Three Bay Path Students Receive JOY Literacy Foundation Scholarships
Three students in Bay Path University's Master of Science in Reading and Literacy Instruction program have been awarded prestigious $10,000 scholarships from the JOY Literacy Foundation, which supports undergraduate and graduate students preparing for careers in literacy education. The scholarships recognize future educators dedicated to helping children develop the reading skills that open doors to lifelong learning and success.
All three recipients credit Dr. Phyllis Hakeem, program director of Bay Path's MS in Reading and Literacy Instruction programs, for inspiring their professional growth and connecting them to this valuable opportunity.
For Tanya Silvestro-Dias, a kindergarten teacher from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the scholarship represents both recognition and relief. After earning an undergraduate degree in psychology, as well as a Master’s in Education, Tanya is currently working on her Massachusetts Reading Specialist Licensure at Bay Path after seeing firsthand the literacy challenges facing students in her Title I school.
Through professional development and her growing understanding of the Science of Reading, she realized that literacy instruction was where she could make the greatest impact.
"Reading affects everything students do in school," Tanya says. "If they can read confidently, they can learn confidently."
Tanya was drawn to Bay Path on a recommendation from a fellow educator and because of its strong connection to evidence-based reading instruction and the Reading Institute in Williamstown. So far, she appreciates being able to immediately apply what she learns in her graduate courses with her students.
As a mother of three who was paying for classes one course at a time, the scholarship is helping make her educational goals more attainable. When asked what her favorite children's books for young readers, her picks are Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes and The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, two stories that celebrate self-confidence, belonging, and resilience.
District, the journey to literacy instruction began after more than a decade in the classroom. Although she had taught young children for years, she felt she had never received adequate preparation in how reading skills develop.
When her district began adopting Science of Reading practices, Kara discovered a new approach that transformed both her teaching and her students' outcomes. Seeking a program grounded in research and practical application, she found Bay Path's Reading and Literacy Instruction program.
The experience, she says, reignited her passion for teaching.
"I can see the difference in my students every day," Kara explains. "They're building stronger phonics skills, stronger comprehension skills, and greater confidence as readers."
Now in her third year of the program and expected to graduate in 2027, Kara says the JOY Literacy Foundation Scholarship will cover her final year of coursework and practicum experiences.
"It provides financial relief, but it also feels like validation of the work I've been doing and the importance of this field," she says.
Like many literacy educators, Kara finds inspiration in children's literature. Among her favorites are Love You Forever by Robert Munsch and The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, books she appreciates for their ability to connect with children while fostering a love of reading.
For Katherine Simmons, a speech-language pathologist at Cotting School in Lexington, Massachusetts, literacy became a natural extension of her work helping students develop communication skills. Working with children and young adults with disabilities, including many who are non-speaking—she became increasingly interested in the relationship between oral language and reading development.
That interest led her to Bay Path's Educational Specialist (EdS) program in Reading and Literacy, where she is preparing for a career transition to become a reading specialist.
Katherine chose Bay Path because of its strong reputation in evidence-based literacy instruction and its commitment to the Science of Reading. She plans to graduate in 2028 and bring her unique background in speech-language pathology into the field of reading education.
"The connection between language and literacy is so important," Katherine says. "I want to help ensure that all students, regardless of their communication abilities, have access to effective reading instruction."
Receiving the JOY Literacy Foundation Scholarship has made returning to graduate school more financially manageable for her family and reinforced her commitment to this next chapter of her career.
What does Katherine like for children’s literature? She loves anything by the author Peter Reynolds (The Word Collector, Say Something, Be You! The Dot) because he encourages children to be proud of who they are and to find their own creativity, uniqueness, and voice, which is so relevant in this day and age.
Together, Tanya, Kara, and Katherine represent the growing impact of Bay Path University's Reading and Literacy Instruction programs. Through their dedication to evidence-based instruction, they are helping students become stronger readers, more confident learners, and lifelong lovers of books.
Carpe Diem!