340 Route 34, Ste 105
Colts Neck NJ 07722
Janice Migliazza. M.Ed. Reading Specialist. Janice is the founder of Neighborhood Lit. and has been teaching small group reading enrichment since 2003. She started Neighborhood Lit. as an offshoot of a grad school project using her son’s kindergarten classmates as her students. Using games and fun activities to teach reading and writing skills, the idea took off and today, “Miss Janice” continues to have a lifelong impact on thousands of children in her community.
Janice is a graduate of Rider College with a NJ certification for grades K-12 and received her Master of Science in Education as a Reading Specialist from Monmouth University. Janice received the Outstanding Student in Reading Award from Monmouth University as recognition of her academic achievement. She is also the creator of The At-Home Academy, a series of learning kits that supplies parents and caregivers with hands-on reading and writing activities to do with their children at home.
Annemarie Balkovic. Annemarie holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Moravian College and is NJ teacher certified. She has over 25 years of teaching experience in early childhood education grades 1st – 8th. While serving as the first-grade teacher at St. Jerome School in West Long Branch, NJ, she implemented new and exciting reading programs into the curriculum. She has been with Neighborhood Lit. as a full-time teacher since the summer of 2014.
Taylor Burke, M.Ed. Taylor graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in psychology and then received her NJ certification and Master of Education in Early Childhood Elementary Education from Rutgers University. She taught first grade and basic skills in South Brunswick during which she developed a love of teaching reading and writing. She also served as a writing coach for the TIP program at Conover Road Elementary School in Colts Neck. When Taylor's children were younger, she coached her daughter's travel soccer team, was a Girl Scout leader and taught Sunday School. Although her children have gotten older, she continues to volunteer in their schools.
She has been a Neighborhood Lit. teacher since September 2011 and is now the Director of Communications for Neighborhood Lit and The At-Home Academy.
Kelly Engles, M.Ed. Kelly graduated from Lehigh University and then received her Master of Arts in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education from Monmouth University. She is NJ teacher certified. Kelly has taught Pre-Kindergarten in Point Pleasant, NJ and Breckenridge, CO and was the director of the Lakewood Early Childhood Program. Kelly is currently teaching at The Ranney School in Tinton Falls as the Beginning Teacher. She has been a Neighborhood Lit. summer teacher since 2008.
Paige Balkovic, B.Ed. Paige graduated from West Chester University with a dual degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education with a minor in Youth Empowerment and Urban Studies and then received her PA and NJ teaching certifications. She taught kindergarten at a charter school in Camden where she learned many skills she utilizes in her current day classroom at Beverly City School as a third year second grade teacher. She has found a love for developing curriculum, engaging students across all subjects and helping her students find a love for reading. She has started an after school Math Club for children in grades K-5 to help students find confidence in their math skills. Paige has enjoyed working with children in many different settings, as a camp counselor/assistant division leader at Pine Grove Day Camp for 7 years, volunteering with Best Day Foundation and A Walk on Water, and teaching an enrichment academic program during the summer of her junior year of college. All of these experiences have fostered a love for teaching and watching children succeed in any outlet.
Danielle Killmer. Danielle graduated from Arizona State University with degrees in early childhood and elementary education. She received a NJ certification in K-5 Elementary Education. She is currently pursuing a Master degree in early education at New Jersey City University. Danielle taught second grade for five years in the Bayonne School District and now teaches fourth-grade literacy in that same district. Danielle has been a summer teacher at Neighborhood Lit. since 2011.
Abby Cohen, M.Ed. Abby graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Then she earned her Master of Education in the Special Education program at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education. Abby was nominated for the New Jersey Distinguished Clinical Intern Award as recognition of her achievement during student teaching. She received two NJ teaching certificates for Elementary Education and Teacher of Students with Disabilities. She is finishing up her first year of teaching as a kindergarten special education teacher. Abby has been teaching at Neighborhood Lit since the fall of 2019.
Casey Danback, M.Ed. Casey graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She then went on to earn her Masters of Education at Rutgers Graduate School of Education. Casey received three NJ teaching certifications for Elementary Education, Teacher of Students with Disabilities, and Middle School Mathematics. This is her second year teaching and first year teaching sixth grade.