Westminster Community Charter School
Literacy

Yvonne Minor-Ragan, Ph. D., Principal
Dr. Yvonne Minor-Ragan is currently the principal of the recently converted Westminster Community Charter School (WCCS). Dr. Ragan is recognized as an influential leader and citizen of Buffalo. She has shared her skills throughout New York, nationally, and internationally (London and Sweden). She has been such an influence in education and public policy that she has been featured on CNN News, Christian Science Monitor, Educational Week, the Buffalo News, and Public Broadcasting Services (P BS). She has a national and international reputation as an accomplished motivational speaker. As a featured speaker she has inspired audiences of hundreds, discussing critical issues of our community, ranging from the importance of parent involvement, to keeping our eyes on the prize, and how to stimulate positive and systemic change.

Click here for a complete biography and list of Dr. Ragan's honors and awards.

Pastora Bolden, Assistant Principal
Pastor Bolden is the Assistant Principal of Westminster Community Charter School, where she has worked for the past 15 years. She is passionate about education and its ability to change the community and society for the better.

Though not native to Buffalo, she is proud to call it home after 30 years of working here to improve the quality of life for our children. She has a diversified background that has afforded her some exciting and wonderful experiences in the business and educational communities.

Click here for a complete biography of Ms. Bolden.

Lydia (Lee) Brenner, Dissemination Grant Coordinator
Lee Brenner has been an educator for more than 22 years.  She has worked as a classroom teacher in both elementary and secondary mathematics, and is currently in her fifth year as an administrator.

In 2008, Lee came to Westminster to work as the administrator in charge of the Dissemination Grant from the New York State Department of Education.  In this role, her goal is to oversee the dissemination of best practices from the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project to school districts in Western New York.  To help achieve this goal, she works to form and maintain partnerships with other schools, as well as plans the Literacy Symposiums.

Click here for a complete biography of Ms. Brenner.

Robert J. Ross, Staff Developer
Rob Ross was a New York City classroom teacher for 11 years. In 2001, he became a Teachers College Reading and Writing Project Staff Developer under Lucy Calkins. With the Project, Rob worked with principals, teachers, and other educational leaders to implement Reading and Writing Workshop in Buffalo, North Carolina, Michigan, California, and Ohio. He also helped to develop Social Studies Workshop, which he has presented at several National Council for the Teachers of English conferences.

After working as a staff developer for the school for 10 years, Rob came to work at Westminster in 2008. Here, he is responsible for all aspects of literacy. He creates curriculum, plans and presents professional development, studies data, and supports the schools Literacy Coaches.

Rob is an avid collector of children's books and is always looking for new books to get into students' hands.

Rene Baugh, Staff Developer
Rene Baugh is a dedicated and passionate teacher who uses her educational expertise to maximize student learning.

A graduate of Medaille College, she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She completed her Master's Degree in Reading Education from the State University College in Buffalo, New York. Her teaching career includes 19 years with the Buffalo Board of Education.

For 5 years, Rene has been a Reading Specialist at Westminster, where she oversees the implementation of reading lessons, Reading and Writing Workshop, and curriculum development at the primary level. Rene is also a mentor for new teachers, and continues her own learning by attending workshops and seminars at Columbia University.

Brian Sepe, Staff Developer
Brian Sepe is a Staff Developer at Westminster. After completing his undergraduate studies at Canisius College, he went on to complete his graduate work at Canisius in Differentiated Instruction.

Brian worked as a sixth grade teacher for three years at Westminster, and is now approaching his second year as the Staff Developer for grades 3-6. During his tenure, he has worked exclusively with the Teacher's College Reading and Writing Project curriculum. In addition, he works closely with senior staff members of the Project, including Rob Ross, Kathleen Tolan, Garrett Kyle, and Monique Knight.

He attends the week-long summer institutes offered at Columbia University and is continually refining his work according to the latest TC research and professional development. This knowledge is carried back to the school and offered to the staff members in a variety of formats that include planning sessions, demonstration and collaborative lessons, study groups, and school-wide professional development sessions.

Melissa Johnston, Staff Developer
Melissa Johnston works as a Staff Developer at Westminster Community Charter.   She obtained her undergraduate degree from St. Bonaventure University in Elementary and Special Education. While attending St. Bonaventure University, she studied at Oxford University, England and the National University of Ireland to further her knowledge of education internationally.

Following graduation, she worked as a special education teacher in Hawaii. Melissa then continued her studies at Columbia Univeristy Teachers College.  She completed her Master’s degree in Literacy from Columbia University.  The Literary Specialist program provided her with the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Lucy Calkins and the Reading and Writing Project.  Melissa worked with numerous New York City Project schools and worked as a fourth grade teacher in a collaboratively team taught classroom at Public School 29 in Brooklyn, NY.  

Melissa continues her studies in the Reading and Writing Project by attending conference days at Teachers College, as well as other educational seminars.  She has presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) on raising the level of book club conversations in elementary classrooms.  At Westminster Community Charter, Melissa provides support for teachers in Reading and Writing Workshop and provides students with Response to Intervention (RTI) in literacy.