Our Beacon Literacy Team
We empower teachers by providing comprehensive professional development in multi-sensory, structured, and sequential literacy instruction.
Mark Hitchcock – Chief Operating Officer
A native of Bay City, Mark Hitchcock has over 20 years of professional leadership experience, primarily in the nonprofit industry. Hitchcock holds Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration degrees from Northwood University. Hitchcock served for ten years in the US Army Reserve and deployed with his unit to Iraq in 2004-05.
Hitchcock worked for nearly ten years in the recreation industry, in various ice arena management positions, has served in the roles of Executive Director of the Tawas Area Chamber of Commerce, Extension Educator with Michigan State University Extension, Event Manager with the Alzheimer’s Association and most recently as CEO of the Pulse3 Foundation.
With a strong sense of service, he has given back to his community by serving in various volunteer and board leadership roles throughout his career as well.
Email Mark: mark@beaconliteracymi.org
Heidi Krause – Business Development Director
Heidi Krause is the Business Development Director for the Children’s Choice Initiative, with a focus on building partnerships with schools and districts across the state of Michigan. Heidi is an accomplished business to business sales professional and a successful retailer with over 20 years of experience.
She includes building lasting relationships with her clients in her list of achievements. Heidi is a graduate of The University of Michigan-Flint, earning a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.
Outside of work, Heidi has always valued giving back to her community in various ways. She has served on local festival committees, was elected to her local library board where she served as treasurer, and taught Sunday School. She has been invited to speak at community engagements for seniors as well as local service clubs. She has especially enjoyed participating in the elementary school job fair at her local school district over the years.
Email Heidi: heidi@beaconliteracymi.org.
Carolyn Wood – Director of Curriculum & Training
Carolyn Wood the Director of Curriculum and Training at Beacon Literacy. She has been a
teacher for the past 5 years in Detroit Public Schools, having taught 4th grade, 2nd grade, and kindergarten. Carolyn has always had a passion for reading and teaching her students how to fall in love with a book.
Her favorite time of day as a teacher was after lunch and recess when she would turn off all the lights, put a fireplace video on YouTube, and have the kids relax and read for 20 minutes.
Carolyn is currently working towards a Masters Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language at Western Michigan University. Outside of work, she loves reading fantasy books, running, hiking, and kayaking!
Email Carolyn: carolyn@beaconliteracymi.org.
Contact Us To Bring Beacon Literacy To Your District
Learn more about how Beacon Literacy can help your district achieve greater reading success.