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Meet The Staff

Jose Cruz

Jose Cruz

Chief Executive Officer

619-574-1641 ext. 103

Jose Cruz is the chief executive officer for the San Diego Council on Literacy, a model urban literacy coalition. He has 24 years experience in the literacy field and is known in the national literacy network for his leadership in organizing collaborative efforts for literacy and for his creativity in presenting effective literacy awareness campaigns.

Mr. Cruz is the recipient of the 2003 San Diego Union-Tribune, “Educator of the Year” award. He has served as president of Rolling Readers USA, the National Alliance of Urban Literacy Coalitions, and the San Diego Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. He is also a two-time recipient of the International Reading Association's "Celebrate Literacy Award," and is a recipient of the READ/San Diego “Literacy Advocate of the Year” award. He has received recognition for his efforts in supporting literacy services for incarcerated youth, as well as services for those who are homeless. He was recently honored by PBS and Union Bank of California as a Hispanic Heritage Month “Local Hero,” in the Education category.

Mr. Cruz is a member of the Old Mission Rotary Club and the House of Mexico. He is a native San Diegan, a graduate of the University of Southern California, and a product of the San Diego Community College District.

Chris McFadden

Manager of Program Services

(619) 574-1641 ext. 106

Chris McFadden is the manager of program services for the San Diego Council on Literacy. Chris has 36 years of experience in education, having taught elementary, junior high, high school and adult education students. Most recently, he retired after 17 years as the founding literacy program administrator of READ/San Diego, the adult and family literacy program of the San Diego Public Library, and previously served as the assistant director of Denver's Learning Source from 1980-1987. His areas of responsibility for the Council include business management, proposal writing, liaison to the Literacy Network, and monitor of the Health Literacy Project and other new Council projects. In his recent role as interim executive director, Chris was responsible for providing leadership that has moved the Council forward in meeting its stated mission. He continues to serve as a spokesperson for the Council, helping to mobilize attention to the literacy needs of residents throughout San Diego County, coordinate with the Council's network of literacy program providers, and solicit resources to support their efforts.

Kim Moore

Director of Special Programs

619-574-1641 ext. 104

Kimberly Moore is the Director of Special Programs for the San Diego Council on Literacy. Her duties include being the Council's coordinator for the San Diego Union-Tribune, "Race for Literacy," the "Chairman's Circle Reception," and the Adult Learner Conference. She coordinates additional Council events and provides support for proposal and other resource development. Additionally she coordinates the Council's Literacy*AmeriCorps program and is responsible for managing and coordinating the efforts of the program's 15 Americorps members. She comes to the Council after a term of five years with READ/San Diego and a term of twelve years with the San Diego Public Library. Kimberly recently served as an independent contractor with the San Diego Public Library's Development Team, working primarily on special events and as support to the San Diego Public Library Foundation Board.

John Ballentine

Jose Cruz

Director of Finance and Operations

619-574-1641 ext. 101

John came to the Council after relocating from Atlanta, Georgia where he owned his own productivity consulting business catering to busy professionals and entrepreneurs. Currently, John works closely with the Board of Directors and CEO to handle the budgeting, financial and day to day operations for the Council on Literacy.

Wayne Gibson, M.A.

Health Literacy Coordinator

619-574-1641 ext. 102

Prior to joining the SDCOL, Gibson was Director of Health Projects at a Neighborhood Healthcare in San Diego and Riverside counties. In this role he oversaw the financial and programmatic success of community health programs related to access to health care, teen pregnancy prevention, childhood obesity and HIV prevention. He has worked as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Africana Studies at S. D. State University, and as the Chief Evaluation Consultant for the USTAR and Bridges to Baccalaureate, which are minority college student retention programs at California State University-Dominguez Hills. He earned a B. S. degree from Ohio University and a Master of Arts degree from S. D. State University.