Who We Are

Yissel Salafsky
Chief Executive Officer

Yissel Salafsky brings 15 years of forward-thinking leadership to Make Way for Books. She joins us from her most recent position as Senior Director of Program Operations & Strategic Initiatives at the University of Arizona, where she led online program development. She has served as a consultant to non-profit organizations, with a focus on organizational development, fund development, and  diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Yissel is driven by a passion for community impact, social justice, and educational advancement. She has lived in Tucson for 28 years with her husband and three children. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Arizona and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Arizona State University’s Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Innovation.

Email: yissel@makewayforbooks.org

Fernando González
Chief Information Officer

Born in Los Angeles and graduated from UC Davis with degrees in Psychology and Native American Studies, Fernando has lived in Tucson and worked in education and nonprofits since 2007, gaining experience in Montessori education, early literacy, and educational technology. Fernando is passionate about teaching and providing equitable access to books and educational opportunities – especially by leveraging mobile technology. Working at Make Way for Books since 2015, he has had the privilege to work directly with families and lead a skilled team to develop and improve the Make Way for Books App, a free bilingual early literacy resource that impacts families worldwide, as well as to develop digital platforms to increase the reach of Make Way for Books’ family education, professional development, and microcredential programs.

Email: fernando@makewayforbooks.org

Julie Fischer
Regional Director - Phoenix

Julie is thrilled to be part of the Make Way for Books team. She has been an educator for the past 35 years with the majority of her teaching experience in preschool and kindergarten. She is passionate about sharing the power, joy, and adventures that books and reading bring to children. Julie also loves spending time with her family, traveling to new places and exploring her neighborhood, downtown Phoenix.

Email: julie@makewayforbooks.org

Monica Farmer
Data & Impact Officer

Monica Farmer has worked at Make Way for Books for more than eight years in a variety of different roles. As the Data & Impact Officer, Monica is passionate about sharing the effectiveness of the program with others. Monica has a master’s degree in Information Resources and Library Science with an emphasis in cultural competency and coursework in digital collection management. Monica is a third-generation library professional and is passionate about making a difference in our community’s preschools and childcare centers. She enjoys exploring our city by bike, spending time with her nephews, and sipping tea.

Email: monica@makewayforbooks.org

Pat Blake
Accountant

Originally from the east coast, Pat earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University, and began her accounting career in the Philadelphia area in the real estate industry. After relocating to Arizona 20 years ago, she has been working in the nonprofit sector as an accountant with a strong background in accounts payable, receivable, payroll, and financial reporting. She brings a detail-oriented and organized approach to every project.

Cynnamon Woodberry
Senior Program Director - The Story Project

Cynnamon loves working with our youngest children. Cynnamon has extensive experience working in early education settings with expertise in infant and toddler development. Cynnamon is a passionate advocate for early literacy and education. When she is outside of the classroom, Cynnamon enjoys reading, crafting, doodling, swimming and bullet journaling.

Email: cynnamon@makewayforbooks.org

Rosa Lira
Assistant Program Director - The Story Project - Tucson

Rosa has been working in the education field for more than 10 years. She has a passion for empowering teachers and giving them the tools they need to make a difference in the life of the children in their classrooms and instilling in them a love for literacy. She has a bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership. As a former Quality First Coach, Rosa has experience facilitating workshops and coaching. Rosa loves to spend time with her family, travel and learn about different cultures and everything desert.

Email: rosa@makewayforbooks.org

Magda Taglienti
Assistant Program Director - Family Education and Literacy - Phoenix

Magda holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology; both from Arizona State University. She has been immersed in education for over 25 years, with half of those years having been devoted to Early Childhood education. She had the amazing opportunity to teach grade levels from Pre-K to fourth grade, has been a preschool director, and most recently, an Early Language and Literacy Coach. Magda is thrilled to be part of Make Way For Books! She is passionate about early childhood education and believes in the importance of instilling the joy and passion for reading and learning, and promoting the love for early literacy when supporting families, educators, and caregivers of young children. Magda loves spending her free time with her family, traveling, having a movie night, and hiking.

Email: magda@makewayforbooks.org

Charlene Bruce
Assistant Program Director - Family Education and Literacy - Tucson

Email: charlene@makewayforbooks.org

Jamie Antrim
Program Manager - The Story Project - Tucson

Jamie is a certified teacher with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and over 18 years of experience working with children. Jamie is passionate about education and believes early literacy is essential. Having been born and raised in Tucson, Jamie is a proud graduate of the University of Arizona and is very excited to serve her community as a member of the Make Way for Books team. In her free time, Jamie enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, playing with her dog, reading, and practicing the piano.

Email: jamie@makewayforbooks.org

Shannon Hanchett
Program Manager - Family Education and Literacy - Phoenix

Shannon has been involved in the early education field for over twenty years. She is a determined professional who enjoys inspiring and motivating others, and is passionate about the success of helping children and families surpass their goals. She has her degree in Early Childhood Education and desires to further her education even more in the near future. Shannon loves how books can warm the heart and spark ones imagination. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family, as well as home decorating and organization.

Email: shannon@makewayforbooks.org

Catherine Charette
Grants Manager

Catherine hails from Maine, now calling Arizona home. One of the saddest parts of the move was having to part with hundreds of books in their home library – she is happy to be surrounded by books again at MWFB! Catherine has worn many hats over the course of 40+ years of employment, from education to social services to legal practice to executive leadership in a mental health organization to, now, grants management. Since reading has always been a passion for her, it is fitting that she has found her way to MWFB at this stage of her professional life. She and her husband spend their time cooking, exploring their new home state of Arizona, and enjoying time with their children and nine grandchildren who live close by.

Email: catherine@makewayforbooks.org

Lenna Mendoza
Development and Marketing Manager

Since her days as a kid bookworm in Texas, the written word has been at the center of Lenna’s life. As a nonprofit communicator, she uses language to make a positive impact through fundraising and advocacy. Lenna holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Rice University and a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from the University of Mississippi. She’s proud to call Tucson home and to help Arizona’s youngest thrive!

Email: lenna@makewayforbooks.org

Anita Cano
Senior Family Literacy Specialist

Anita has dedicated over twenty years working in the field of Early Childhood Education. Anita has extensive experience working directly with young children and families in formal and informal learning environments. She is passionate about early childhood education/literacy and believes in empowering and supporting families to learn, grow, and thrive. Anita’s philosophy is that children have a pure light within their hearts and it is up to their adults to nurture that light through kindness, compassion, and love. In her free time Anita enjoys practicing Yoga and Pilates. She also loves spending time with her husband and two fur babies Lucky and Kali.

Email: anita@makewayforbooks.org

Alecy Molina
Senior Family Literacy Specialist

Alecy holds a bachelor’s in Leadership, Learning, and Literacy. She worked as a home visitor for more than four years and is well versed in early childhood and adult learning principles.

Email: alecy@makewayforbooks.org

Marisol Orozco
Senior Family Literacy Specialist

Marisol was born and raised in Boyle Heights (Los Angeles) and ventured to Arizona 17 years ago. Marisol graduated with honors from Arizona State University and for over 24 years has followed her passion of working in the education field directly with children and their families. She is passionate about literature and how children along with their families can connect and learn about all aspects of life experiences, emotions, culture, traditions, and much more. In addition to sharing her enthusiasm for literature and education, she loves playing her violin, spending time with her parents, siblings, and her cockatiel Cookie

Email: marisol@makewayforbooks.org

Maria Jones
Senior Early Literacy Specialist

Maria received a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Northern Arizona University. She has a wide-range of experience in the early childhood field. Before becoming a bilingual Early Literacy Specialist, Maria worked as a bilingual Quality First Coach, supporting educators of early childhood in promoting high-quality care. Maria has also been an early childhood educator with both the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the Tohono O’odham Nation, as well as with the Head starts within the Tucson area. Maria is a certificated observer in the three early childhood stages of Infant, Toddler and Pre-K Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and has vast experience with the Environmental Rating Scales for Toddler, Pre-K and Family Child Care Centers.

Email: maria@makewayforbooks.org

Fernando Trujillo
Family Literacy Specialist

Fernando received a bachelor’s degree in Humanities from Northern Arizona University, and an associate of applied science in Early Childhood Studies from Pima Community College. He has been working in the early childhood field for more than 8 years. As a former Pre-K teacher, Fernando is passionate about emergent literacy and language development in young children and believes that they are both fundamental. Fernando enjoys outdoor photography, spending time with his family and friends, hiking, playing with his dogs, reading, and running.

Email: ftrujillo@makewayforbooks.org

Esmeralda Villegas-Salas
Family Literacy Specialist

Born and raised in Yuma, Esmeralda has worked in education for the past ten years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. Esmeralda believes books are magic and is incredibly honored to be a part of an organization whose sole purpose is to show that magic to everyone. She loves spending time with her family in Yuma and Tucson, anything dog related, reading, and going on adventures with her husband.

Email: esmeralda@makewayforbooks.org

Merari Jaime
Family Literacy Specialist

Merari, a prior parent participant of Make Way for Books, holds a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from Northern Arizona University. With a curious and enthusiastic mind, she is excited to serve and expand the organization’s mission in the communities she was raised in and currently resides in. Passionate about early literacy, Merari is determined to help empower young minds and ensure every child has access to the transformative power of reading.

Email: merari@makewayforbooks.org

Jose Ledesma
Book Acquisitions and Digital Specialist

Jose became acquainted with Make Way for Books as a content contributor while studying at the University of Arizona. He completed his bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Creative Writing and aspires to continue his education in a Creative Writing MFA program. Jose’s fondest memories as a child were drawing, reading, and being read to, and it is those memories that drive him now toward making literature available to children everywhere. Jose loves writing fiction, hitting the gym, playing with his rambunctious nephew, and going on adventures.

Email: jose@makewayforbooks.org

Gloria González
Interim Administrative and HR Operations Manager

Gloria is excited to have the privilege to help families and their children grow to love books and reading as she does. In her role, Gloria uses her organizational, processing, and problem-solving skills to support Make Way for Books’ operations and HR processes, and continues to help create a streamlined process for families in our programming. In her free time, Gloria loves to read, watch movies, hike, make pottery, and spend time with her family, dog, and cats!

Email: gloriag@makewayforbooks.org

Maggie Hernandez
Executive Assistant

Maggie’s background is public service. She holds an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts and is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in public administration. Serving the public and working towards the greater good of the community has always been a passion of Maggie’s. By assisting the executive leadership at Make Way for Books, Maggie helps ensure the mission of early literacy is well supported. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, cuddling up on the couch with her dog and a good book, and is an avid Arizona Cardinals fan.

Email: maggie@makewayforbooks.org

Danyelle Moreno
Family Literacy Specialist

Danyelle Moreno, a Tucson native, brings ten years of early childhood education to Make Way for Books. As an avid book reader, Danyelle is passionate about early childhood literacy and believes stories and reading are important for young children and their families. Danyelle’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication has given her incredible opportunities to work in places like New York City and Tucson, and over the last ten years she has continued to find her way back to early childhood education. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her daughter, Alexandra, and her family, and loves photography, line dancing, and a good book.

Email: dmoreno@makewayforbooks.org

Jody Hernandez
Family Literacy Specialist

Jody Hernandez comes to Make Way for Books after a 30 year career in K-8 education in Texas and Arizona. She has an undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Minnesota and a Master in Education from Arizona State University. She is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in Early Childhood Literacy. Jody has a passion for making reading fun and developing lifelong readers. In her spare time Jody likes to read, exercise, watch sports and spend time with her family.

Email: jody@makewayforbooks.org

Renee Geyer
Family Literacy Specialist

Renee was in public education for 30 years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University and a Master’s Degree from Northern Arizona University, both in Elementary Education. She is a certified teacher and has experience teaching children in K-6. In her most recent role, Renee coached, mentored, and supported teachers in the classroom with curriculum and instruction. Renee is a proud mom of two daughters that are college graduates from Arizona State University. She enjoys sports, music, spending time with family and friends, and her 2 dogs.

Email: renee@makewayforbooks.org

Gabi Pierson
Early Literacy Specialist

Gabi has been in early childhood education since graduating from Northern Arizona University in 2007. She began her journey as an early childhood special education teacher. She loved to witness student growth, especially how children progressed through the interwoven connection of social interactions and early literacy experiences. In addition to spending time in the classroom as an educator, Gabi has shifted her practice in supporting teachers who work with young children. As her work is deeply rooted in early childhood, her passion is to serve educators as a means to foster success for children.

Email: gabi@makewayforbooks.org

Emily Gallardo
Early Literacy Specialist

Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Arizona. Her background is in preschool teaching and directing. Before coming to Make Way for Books Emily worked as a Quality First Coach, which is where she developed her love for coaching and supporting teachers. She is excited to carry that love with her into her role as an Early Literacy Specialist. As a certified children’s yoga teacher, Emily is passionate about movement, mindfulness and social emotional learning along with the joy of sharing books with children.

Email: emily@makewayforbooks.org

Isabel Palomino
Early Literacy Specialist

Isabel has dedicated over 20 years in the field of Early Childhood Education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts Education from Arizona State University Herberger School of Design and Art as well as a minor in Special Events from the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at ASU. Before working as a bilingual Early Literacy Specialist, Isabel worked as a bilingual Quality First Coach supporting childcare and preschool sites and staff in collaboration with other technical support providers. Isabel has earned various early childhood credentials including a certificate in Early Childhood, CLASS Certified observer in Pre-K, Toddler & Infant Parent Educator certification through PAT, and specializing in Early Childhood Rating Scale for infant, toddler, Pre-K & family childcare centers.

Email: isabel@makewayforbooks.org

Sylvia Soto Matarrita
Early Literacy Specialist

Sylvia was born in San José, Costa Rica, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Universidad Autónoma de Centroamérica (UACA) with degrees in Physical Education and Sports and Post Bachelor of Physical Education with Emphasis on Teaching.  Sylvia has been working in the education field for more than 10 years, and enjoys teaching young children and bringing creative ways of learning to the class. She enjoys going to the movies, watching anime, music festivals, hiking, exploring new places, camping, collecting pins as souvenirs, and loves dogs.

Email: sylvia@makewayforbooks.org

Bryanda Bachelier Acuña
Early Literacy Specialist

Bryanda has spent the last decade working in the nonprofit sector to make essential services accessible to everyone in the community. Holding a Bachelors of Science in Family studies and Human Development and a minor in Spanish, Bryanda has experience working as a bilingual Family Support Specialist and a K-1 classroom teacher. Additionally, she has extensive experience working in mental and behavioral health services. Bryanda believes literacy is a fundamental skill and enjoys supporting teachers in finding creative and engaging ways to support children progress through all developmental stages of early childhood.

Email: bryanda@makewayforbooks.org