The raising readers Advisory Board is made up of Maine profesionals linked to business, healthcare, and education. Chaired by Maine's First Lady, Karen Baldacci, this Board helped develop the original concept of a state-wide health and literacy program and helped promote the program around the state. They are a dedicated group of individuals committed to improving the health and literacy of Maine children.

Advisory Board Members:

First Lady Karen Baldacci - Chair
Lisa Belisle, MD, MPH - raising readers Physician Advisor
Bonnie Blagojevic - Research Associate, University of Maine, Orono
Monica Russo, MHA - Maine Medical Partners
Sarah Cecil - Executive Director, Maine Reads
Deborah Deatrick, MPH - Vice-President, Community Health, MaineHealth
Rebecca Dyer, State Director of Adult Education and Family Literacy
Jacqueline Ellis, MEd, Maine Bureau of Health
Elinor Goldberg, Executive Director, Maine Children's Alliance
Mary Herman, Former First Lady of Maine
Stella Hernandez, Executive Director, Literacy Volunteers of Maine
Joe Riley, Maine Public Broadcasting
Janice Kristo, PhD, Professor-Literacy Education, University of Maine, Orono
Wendie Lagasse, MSB, Director, Community Wellness, Eastern Maine Medical Center
Peter Lindsay, United Way of Mid Coast Maine
Gail Lombardi, MS, RD, CLC, Maine WIC Program
Linda Lord, Deputy State Librarian, Maine State Library
Pat Patterson, MD, Barbara Bush Children's Hospital, Maine Medical Center
Lynn Smith, MS, Education Director, Maine Roads to Quality
Colette Sabbagh, MD, Norumbega Medical Pediatrics
Danielle Saucier, Dr. Lewis S. Libby School
Joan Prouty, Maine Humanities Council
Sheri Smith, Parents Are Teachers Too
Vicky Smith, McArthur Library
Jerry Whalen, MPA, Vice-President, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems

raising readers Staff:

Diane Skog, MSB, Program Director, MaineHealth
Kate Bartley, MPA, Program Coordinator, Eastern Maine Medical Center
Anne Quirion, Program Coordinator, MaineHealth
Pauline Bergeron, Program Assistant, MaineHealth