Honoring Our Past, Welcoming Our Future: Updates to the The Reading League Kansas Board

As The Reading League Kansas continues to grow and strengthen its impact across the state, we pause to recognize an important moment of transition within our Board of Directors. Board service is a commitment of time, expertise, and heart—and our chapter is deeply grateful to those who have helped build the strong foundation we stand on today.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the following former board members:

Anna Fritz, Founding President

Shelly Todd

Janell Neer

Dr. Elizabeth Stevens

We are especially grateful to Anna Fritz, whose vision and leadership as our founding president helped launch and shape The Reading League Kansas into the vibrant statewide network it is today. Anna’s steady commitment to evidence-aligned literacy instruction and her ability to bring educators together around a shared mission have left a lasting legacy.

Shelly Todd, Janell Neer, and Dr. Elizabeth Stevens have each contributed their expertise, thoughtful leadership, and deep dedication to Kansas educators and students. Their service has strengthened our governance, expanded our reach, and reinforced our commitment to advancing the science of reading across the state. We thank each of them for the time, energy, and passion they so generously gave.

We are also thrilled to welcome an outstanding group of new leaders to the board—each bringing unique perspectives and professional experience that will help guide the next chapter of our work:

• Jennifer Gessley, Reading Specialist
  Jennifer Gessley brings over 30 years of experience in education, including the last 20 years as a reading specialist in Blue Valley. She is certified at the Associate level in Orton-Gillingham, is a National Board Certified Teacher, and serves as a Candidate Support Provider for National Board candidates.  Jennifer is trained in LETRS and holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction as well as a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Kansas. She is deeply committed to providing all children with evidence-aligned reading instruction and to empowering teachers and paraeducators in their work with developing readers.

• Stephanie Stindt, Adjunct Professor & Consultant
  Stephanie Stindt, M.Ed., has spent more than 30 years ensuring all students receive high-quality, evidence-based reading instruction. She began her career as a classroom teacher and reading specialist in Kansas, where learning the science of reading reshaped her purpose: expanding that knowledge to more educators to prevent reading difficulties before they start. She went on to serve as a reading specialist on the Kansas MTSS state training team, providing statewide professional learning and implementation support in MTSS, science of reading, structured literacy, and data-based decision making. Stephanie later served as Regional Manager of LETRS State Success, supporting large-scale, state-level implementations of LETRS. She now works as a literacy implementation facilitator and consultant. In addition to her consulting work, Stephanie is an adjunct professor at Bethany College, teaching graduate-level coursework in the science of reading. She holds a Reading Science Certification from Mount St. Joseph University and is a CERI Certified Structured Literacy Classroom Teacher, grounding her work in the most current research and evidence-based practice.

• Andrea Young, Elementary Literacy Coach
  With more than 25 years in education, Andrea Young brings deep experience and a passion for literacy to her work. She began her career teaching special education, where she developed a strong foundation in meeting the diverse learning needs of students. From there, she became a reading specialist and later a literacy coach, supporting teachers and students through research-based instructional practices. Her work is grounded in the science of reading, with a focus on building strong, equitable literacy outcomes for all learners. She is currently an Elementary Literacy Coach in the Blue Valley School District.

• Kristin Venable, Elementary Principal
  Kristin Venable has served as principal of Indian Valley Elementary in the Blue Valley School District since 2016. She brings a broad range of experience to her leadership role, having previously worked across multiple districts and states in positions including administrative intern, reading specialist, fifth-grade teacher, kindergarten teacher, and junior high teacher. Kristin has served in five different school districts across three states, supporting students across ten grade levels. These diverse experiences have shaped her strong belief in the power of collaboration, dedication, and passion to help all students reach their full potential. Outside of school, Kristin enjoys spending time with her two children, Reid and Taylor, both high school graduates. She also enjoys reading, traveling, exploring Kansas City, and spending time with friends and family. A fan of local sports, she loves cheering for KU basketball, Sporting KC, and the Kansas City Chiefs

• Sarah Bondy, Specialist, Curriculum Associates
  Sarah Bondy has 20 years of experience in education with a strong focus on early literacy. She has taught elementary education, served as a reading specialist supporting PreK–4 students, and spent five years as the K–5 Literacy Lead for the Arizona Department of Education. After moving from her native Phoenix to Kansas in 2023, Sarah continued her passion for literacy rights and now trains teachers nationwide in evidence-aligned reading instruction. She is also passionate about the revitalization and sustainability of rural Kansas and currently serves as the CEO of the Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce, where she supports community growth and vitality.

• Colleen Zink, K–12 Literacy and Dyslexia Coordinator
  Colleen Zink is a Fellow in the Orton-Gillingham Academy and has 25 years of experience in education. She is a National Board-Certified Teacher and holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s in curriculum and instruction. She taught for 16 years in the general education classroom before completing her reading specialist certification. While working for 5 years as a reading specialist, she began training through the Orton-Gillingham Academy to learn more about dyslexia and helping students with this language-based disability. Colleen’s time is dedicated to training others in evidence-aligned reading instruction across all levels, K-12. She serves as the K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Coordinator for the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park.

We are grateful for the leaders who have helped carry The Reading League Kansas to this point, and we are energized by the knowledge, passion, and commitment our new board members bring. Together, this transition reflects both continuity and growth, honoring the work that has come before while strengthening our capacity to serve educators, families, and students across Kansas.

Please join us in thanking our outgoing board members and warmly welcoming our new leaders as we continue working toward a shared vision: ensuring every Kansas student has access to evidence-aligned literacy instruction and the opportunity to become a skilled, confident reader.