Angie Wilson
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Angie has been teaching for over 5 years, and absolutely loves working with children. She graduated from Malone University with a Bachelor's degree in early childhood education and intervention specialist, and she received her reading endorsement for grades K-12 during some graduate coursework at the University. She has taught English as a Second Language (ESL) to students in Brazil, China, and the United States, and lived in Brazil while teaching there. Angie enjoys the challenges teaching brings, the cultures and backgrounds it unites, and the reward of seeing a child learn something new. Even more, Angie loves watching a child’s character grow and develop as they read, and that is why she believes books like Ambitious Abbey will help them do just that!
Courtney Diomedi
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“ The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Six years ago, Courtney Diomedi graduted with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in political science from Ohio University. After graduating and unable to land a job, she decided to substitute teach. Little did she know in doing so, she would discover her life's true calling. From the minute she stepped into the classroom, she knew she had found her passion in working with children. She decided to venture back into the world of college, obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education and became a teacher. For the past three years, she has been molding the minds of first graders at a low income school. Courtney understands just how important social issues are and believes that teaching students exactly where they are by using relatable materials, lends well in improving students' classroom experience, ultimately helping them succeed in life. The book, Ambitious Abbey, allows students to relate to the character and understand the importance of believing in their own dreams.
Erin McArthur
"When we read together - when a grandfather reads to a granddaughter, when a teacher reads to a classroom, when a parent reads to a child, when a sister reads to a brother, when everyone in a town reads the same book silently - together, we are taken out of our aloneness. Together, we see the world. Together, we see one another. We connect. And when we connect, we are changed." -Kate DiCamillo
Erin is thrilled to collaborate with her cousin Abbey on such an inspirational venture. Erin has taught for over seven years in an elementary setting where she has both supported and demonstrated effective implementation of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) in order to provide meaningful, evidence-based literacy instruction to young learners. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6) from Robert Morris University and went on to earn her M.Ed. in Literacy from the University of Delaware to become a certified reading specialist. Erin currently works as an instructional specialist at the Professional Development Center for Educators (PDCE) at the University of Delaware (UD) where she is involved in literacy curriculum development and coaching. She joined PDCE in order to work alongside other professionals in the field to support the ongoing improvement, revision, and enhancement of evidence-based literacy instruction. She maintains a permanent residence with her husband and two children in Elkton, Maryland. Erin is driven by three passions: family, education, and the arts. When she isn't spending her time with her family or in schools, she can be seen performing in local community theatre. Erin developed a love of reading at an early age and even married a fellow bookworm. She aims to instill that love of reading, not only in her own children, but also in young learners across the country. She remembers "playing school" with Abbey when they were young, and the thrill of dreaming about what they would be when they grew up. She states, "the Ambitious Abbey series is sure to inspire the minds and hearts of young readers everywhere, and remind them that they, too, can discover their passions."