Introducing our Board of Directors and Board Members behind the scenes at County Kids Read, as well as a list of our wonderful Volunteers.
Board of Directors:
Anne Preston - Founder and Board Chair
Anne Preston’s 27-year career in education began as a classroom teacher. She became the special education lead at the largest elementary school in the Toronto District School Board, where she was responsible for assessment, identification, placement, and programming for students with special education needs. Anne became a literacy coordinator and worked with teachers and administrators in TDSB providing workshops, consultations, mentoring and programming to enhance literacy practice and pedagogy.
Anne’s board work began as chair of the parent council at her children's school, and later on the board of the Woodgreen Red Door Shelter. She joined the Board of the Prince Edward County Arts Council, after moving to PEC, where she founded and chaired County Reads, a local literacy event. While on the PECAC board she conceived of and launched County Kids Read.
Valerie Hussey - Board Vice-Chair, Strategic Lead
Valerie Hussey has worked with CKR for 8 years as a consultant, initially facilitating the creation of a strategic plan in 2014 and then serving as advisor to the founder, Anne Preston.
Valerie had a 40-year career in publishing, initially in educational publishing in New York, and then as publisher and owner of Kids Can Press which she acquired after joining the fledgling organization in 1979. She oversaw the sale of Kids Can to Nelvana in 1998 and, when acquired by Corus Entertainment, she remained for eight years as President and CEO. As a member of the executive team, she participated in corporate board meetings and strategic retreats.
Valerie has served in executive roles on numerous boards, as varied as MS Society of Canada, MS Society Foundation (current), Canadian Women’s Foundation, Tides Canada, Women’s College Hospital, Art of Time Ensemble, CODE (current), the Association for the Export of Canadian Books, OMDC, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, et. al. totalling 100 years of volunteer service.
Wendy Matthews - Board Secretary
Wendy Matthews had a 34-year career in education, including 17 years in Hamilton elementary schools as a classroom teacher of Grades 2-8, a special education resource teacher for students from kindergarten to Grade 8, and as a school administrator. She moved into a provincial role with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario in diverse portfolios for over 17-years including professional development, teacher education, anti-racist education, pay equity, counselling and as Coordinator of the Strategic and Professional Services department dealing with professional development, government relations, and communications.
After retiring, Wendy worked from 2007 to 2013 as an education advisor for MJP (Maddox Jolie Pitt) NGO in Cambodia. She served as Chair of the PEC Studio Tour for five years and co-chair of the Arts Trail for one year. She has also volunteered with CKR for seven years.
Peta Shelton - Board Treasurer
Peta Shelton’s professional career was with the Head Office of a major Canadian bank. Peta joined the Economics Division as a business librarian and became Controller for the Corporate Governance Group. Later she managed the training and development program for the Small Business Banking Sales Force. After an early retirement, she was contracted by the Chairman and Board of Directors as an Executive Liaison to manage the Proxy Circular project, working with more than 50 business partners to meet their legal, financial and governance requirements.
When she truly retired, Peta was the County liaison for the Great Canadian Cheese Festival in Prince Edward County. Recent board positions include Food to Share and Slow Food the County as Treasurer; Commodore and Treasurer of a member owned yacht club; lead for a heritage neighbourhood association working with the municipality to protect and enhance the historic Main Street. She has worked with CKR for four years providing budgets, financial reports, and banking.
Board Members:
Brenda Franks
Brenda Franks’ professional career encompassed administrative and managerial roles for companies specializing in print and digital media (Maclean Hunter, Canadian Tire, Quebecor Inc., Transcontinental Printing). Areas of focus included cable television, photography production, consumer magazines and retail advertising.
Brenda volunteered as a Big Sister, with the Big Sisters and Big Brothers organization for several years. She has been involved with County Kids Read for 7 years, and is the liaison with three local schools, coordinating class visits to CKR’s book room and assisting with ordering new books. She also volunteers in classes at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute working one-on-one with children in elementary grades who require extra support as they learn to read.
Deb Grund
Deb Grund worked for 25 years with the Oakville Public Library providing programming and children’s literacy services for babies and toddlers through school aged children. For 5-years she worked as Children’s Collection Assistant responsible for developing and maintaining the collections which included book selection, meeting with publishers' reps, and book processing.
After retiring and a move to Milford, Deb volunteered with the Ann Farwell Branch in Milford and prior to the pandemic, helped with the County Reads Authors Festival. Since 2017 she has volunteered with CKR and been involved with book purchasing, hosting class visits to the book room, and visiting Sophiasburgh School to give story times, book talks and distribute books.
Linda Mason
Linda Mason’s 40-year professional career was in editorial and production in educational and trade publishing. Her strength in project management, and knowledge of the book industry, provide CKR with an important asset, which is further enhanced by her ability to work effectively with teams and in high pressure environments.
Volunteers:
Jo Barnes
Mary Ann Brand
Veronica Cluett
Lynne Dickie
Isabelle Fish
Jenn Gadzala
John Giles
Jill Hill
Sally Keefe Cohen
Catherine O’Brien
Steve O’Brien
Duncan Payne
Bev Sharpe
Natalie St. Pierre - Jubb
Joan Stacey
Lee-Ann Scott
Joanne Toews