DEIRDRE CRUZ, PH.D.
Program Manager
As a Program Manager at Literacy Trust, Dr. Deirdre Cruz combines her passion for early literacy learning with supporting educators. This passion for early literacy learning came from Dr. Cruz’s time working in Title I schools within the city of New York. She then channeled her desire to see equity in education by studying Literacy in infancy as part of her doctoral journey. Dr. Cruz’s mentors inspired her to pursue a career where she can help and support fellow educators. Dr. Cruz believes in the Literacy Trust mission to support educators that help students gain academic achievement through early intervention reading support.
Dr. Cruz has experience teaching grades Kindergarten through college in public and private settings within the five boroughs of New York City. Dr. Cruz received her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Connecticut, her Master’s degree in Childhood Education from St. John’s University, and her Ph.D. in Literacy from St. John’s University.
Dr. Cruz loves spending time with her family and friends. Dr. Cruz enjoys reading, yoga, HIIT, and visiting with family and friends near and far.
KRISTEN D. BEACH, PH.D
Academic Advisor
Kristen D. Beach, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research centers on design and evaluation of reading interventions for K-8 students with or at risk for reading disability, with a focus on comprehension and vocabulary development and instruction. In partnership with practitioners, she supports implementation and evaluation of reading interventions.
OLESYA HREB
Senior Manager of External Relations
As the Senior Manager of External Relations at Literacy Trust, Olesya supports the Executive Director and Literacy Trust team in projects related to external communications, government and community partnerships, and development. She believes that oftentimes non-profit organizations bridge the gap for work that government entities are not adequately completing. Olesya believes that Literacy Trust's work is a prime example of an educational need being filled by a non-profit organization, as many students across NYC schools continue to struggle with literacy. With a personal connection to Literacy Trust's mission, Olesya is proud to work within the External Relations Department, which in turn supports the program team in continuing to do the impactful work it does through early literacy intervention.
Before joining the Literacy Trust team, Olesya worked at the New York State Assembly. She oversaw community relations, event-planning, district office budgeting, and internal professional development. Prior to her role in the government field, Olesya worked at a medical practice to establish administrative protocol and streamline patient inquiries. Olesya earned her Bachelor's degree in Public Policy at New York University, where her educational focus was economics, policy analysis, and sustainability studies for U.S. cities.
When Olesya is not at Literacy Trust, she enjoys reading and hiking.
SINDHI POLUBOTHU
Data & Systems Consultant
As a data consultant at Literacy Trust, Sindhi helps track, organize, and summarize its data and information. She is interested in utilizing her data skills to impact and improve social policy issue areas at mission based organizations such as Literacy Trust.
Prior to joining the team, she worked with data and CRMS at various non-profits focused on climate change, financial insecurity, government reform as well as presidential campaigns. She received her Master’s from Columbia University in Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences and her Bachelor’s at Boston University in Business Administration. She is a certified Salesforce Data Architect and Administrator. Outside of work she enjoys rock climbing, gardening, sci-fi/fantasy novels, and board games.