Sandra Jones, Ph.D. - President

Sandra Jones, Ph.D., is the president and co-founder of HILL for Literacy. She has been a school educator for 40 years, serving as a teacher, professional development coordinator, principal, and academic dean. In addition to her operational responsibilities as President of the HILL since 2001, Dr. Jones and her colleagues assist reading specialists, literacy coaches, principals, district administrators including assistant superintendents and superintendents to lead school-wide literacy initiatives throughout the nation. Recognized for her work in the area of leading literacy change, she most recently co-authored (with colleagues Darci Burns and Catherine Pirri) "Leading Literacy Change: Strategies and Tools for Administrators, Teachers and Coaches" which was published in 2010 by Cambium Learning Sopris West. Dr. Jones and her colleagues have been invited to present at the National Reading First/Literacy Conference for a number of years. Dr. Jones served as the Professional Development Coordinator for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Massachusetts Reading First Plan for six years. She was responsible for training the statewide regional Implementation Facilitators, consulted to the Office of Reading and provided statewide professional development to the 120 Reading First and John Silber schools’ leaders. Dr. Jones was also a member of the Massachusetts Reading Leadership Team and the Statewide Adolescent Task Force. Dr. Jones also partnered with the Rollins Center in Atlanta, Georgia on a statewide PreK literacy initiative rollout.  Before co-founding the HILL, Dr. Jones was the Academic Dean at The Carroll School, a nationally recognized school for children with language-based learning disabilities and the founding Director of The Carroll Center for Teaching and Learning in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Dr. Jones received the Partners in Excellence Award for her work at the HILL and the MGH Institute of Health Professions.

Darci Burns, Ph.D. - Executive Director

Darci Burns, Ph.D., is the executive director of the non-profit organization-Hill for Literacy. Hill for Literacy partners with schools districts to shape and guide the process of deploying evidence-based whole school change through leadership development and teacher training. Dr. Burns has a PhD from the University of Oregon with a specialization in instructional design, research methodology and English-Language learners. Dr. Burns has consulted with national, state and local agencies on effective reading instruction, leadership practices and assessment. Dr. Burns also served as a Regional Professional Development Provider in six urban school systems for the Massachusetts Reading First Program.  She is the author of the Intergenerational Literacy Tutoring Program (ILTP) manual and co-author of Leading Literacy Change.

Chuck Holland, MSEE - Business Director 

Chuck Holland has been the business advisor for HILL since 2001, and currently is managing the back office and support functions for the business.  He serves on the advisory board and develops strategy for funding and sustainability.  He is also active on the board of Social Venture Partners Rhode Island; has been a Trustee of the International Yacht Restoration School, and a volunteer boat keeper at the Museum of Yachting in Newport. He was the project champion for the Rhode Island Literacy Partnership which is demonstrating the ability to teach all of our children to read by 3rd grade. Chuck combines his 25 years of high tech business experience with 10 years of intensive non-profit work to deliver imaginative strategic thinking for the emerging field of social enterprise.