Senior Staff
Executive Director
Luis Santana has a Masters degree in Social Work and extensive experience in administration, community organizing, counseling, outreach and recruitment, and professional development. He has worked as a missionary coordinating street outreach and mental health counseling efforts in South America.
In 1999, Luis joined a group of concerned citizens and established this organization and became its first Executive Director; a position he still occupying. Under his leadership Reading and Beyond was established and has flourished becoming a major force for Building Foundations for Children and Families.
Luis has served as Chairman of the Fresno County Local Childcare Planning Council, member of the Voluntary Preschool Master Plan for Fresno County, he has served as a Board member for the United Way of Fresno County, representing the nonprofit sector, served on the Preschool Leadership Council of the League of Women Voters of Fresno, is a founding member of the Central Valley Latino Rotary Club and former member of the East Fresno Kiwanis Club.
In 2009, Luis became the first person in the Central Valley to receive the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award.
Manager, K-12 Programs, and PR
jbrietigam@readingandbeyond.org
Jenny Brietigam became a part of the Reading and Beyond’s administrative staff in June of 2004, after volunteering with the organization for 5 years. Jenny was born and raised in Fresno, and graduated from California State University Fresno in 2003, with her Bachelors degree in Communication.
Jenny is responsible for the oversight and management of Reading and Beyond’s Literacy Intervention (tutoring) Department. This includes the management of five community sites, five school sites and the multiple Supplemental Educational Services program sites throughout Fresno County.
Additionally, Jenny is responsible for volunteer recruitment and retention, public relations, event planning, fundraising, marketing and graphic design. Jenny is a part of the Fresno County Mentoring Coalition, the United Way Successful Children Impact Council, a member of the Fresno County Women's Chamber of Commerce, Fresno Women's Network, and South Fresno Lion’s Club.
Community Connection Coordinator
mceballos@readingandbeyond.org
Maria Ceballos joined the Reading and Beyond team in May 2009 as the Community Connection Coordinator. Maria graduated from Fresno State University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies.
She has worked for 5 years in the education field. As a former English Language Learner (ELL) student she has focused her time on addressing the needs in our community, primarily with the ELL students. Maria manages the Families Improving Education program at Reading and Beyond. She works with parents of ELL students for three consecutive years. The goal of the program is for ELL students to be reclassified from ELL status to English proficient by 5th grade. Maria provides educational workshops and home visits for parents of ELL students. She believes parents are one of the key factors for students’ academic and social success.
Maria is a proud mother of a two year old baby boy named Salvador, who loves to listen to stories about trains and sea animals.
Family Literacy Site Coordinator
kcrawford@readingandbeyond.org
Katie joined the Reading and Beyond team in 2008, with five years of classroom teaching experience. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from California State University, San Diego. She also has a California Multiple Subject Credential with CLAD (cross-cultural, language, and academic development) emphasis.
Katie has taught grades 1-5, with extensive experience working with diverse groups of learners (multicultural, low income , English as second language, and special-ed). She manages Reading And Beyond’s life-skills program at West Park Elementary for the Junior High students as well as the Early Childhood Education program through First 5 (which educates parents on how to support literacy development at home). Katie also develops and leads training sessionss for Reading And Beyond volunteers and staff on reading tutoring and behavior management.
She has been an active volunteer with urban, low income youth, kids clubs, and community outreaches, for the past 18 years, since early high school, when she first discovered her passion for it. Currently Katie helps mentor Jr. High age girls at her church in Highway City.
Executive Assistant
Kao Saetern joined Reading and Beyond’s staff in 2000. Kao graduated from California State University Fresno in 2004, with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Finance.
Upon graduation, Kao continued with Reading and Beyond as a full time staff member and is now the Executive Assistant who is responsible for the organization’s Human Resources and Finance Department.
Kao is an Alumni of Delta Sigma Pi, loves chicken, sleep, and especially his new daughter, Serenity.
Research & Development Director
Matilda Soria has been working at Reading and Beyond since 2001. She began as a volunteer before leaving Fresno to pursue a graduate degree. Matilda has earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology and a Minor degree in Ethnic Studies from California State University, Fresno. She has earned a Masters degree in Human Development and Psychology, with a specialization in Risk and Prevention from Harvard University and is currently earning a Doctorate in Education from California State University, Fresno.
She has extensive experience conducting scientific and behavioral research among ethnic and at-risk populations, as well as in the development and management of educational programs for children and families.
Matilda serves on the Family Area Network Board of the California Department of Education; the Advisory Committee of the Fresno Unified School District – Community, Family, Engagement Network (CFEN); the United Way Successful Children Vision Council; and the First 5 of Fresno County Advisory Committee. She is also a lifetime member of the Honor Societies of Golden Key and Phi Kappa Phi.
Upward Bound Coordinator
Josie Vargas joined Reading and Beyond in 2009. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work, along with a Master of Science degree in Counseling-Marriage and Family Therapy, both from California State University, Fresno. In addition, she has also earned a California Pupil Personnel Services Credential, which enables her to work in the school counseling realm of secondary education.
As the Upward Bound Program Coordinator, she is responsible for college and career preparation amongst a percentage of high school students of the Central Unified School District, and works directly with them as they prepare for their high school graduation. Her ultimate goal is to collaborate with students, parents, and faculty to ensure the academic success of the student, while helping them achieve a considerable amount of college preparation.
As a native of the Fresno area, she has a true passion for the successes and triumphs of the high school population here in our Central Valley. While she has extensive experience in working closely with high school students on their college and career preparation, her primary focus continuously exhibits joining, connecting, and collaborating with students within all aspects of their lives.
Josie is happily married with two children, and enjoys traveling and spending time with her family every chance she gets.
Hospitality Liason
Serenity has been with Reading And Beyond most of her life, having joined the Senior Staff when she was one-and-a-half months old. She is pursuing higher education, currently studying such subjects as Walking, Smiling, and Waste Paper Basket Examination.
Miss Saetern provides hospitality to both visiting guests and staff at the Reading And Beyond office, by smiling hello, waving goodbye, and clapping. She also supervises daily operations by monitoring staff activity, frequently visiting their desks in between naps.
Serenity enjoys working alongside her father, Kao Saetern, as she can learn from his years of experience, as well as get a handy diaper change.
Management Staff
Special thanks to Vargas Photography for volunteering their excellent services. The portrait photos seen here were courtesy of Vargas.
Controller
Jonathan Cook joined Reading and Beyond's administrative staff in October 2009, after serving on the Reading and Beyond Board for 4 1/2 years. Jonathan graduated from Asbury College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Jonathan is responsible for overseeing all financial activities of the organization and ensuring that the Executive Director, Finance Committee and Board of Directors are provided timely and accurate financial information. Jonathan has been working in the accounting/finance field in Fresno for the past 6 1/2 years.
Jonathan is happily married to his amazing wife Sally and enjoys spending time with family, friends and his two rogue dogs. He also enjoys playing sports, the Seahawks, the Mariners, UW basketball and football, Fresno State football, Yahoo Fantasy Football, the Olive Garden, Fazoli's, The Office, Chuck, King of Queens, Boggle, Scrabble, Macaroni & Cheese, traveling, the stock market, and Jell-O cheesecake.
