Cathy Feldman's 30 + years in education spans the private and public school sectors as a teacher, teacher leader, curriculum developer, program specialist, school improvement coach, national consultant and external partner.  Cathy’s passion to ensure every child has equitable opportunities to reach his/her potential drives all of her professional endeavors.

In 2000, Cathy and Lee Kappes co-founded Reach Associates, a practice consultancy firm providing professional development and leadership guidance to schools, districts and states.  At all levels, Reach Associates works to integrate instructional theory, research, and technical practice to increase PreK-12 student achievement.

Cathy began her career as a classroom teacher, district coach and program developer.  In addition, Cathy taught as an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J. and at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J.  Cathy worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania Department of Welfare. As an external partner to both agencies, Cathy co-chaired the Early Learning Standards committee and spearheaded the joint departments' focused effort to improve P-3 learning for children across the state.

Cathy’s most recent work involves implementing the instructional shifts and demands of the new standards in primary and secondary literacy classrooms across the country.  Cathy works with teachers, coaches, district and state leadership implementing best practices and intentionally aligned CCSS instruction.  She is a practice consultant on the Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC) team and a co-developer of Literacy Design Collaborative – Acceleration (LDC-A).   Cathy provides technical assistance to participating state organizations, districts, and practitioners implementing LDC and LDC-A.

Cathy is a national workshop presenter, facilitator and speaker.  Cathy holds an M.A. in early childhood and elementary education from Teachers College at Columbia University and a B.A. in psychology from University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a post-graduate degree and certification in learning disabilities and special education from Fairleigh Dickenson University. Cathy has co-authored several books and created curriculum materials and training tools in effective literacy instruction.

Lee’s career in public education began as a K-6 classroom teacher and concluded as a Director of Curriculum and Instruction in an urban school district. During those 30+ years, Lee’s experiences included general and special education teacher, teacher leader, program coordinator, district administrator, and national consultant. Lee has worked with schools, districts, charter organizations, state agencies, and private organizations providing professional development and leadership consulting and coaching to support continuous improvement and increased student achievement.

In 2000, Cathy and Lee Kappes co-founded Reach Associates, a practice consultancy firm providing professional development, technical assistance and leadership guidance to schools, districts and states. Reach Associates work to integrate instructional theory, research, and technical practice to increase PreK-12 student achievement and support systemic reform and instructional improvement in PreK-12 school settings.

More recently, Lee was the Assistant Director of Practice for the Aspen Institute’s Education and Society Program where she directed the program's Urban District Leadership Network. Lee is currently the Chief of Program Design, Development and Delivery for the Danielson Group.

Lee has a doctorate in Educational Leadership, Management and Policy from Seton Hall University, a M.S. in Educational Leadership from Long Island University and a B.S. in Elementary and Special Education from College Misericordia.

Jody Pittock is a lead trainer with Reach Associates, facilitating professional development opportunities for teachers, coaches, district level administration and state departments.  Jody has over 30 years of experience working with students of varying ages.  She spent the majority of her career as a classroom teacher and Literacy/Instructional Coach in an urban district.  Jody is passionate and committed to supporting teaching and rigorous learning opportunities for ALL students.

Jody’s current work is focused on supporting effective implementation of the standards.  As a Reach Associates’ lead trainer, she works with teachers, coaches, curriculum developers and leadership in aligning research and instructional practices with the expectations and demands of the new standards.  

Jody holds a B.A. in Elementary and Special Education and a M.A. in Special Education.  She has had extensive training with Student Achievement Partners, Achieve, and Learning Forward (formally known as National Staff Development Council).  Jody served on the EQuIP (Educators Evaluating Quality Instructional Products) National Literacy Peer Review Panel for Achieve.