About Us

We are a collective impact campaign that supports, connects, and mobilizes our community to ensure that all students in the Lehigh Valley read on grade level by the end of third grade.  Lehigh Valley Reads is powered by United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and PBS39.

Angela Baio

Lehigh Valley Reads Campaign Director
PBS39

angelab@lehighvalleyreads.org 610-807-5746


Angela Baio is Vice President of Policy & Advocacy and Campaign Director for Lehigh Valley Reads at PBS39/WLVT in Bethlehem, PA.  She has spent her career working for non-profit, mission-driven organizations that are making a difference.  With 20 years of experience in fundraising, marketing, and communications, Angela is thrilled to lead the PBS39’s external communications as it relates to education.  She is also part of the dynamic team charged with developing and executing the strategic vision for Lehigh Valley Reads.  Because of her career accomplishments, community involvement, leadership, and sustained commitment to mentoring, Angela was recently recognized as a Lehigh Valley Business 2021 Woman of Influence.  In addition, she was the 2021 recipient of Waterford.org’s Excellence & Impact Award because of her passion for helping young learners find success and her example of service to her community.  When she’s not at her desk, you can find her teaching a yoga class, hiking in the woods, or driving her kids somewhere.

Jill Pereira

Vice President of Education and Impact
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

jillp@unitedwayglv.org 610-807-5739


Jill Pereira has held various leadership roles within UWGLV since 2009, most recently Vice President of Education. In her new role, Vice President of Education and Impact, Pereira will oversee the organization’s $13.5 million annual investments in education, health and human services as well as create and execute the strategies needed to advance successful outcomes for children, families and seniors across the region.
 
Pereira’s professional background includes working in high-need communities in the Lehigh Valley serving diverse populations spanning the fields of mental health, juvenile justice, children and youth, public housing, and public education.  As co-founder of the Pennsylvania Community Schools State Coalition, Jill worked to ensure that Pennsylvania's Every Student Succeeds Act recognized the Community Schools model as a strategy. Jill has presented at numerous local, state, and national conferences on the Community School archetype and the role United Way can play in large-scale social change efforts. She was nationally recognized with the 2018 Coalition for Community Schools Initiative Leader Award and was named one of the Lehigh Valley Business’ Forty Under 40 in 2015. Jill lives in Palmerton, PA with her husband and three beautiful children.

Steering Committee Members

Nicole Moschberger

Director, Penn State Lehigh Valley Writing Project
Penn State Lehigh Valley

Favorite Book: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

Tim Mulligan

President/CEO
Communities In Schools of the Lehigh Valley

Favorite Book: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Diane Neikam

Curriculum Supervisor of Elementary Education
Parkland School District

Favorite Book: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Tracy Piazza

Director of Teaching and Learning
Easton Area School District

Favorite Book: The Man Who Didn't Wash his Dishes by Phyllis Krasilovsky

Carol Ritter

President & Co-Founder
Caroltalks

Favorite Book: Oh David by David Shannon

Brook Sawyer

Associate Professor College of Education
Lehigh University

Favorite Book: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Dr. Jack Silva

Assistant Superintendent & Chief Academic Officer
Bethlehem Area School District

Favorite Book: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

It Takes A Community

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb