Contact Sonoma SERVES
California Institute on Human Services
Sonoma State University
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
(707) 664-4205
Fax: (707) 664-2418
Contact Our Staff
Sonoma SERVES Director
Julie McClure
Program Coordinators
Michele Craig Morales, Family Program
Briana Downey, After School Program
Debra Harris, Nutrition Program
Callen Kurpinsky, Promise Fellow
Francesca Soriano Hersh, Reading Program
Supervising Teachers
Joan Bessone, Kawana Elementary School
Kelly Gelber, Bellevue Elementary School
Cherie Melchiori, RL Stevens Elementary
Kristen Mowers, Roseland Elementary School
Lindsey Rizzo, Wright Elementary School
Alan Scher, Meadow View Elementary School
Annette Zucconi-Montez, Sheppard Elementary
Evaluation Specialist
Sara Phillips
Administrative Support
Kathleen Chosa
Fiscal Support
Stephanie Constantine
Events/Project Assistant
Emily Mann
Training Coordinators
Margo Addison
Tracy Nevill
Site Support
Abby Casabona
Ryan Mayer
Yesenia Salas
Margo Addison, Training Coordinator
mhanna4@aol.com
(707) 491-8616
As the training coordinator for Sonoma SERVES Reading Programs, I help make sure the tutors receive the information they need to become the most effective tutors they can be. I work closely with the Site Support staff and the Team Leaders to provide materials and support. In addition to the job of training coordinator, I am also the Title One Reading Teacher at R.L. Stevens School in Santa Rosa, CA. I have a B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Child Development and a California Teaching Credential. I find the theory and practice of learning to read to be endlessly fascinating. It is a privilege to work with the people associated with this program. Their energy and enthusiasm are inspirational.
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Joan Bessone, Supervising Teacher, Kawana Elementary School
joanbesssone@hotmail.com
(707) 217-5268
I have been a teacher for twenty years and began my relationship with the Sonoma SERVES program as a site liaison eight years ago. I was impressed with the progress children made in the area of language arts and with the dedication of the AmeriCorps members. Currently, I am working as a supervising teacher for all Sonoma SERVES programs at Kawana Elenentary. It's exciting to see what a difference we're making in the lives of our children and with our community.
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Abby Casabona, Site Support
ameri.corps@sonoma.edu
(707) 664-2416
I began my time with Sonoma SERVES in an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow position at Roseland Elementary School, and went on to serve a second year as the Reading Program Team Leader at Meadow View Elementary. In my new role as Site Support, I have the opportunity to use both of these experiences to support our school sites in a variety of ways. I am also involved with the recruitment of new AmeriCorps members and enjoy the chance to speak with people from all over the country about the unique opportunities Sonoma SERVES provides both to its AmeriCorps members and to the children and families that we serve.
Kathleen Chosa, Administrative Support
kathleen.chosa@sonoma.edu
(707) 664-2043
I am the Administrative Support Assistant for all the Sonoma SERVES programs. I was an AmeriCorps VISTA Team Leader for two years service for Sonoma SERVES Reading Programs at Kawana Elementary School in Santa Rosa. It was a wonderful learning experience and I really enjoyed working in the educational field. I have been thrilled to have the opportunity to work on the SSU campus and to learn more about the management of grant funded programs.
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Stephanie Constantine, Fiscal Support Assistant
stephanie.constantine@sonoma.edu
(707) 664-3336
I have been with Sonoma SERVES since 2003. In my first year I served as an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow in our after-school programs. I went on to become a fiscal support assistant for our wonderful programs. Among my various duties I help process reimbursements and invoices, order equipment and supplies for our programs as well as tracking costs and budgeting. I have enjoyed watching the programs grow and am excited about my role in making sure the children and families have what they need to be successful.
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Michele Craig Morales, Program Coordinator
Michele.Craig@sonoma.edu
(707) 664-4399
As Program Coordinator, I provide training, coaching and support to members and Team Leaders at participating school sites. I enjoy the opportunity to work with many community partners to ensure our program’s success. With a degree in psychology, I was naturally drawn to do a year of service as a Team Leader with the programs of Sonoma SERVES, later joining the Sonoma SERVES staff. Everyday I am inspired to see what an amazing difference our members and our programs make in the lives of the children and families we serve.
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Briana Downey, Training Coordinator
briana.downey@sonoma.edu
(707) 664-2243
I am the coordinator for After School and provide support to the program at all our schools, plan and facilitate training for mentors and Team Leaders, and provide individual coaching at our sites. After graduating from Sonoma State, I was a VISTA Team Leader for two years for the Reading Programs at Wright School before joining the staff of Sonoma SERVES.
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Debra Harris, Nutrition Coordinator
harrisde@sonoma.edu
Phone: (707) 664-2956
I am the Nutrition Coordinator for the Sonoma SERVES programs. I came to this project in 1998. My Bachelors Degree in Human Development supports my strong desire to serve children and families in Sonoma County. One of the primary ways I contribute to this team is coordinating Nutrition Education for all the students in our programs. My involvement also includes enrolling the over 200 AmeriCorps members each year. Our service programs build a strong sense of community, centered on supporting children and their families.
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Kelly Gelber, Supervising Teacher, Bellevue Elementary School
kelly.gelber@sonoma.edu
(707) 217-4112
I am the Supervising Teacher for the Sonoma SERVES programs at Bellevue Elementary. I graduated from Sonoma State University in 1993 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and later earned my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and Masters in Education. It is exciting to be a part of a program that provides diverse learning opportunities to students and meaningful service experience to young adults.
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Callen Kurpinsky, Promise Fellow Coordinator
callen.kurpinsky@sonoma.edu
(707) 664-2471
I am the Promise Fellow Coordinator and I’m also involved with coordinating the statewide program, California’s PROMISE. As a former graduate of Sonoma State University, I naturally become involved with Sonoma SERVES as a Reading tutor. I also served as a leader with the Promise Fellow program during my second year of service.
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Emily Mann, Project Assistant
emily.mann@sonoma.edu
(707) 664-3956
I do a great deal of work in the recruitment of mentors, enrolling AmeriCorps members, and coordinating National Days of Service. I also work with the PE program that is implemented in the after school programs of over 20 schools in 3 counties. Prior to working as a project assistant, I served for 2 years as an AmeriCorps Team Leader for Reading Programs at Wright Elementary School. I graduated from UC Riverside with a degree in Psychology and a passion for learning and children. I love to be involved in a program that supports learning and growth throughout our community.
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Julie McClure, Director
julie.mcclure@sonoma.edu
(707) 664-4232
I am the director of the Sonoma SERVES programs at the California Institute on Human Services at Sonoma State University. These programs provide experiential learning opportunities for college students and over 60,000 hours of tutoring and mentoring a year to students reading below grade level. I enjoy the community connections as well as the diversity of my work, as it allows me to participate in the delivery of services to children on a variety of levels. I have a deep interest in connecting the University to the community in meaningful ways. I have my Masters in Public Administration from Sonoma State University with an emphasis in educational policy and program evaluation, which builds on the B.A. that I received from the University of California at Berkeley.
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Cherie Melchiori, Supervising Teacher, RL Stevens Elementary
cherie.melchiori@sonoma.edu
(707) 217-7092
Prior to becoming the Supervising Teacher at R.L. Stevens, I served as a Reading tutor for over two years at Bellevue Elementary. I graduated from Sonoma State University with a B.A. in Liberal Studies and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. I am very excited to be working with such a wonderful staff and be apart of a program that enriches the lives of mentors and students.
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Kristen Mowers, Supervising Teacher, Roseland Elementary School
missmowers@yahoo.com
(707) 217-9461
I am Kristen Mowers, the Supervising Teacher at Roseland School for the Sonoma SERVES programs. I joined the program seven years ago as a After School mentor and have been given the amazing opportunity to learn and grow with the programs over the years. Each day brings new challenges and great joy.
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Tracy Nevill, Training Coordinator
TLCTracy@earthlink.net
707) 246-6088
I am the Training Coordinator for the after school program, which is a collaborative between Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Elementary Schools. I graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Latin American Studies in 1993 and later obtained my Multiple Subject teaching Credential and Master's in Education from the Claremont University. In my position here at the California Institute on Human Services, I am fortunate enough to help train and work with AmeriCorps college students and elementary age students. I enjoy being a part of a team that is committed to providing services to so many children children.
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Sara Phillips, Evaluation Specialist
sara.phillips@sonoma.edu
(707) 664-3315
I am the Evaluation Specialist for the Sonoma SERVES programs. I have a BA in Political Science from SSU, and am completing a Masters of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from CSU Sacramento. It is rewarding and exciting to see and report the progress of the students to whom the programs provide services.
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Lindsey Rizzo, Supervising Teacher, Wright Elementary School
rizzol@sonoma.edu
(707) 477-3929
As the Supervising Teacher at Wright School, I have the privilege of serving and making a difference in the lives of the wonderful youth of our local community. Throughout my years at Sonoma SERVES, I have had the opportunity to hold varying positions from mentor to supervisor, allowing me to experience the many aspects of our programs. Each day brings me new challenges, successes and memories that guide me in my pursuit to serve youth.
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Alan Scher, Supervising Teacher, Meadow View Elementary School
alanbscher@alumni.usc.edu
(707) 228-8889
As an artist and educator, I am privileged to work as a Supervising Teacher with Sonoma SERVES at Meadow View Elementary School. Working for two years prior, as a Team Leader, I have learned the tremendous value of creativity, passion, and consistency in our classrooms. I strive, each and every day, to inspire my students, and staff, to provide the very best for our children and families.
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Francesca Soriano Hersh, Program Coordinator
francesca.hersh@sonoma.edu
(707) 664-2022
As a program coordinator, I oversee the programs at our schools, plan and facilitate training for mentors and Team Leaders, and provide individual coaching and support at our sites. Before joining the staff of Sonoma SERVES, I enjoyed two years as the Reading Tutoring Team Leader at Bellevue School. I love to see the bond that develops between students and our mentors and the excitement that our AmeriCorps members feel when they see the difference they are making in the lives of children.
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Annette Zucconi-Montez, Supervising Teacher
zucconia@sonoma.edu
(707) 236-0604
I am the Supervising Teacher at Sheppard Elementary. I was drawn to Sonoma SERVES by the desire to participate in an organization where children and families are the heart of the vision. I graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1991 with a B.A. in Liberal Studies, and from Sonoma State University's Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential Program in 2000. It is my privilege and honor to work with the phenomenal staff of Sonoma SERVES in pursuit of creating enrichment and service opportunities for youth and community members in Sonoma County.
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