The Collaborative for Equity in Literacy Learning

The Mount Saint Mary College Collaborative for Equity In Literacy Learning (CELL) is one of four centers for excellence at Mount Saint Mary College. CELL is housed within the Division of Education, located in Hudson Hall on the main campus of Mount Saint Mary College. Efforts of the center are led by Division of Education faculty in concert with both graduate and undergraduate students and various community stakeholders.

Our Mission

CELL’s mission is to actively conduct research that has a direct impact on classroom literacy instruction and the preparation of teachers of literacy, and that provides support and outreach to teachers, schools, and other stakeholders who have the goal of promoting literacy equity in the surrounding communities.

Specific goals of the Center include:

Provide an institutional and professional community for faculty, students, and administrators to conduct and promote applied research focused on high quality literacy instruction and the preparation of teachers of literacy
Provide outreach for PreK-12 educational communities and parents/caregivers across the region that will promote high quality, research supported, reading and writing instruction
Develop and foster partnerships with diverse stakeholders to support creative and innovative ways to solve practical problems facing teachers and schools throughout the region
Provide high quality literacy instruction to PreK-12 students in the surrounding communities

Mount Saint Mary College’s teacher candidates are continuously creating and finding resources from fieldwork experiences that can be shared with teachers.

UPCOMING EVENTS

In today’s algorithmic and artificial world, how can we help students “lock in” and thrive?

Thursday, February 5 | 4:15-5:45 pm | Virtual

Join Dr. Jarred Amato and fellow educators as we discuss how to engage and empower middle-high school readers and writers in the age of distraction. We’ll share ideas and inspiration — along with specific strategies and resources — as all of us seek to reimagine the English classroom in 2026 and beyond.

Register by emailing MHReadingcouncil@gmail.com to receive the link!

MHRC & NYSRA members attend free, guests attend for $15

CTLE Approval 23114

Dr. Jarred Amato is an award-winning English teacher, the author of Just Read It: Unlocking the Magic of Independent Reading in Middle and High School Classrooms, and the co-founder of Project LIT Community, a grassroots literacy movement. Jarred is an avid reader and writer who enjoys collaborating with fellow educators to improve literacy access, attitudes, and outcomes in our schools and communities. Dr. Amato is a two-time MNPS Blue Ribbon teacher and the recipient of the Penguin Random House Teacher Award for Literacy and the Nashville Public Education Foundation Inspiring Educator Award. After teaching middle and high school English for 13 years in Tennessee, Dr. Amato recently relocated to New Jersey, where he and his wife are attempting to keep up with their two boys. You can subscribe to Jarred’s free weekly newsletter at https://jarredamato.substack.com/.

Where I'm From, Who I Am: Celebrating Student Identity Through Poetry

Thursday, March 26 | 4:15-5:45 pm | Locust Grove, Poughkeepsie

Join us as we share a culturally responsive transformative project that centers student voice, identity, and social-emotional growth through the creation of powerful “I Am From” poems.

Participants will learn about our planning process, view compelling student work samples, and engage in meaningful SEL practices. Create your own “I Am From” poem, experience the impact firsthand, and walk away with ready-to-use materials and strategies to bring this project to life in your own classroom. Whether you’re a teacher, counselor, or school leader, this session offers inspiration and practical tools to amplify youth voices and nurture deeper connections.

Anne D’Amico is the Special Education Instructional Coach in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. She has previously taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Anne is passionate about equipping teachers with practical, research-based and culturally responsive strategies that improve outcomes for all learners.

Crisan M. Crozzoli is a passionate literacy educator of the Hudson Valley dedicated to empowering students and teachers through meaningful, inclusive instruction. With a deep commitment to literacy as a tool for equity, she focuses on helping learners develop strong reading and writing skills while honoring their diverse identities and experiences.

After registering with your district, email MHReadingcouncil@gmail.com to confirm attendance.
MHRC & NYSRA members attend free, guests attend for $15

Windows into Literacy

Mrs. Benfer and Ms. Lynch introduce their fourth grade students to the Question-Answer Relationships (QAR) strategy by showing everyday classroom examples of “right there” and “on my own” questions, and giving example question stems for each. The students then practice identifying each kind of question. Ms. Lynch then leads a small group in a shared writing exercise where they use pictures to help them answer a question about their text by writing a paragraph with a topic sentence and supporting details. Mrs. Benfer then guides a small group in writing their own “right there” and “on my own” questions as they read.