Who We Are

The New Balanced Literacy program has been defined, developed, re-defined, and evolved over many years of hard work and collaboration. The dedication of numerous professionals within the field allowed this program to exist and continue on over 30 years.  Without the literacy coaches at our partner schools, the administrators, principals, evaluators, graduate students, and Capstone publishers, this program would not be possible. Although not all are listed, we would like to thank all those individuals, that contributed to the success of The New Balanced Literacy program at Roosevelt University.

Current Team Members

Margaret Mary Policastro, Ph.D.
Professor of Language and Literacy
Director, Language, and Literacy
Principal Investigator, Illinois Improving Teacher Quality Grant
Roosevelt University
College of Education

Becky McTague, Ed.D
Associate Professor of Language, Literacy, and Elementary Education

IBHE Literacy Coach
Roosevelt University
College of Education

Jeanne Barnas
Director, COE Office of Community Engagement
Roosevelt University 
College of Education

John MacDougall
Director of Assessment and Grants
Roosevelt University 
College of Education