can truly make a difference,” she says. She and her husband Ben Marcus live in Mandarin with their three young children and almost Labrador named Ellie.

Moné Holder

Moné Holder is the Senior Program Director at The New Florida Majority; an independent organization working to increase the voting and political power of marginalized and excluded constituencies toward an inclusive, equitable, and just Florida. She is also a member of The New Florida Majority’s Senior Leadership Team.

Moné graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida A&M University, receiving a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Ms. Holder has over a decade of policy experience which stems from her work in the Florida House of Representatives Democratic office, and as a staffer for members of the legislature in the Florida House and Senate.

As a strong advocate for civil rights, expanding democracy, and issues that directly impact communities of color; Moné has been covered by media outlets nationally and throughout the state of Florida.

Moné has served on the Board of Trustees for the Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry as well as an at-large member of The Women's Giving Alliance Steering Committee. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Friends In Need Children's Center and At-The-Table. Ms. Holder is an active member of the Jacksonville Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Charlene Landen

For Charlene Landen - Charlene (“Char”) Landen PGA TOUR Entertainment Vice President of Business Operations Charlene Landen is the Vice President of Business Affairs at PGA TOUR Entertainment, a television, film and video production company of the PGA TOUR, delivering a wide range of programming and creative services for television networks and digital platforms. During her 30-year career with the PGA TOUR, an organization that co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments across six domestic and international tours, Landen has held numerous positions including Staff Accountant, Production Manager, Director of Finance and Administration, Sr. Director of Business Administration before assuming her current role in 2006. As the VP of Business Operations, Landen’s primary responsibilities include overseeing all business areas, technical operations, personnel liaison and facility management functions at PGA TOUR Entertainment. Landen came to the PGA TOUR from Boca Raton Federal and City Federal, where she served nine years as the checking Department Manager. Her career with the PGA TOUR started in 1989 as the Club Controller at the TPC at Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Florida. Growing up as a proud military child, Landen moved frequently, living in Washington DC, Rhode Island, Norfolk, Virginia and eventually landing in Jacksonville, Florida. She received a degree in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida in 1980. In her non-working hours, Landen is an active board member and past Chair of the Mayor’s Advisory Board for Film and Television, a role she has had since appointed by the Mayor of Jacksonville in 2009. She has also served as a board member for the Nease High School Communications Academy since 2010. Landen’s hobbies and interests include: walking, reading, consuming all sports – especially GOLF – and at the top of her priorities is her involvement with her church, St. Matthews Catholic Church and spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Maira Martelo

Dr. Maira Martelo leads JPEF's strategic engagement and partnerships, including Parents Who Lead, an initiative in partnership with Duval County Public Schools, the Jacksonville Public Library and the Kids Hope Alliance. Maira grew up in Cartagena, Colombia, and has more than a decade of teaching experience as a college professor in Colombia, Mexico and the United States. She also has worked as a research consultant in Colombia and Mexico, evaluating several programs that involved community engagement. She has lived in Jacksonville for more than 14 years, getting to know the Hispanic community through her work as a contributing writer for Hola Noticias, the local Hispanic newspaper, as well as her engagement in several Hispanic organizations. During her time in Jacksonville, Maira completed a doctorate in educational leadership at the University of North Florida, writing her dissertation on early literacy practices at home and beliefs about education among the Hispanic community in Jacksonville. Based on the results of her dissertation, Duval County Public School created the first bilingual Voluntary Prekindergarten Program at West Riverside Elementary School. Maira also worked as an assessment assistant at the College of Education and Human Services at the University of North Florida. She has served as a board member of the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and has chaired the Achieving The Dream Scholarship for Hispanic students for the last three years. In addition to her doctorate, Maira holds bachelor's and master's degrees in communication. Maira mentors high school students who are pursuing their college education and also mentors through Generation Wow. She also volunteers with the Refugee Program at Catholic Charities. Maira recently received the 2017 NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award for her contributions to the Hispanic community in Jacksonville.

Carmen North

With over nine years of experience in the industry, Carmen’s approach to wealth management planning is consultative, comprehensive, with a focus on her client’s life priorities. One of her focuses is on corporate retirement plans and insurance strategies. Carmen was awarded the Chartered Retirement Plans SpecialistSM designation by the College for Financial Planning.  She has also earned the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® designation as well as the Accredited Wealth Management AdvisorSM designation. A University of Central Florida graduate, Carmen is also passionate about giving back to her community. Carmen is a board member for the Nassau County Economic Development Board and previously served as a board member for Communities in School of Nassau County. Because she feels education is key to making the most of all of life's experiences, she spends time volunteering in her community as often as she can. Her family also shares her passion for making their community a better place; many times her three daughters are also volunteering right next to her.

Lakeisha Wells-Palmer

Lakeisha Wells-Palmer comes to the role of Executive Director of Teach For America Jacksonville with 18 years of experience in education, serving as a champion for principals, teachers, and students. She has spent the last eight years on the Teach For America Jacksonville team, most recently as the Managing Director of Program Continuum. Originally from Sumter, South Carolina, Lakeisha is a proud graduate of THE historic Shaw University, where she double majored in Mathematics and Secondary Math Education. She taught high school math in Raleigh, NC at William G. Enloe Gifted and Talented Magnet/IB High School for six years before moving to the D.C./Maryland area where she taught Algebra 1 and Geometry for one year at Greenbelt Middle School in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She also served two years as a school turnaround instructional specialist for mathematics, science, and exploratory sciences at John P. Sousa Middle School in Washington D.C. prior to being named Assistant Principal and later interim principal at Sousa Middle School. In addition to Bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and secondary education, Lakeisha holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and School Administration from East Carolina University. Lakeisha lives in Jacksonville with her 13 year old son, Isaiah, 8 year old son, Taylor, 2 year old son, Liam, and husband Donte. A respected leader in her community and across Florida, LaKeisha is appointed to three Florida Department of Education committees by the state’s Deputy Chancellor of Education. Her personal values are centered on family, friendship, partnership, achievement, loyalty, and community, and she strives to keep these values present in all aspects of her life both professionally and personally. LaKeisha cares deeply about all students and hopes the students across Duval County see teachers, school leaders, and community leaders as their sense of possibility and know that they stand as a united front working to open up pathways of opportunity for them, as many before have done.

Karen Sawyer, Treasurer of the Board

Karen has a passion for books and shares that passion working with Scholastic Book Fairs. She was a top sales contributor in 2017 and a Book of Distinction winner in 2018. Karen currently is PTSA Vice President of Programs and SAC (School Advisory Council) member for Mandarin High School. She previously served on the dance board at Lavilla School of the Arts as well as PTA and SAC at Loretto Elementary. Through the years, she has tutored in reading and believes that reading is the key to accomplishing anything in life. Karen is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. Karen is married to Brian and has three children.

Erica Willie

Erica works in Tech sales, teaches Zumba, and runs The ScienceSIS with her toddlers. Born and raised in Charlotte North Carolina, Erica moved to San Francisco to pursue a career as a Software Engineer after college with IBM. While in San Francisco, Erica was an NFL Cheerleader for the San Francisco 49ers and a professional salsa dancer. Erica holds a Bachelors degree in Computer Science from North Carolina A&T State University and a Masters degree from San Jose State University. Inspired and driven by limits that people try to set on young people, African Americans, and women, Erica continues to push herself to set examples for others and remove false barriers. As a Florida resident from San Francisco, Erica's professional engineering resume names some of the world's leaders in technology from IBM to AT&T to Cisco and ADP. Erica is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Inc., Jack and Jill of America, and involved in her community and is on her local School Advisory Council. Erica is always pumped and ready to challenge women and girls to dream big and accomplish greatness. Erica stays busy as a wife and mom of three little imaginative girls.

Dr. Rudy F. Jamison Jr.

Dr. Rudy F. Jamison Jr. is a native of Jacksonville, FL and proud graduate of Jean Ribault Sr. High School, Florida A&M University, and University of North Florida. Dr. Jamison currently works as faculty and Assistant Director of the Center for Urban Education and Policy in University of North Florida’s College of Education and Human Services. His academic interests include: Black leadership development, community organizing, diversification of teacher education, culturally responsive teaching/leadership, career mobility, developmental relationships, self-monitoring, and nigrescence.

Dr. Jamison co-authored the book, “Never Forget Who You Are: Conversations About Racism and Identity Development” with Rodney L. Hurst, Sr.

Dr. Jamison also is a leader with LIFT JAX, the all sector movement to eradicate poverty and lift up the Historic Out East Neighborhood

He is committed to advancing consciousness around equity, racism, and social justice in ways that assess, challenge, and support a more virtuous humanity.