Janie Ephland

Executive Director

Janie spent 37 years as an educator, literacy coach, writing specialist and teacher trainer with Fort Worth public schools. She relocated to South Carolina in 2015. In February 2016 Janie Ephland was hired as Executive Director for Born To Read.

In her role Janie Ephland is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the organization, which includes recruitment and oversight of more than 50 volunteers throughout Beaufort and Jasper counties; grant writing and fundraising; working collaboratively with organizations like the United Way; and educating the community about the mission and vision of Born To Read.

Janie is the proud grandmother of three granddaughters and one grandson that live in Bluffton. She is a member of Carteret Street United Methodist Church, 100 Women Who Care, Sea Island Rotary and Beaufort County Walk for Water. She currently resides in Port Royal, SC.

Dottie Morin

President

Dottie has been a hospital volunteer for Born to Read since 2007. She has served on the board of directors for over 10 years, twice as president. With a BA in English and a MEd in Curriculum and Instruction, she taught English and English as a Second Language (ESL). Being a proponent for literacy, she finds Born to Read is the perfect way to give back to the community and reach out to new parents to understand the importance of reading to their children from birth. Dottie returned to the board in 2023.

Aaron Miller

Vice President

Aaron is the owner of Miller Design & Marketing, and previously worked at an early childhood classroom supply company based in Beaufort. He is an active member at Sea Island Presbyterian Church, where he provided a children’s message for 18 years and also served as an Elder. Aaron has three children that were born and raised in Beaufort, who all benefitted from a visit and materials from Born to Read. Aaron joined the board in 2022.

Maryellen Humann

Secretary

With a BA and MA in English and elementary education, Maryellen is a former classroom teacher. She has also been a remedial reading instructor in the Orton Gillingham method. This method is used for students who have a language learning disability. Maryellen has volunteered for Born to Read for more than eight years at Coastal Carolina Hospital and served as the liaison between the organization and the hospital. She has served on the board since 2019.

Bill Staples

Interim Treasurer

With a BS in Mathematics, Bill worked in computer systems design and programming (before the term IT was coined), and then had a second career in church administration and seminary development. Now retired, he is an active member of Sea Island Presbyterian Church, and over the years, served as an Elder in three churches in cities in the South East. Bill joined the board in 2014.

Bliss West Baxley

Bliss is a third generation educator with over forty years of teaching experience. She holds a BSE in elementary education and a M.Ed. in Reading. Bliss has served as classroom teacher, reading specialist, Reading Recovery teacher, reading interventionist, and literacy coach in both Arkansas and South Carolina. Bliss’ love of teaching children the fundamentals, skills, and strategies of reading has spilled over into her being a Born to Read board member. She joined the board in 2024.

Cynthia “Cindy” Coburn-Smith

Cindy Coburn-Smith taught middle and high school in Charleston and Beaufort and also served as a curriculum consultant in Greenville, SC. Utilizing her classroom experiences plus a master’s in public health, she served Beaufort Memorial Hospital in the community education arena for more than two decades to provide a Speakers’ Bureau, health fairs, hospital tours, prenatal classes, numerous community collaborations and led the creation of three IRS required Community Health Needs Assessments. Cindy joined the board in Spring of 2024.

Dr. Noreen Sisko

With over 50 years of experience in Nursing, Dr. Sisko holds a Masters of Science in Perinatal Nursing and a PhD in Nursing Leadership and Education. She is a Professor of Nursing education and has served in both Hospital and Collegiate administrative roles. Dr. Sisko is a tutor with “Reading Discovery”, providing reading support to Beaufort County schools in grades Pre-K thru First. Dr. Sisko joined the Board in 2024.

Ashley Gould Hutchison

School District Representative

Ashley is the Director of School Readiness for the Beaufort County School District. She has been working in the field of education for the past 17 years. She currently oversees the district’s birth- Kindergarten Early Childhood initiatives. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education at Brevard College and a Master’s in Education at the University of South Carolina. Ashley has served on the Born To Read Board since 2012.

Allison Reeves

Beaufort County Library Representative

Allison is the Manager of Mobile Services and Outreach with the Beaufort County Library System. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Georgia and a Master of Library and Information Science with an emphasis in Youth Services from Valdosta State University. Allison is new to the Beaufort area but has experience developing and implementing various literacy strategies for children ages 0 to 18. She joined the board in 2024.

Sissy Jarrell

Hilton Head Hospital Liaison

Sissy was a teacher and administrator with the Beaufort County School District for 30 years. She also served as the Director for the First Presbyterian Day School on Hilton Head for 11 years. Sissy has served on the Board for Born to Read since 2016. She now enjoys spending time with her granddaughter, Effie.