Our Team
About United Way of Greater Charlottesville
United Way of Greater Charlottesville and Ready Region Blue Ridge are committed to improving school readiness outcomes by addressing disparities and leading the charge for equity so that all children have access to opportunities regardless of race, ethnicity, family income, language, ability, geography, or zip code.
United Way of Greater Charlottesville is one of nine organizations selected to coordinate services and build the partnerships needed to strengthen quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) in Virginia. As the Ready Region Blue Ridge Lead, our core function for this project period is to provide ongoing on-the-ground support for the Unified Virginia Quality Birth to Five System (VQB5) in the region. To find out more about United Way of Greater Charlottesville, please click the link below.
Ready Region Blue Ridge Staff
Amanda Meadows
Early Education Specialist
Barbara Hutchinson
Chief Strategy Officer
Brianna Sarceno
Early Education Specialist
Dabney Coleman
Administrative Assistant
Jesse Laase
Early Education Specialist
Kearsley Hinely
Director of School Readiness
Lina Montoya
Early Education Specialist
Megan Meyers
Manager
Meredith Locascio
Senior Director
Nicole Alexander
Senior Early Education Specialist
Patrick Hayes
Data Analyst
Terrell Thompson
Family Engagement SpecialistReady Region Blue Ridge Leadership Team
Amanda Leech
Executive Director of Harrisonburg and Rockingham CountyBlair Davis
VQB5 Coordinator, James Madison UniversityCarla S. Moody
Director, City of Harrisonburg Public School SystemDeirdre Kellner
Director of Community Impact, United Way of Staunton, Augusta, and WaynesboroJennifer Hall
Senior Director of Community Investment, United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley
Kearsley Hinely
Director of School ReadinessMarta Szuba
VQB5 Coordinator, Sentara Rockingham Memorial HospitalMaryam S. Sharifian, Ph D.
Director of Early Childhood Initiatives & Assistant Professor College of Education, James Madison University
Megan Meyers
Manager
Meredith Locascio
Senior DirectorRavi Respeto
President & CEO, United Way of Greater CharlottesvilleSarah Barnett
Education Specialist, Sentara Rockingham Memorial HospitalStacey Bosserman
Mixed Delivery Coordinator, James Madison University
Terrell Thompson
Family Engagement SpecialistSteering Committee
The Steering Committee provides the governance structure for Ready Region Blue Ridge. It is tasked with developing and implementing a regional strategic plan in partnership with the Leadership Team (which consults with the Sub-Regional Leadership Teams), the Family Leadership Councils, and other representatives from the 21 cities and counties in the region. The regional strategic plan will ensure that communities are engaged to provide public/private alignment with the development of an early education system across the entire state that will provide each child in Virginia equitable access to a quality early education.
Family Engagement Councils
The Sub-Regional Family Leadership Councils must be representative of the communities each represents and are key stakeholders that inform the work of Ready Region Blue Ridge. Their voices are required for the many decisions to be made by the Sub-Regional Leadership Teams, the Regional Leadership Team, and the Steering Committee. The Councils meet virtually approximately six times per year, and members are reimbursed for their time. Interested parents are encouraged to email ReadyRegionBlueRidge@unitedwaycville.org or complete and submit the Contact Us form.