Meet Your Presenter

Meet our sensational trainers! They are experts in the Zoo-phonics methodology and curriculum. Our trainers present fun and saturated classes full of playful learning, just like Zoo-children experience in their classrooms!

Dr. Charlene WrightonDr. Charlene Wrighton is the co-author and founder of the award winning and internationally acclaimed Zoo-phonics Mnemonic and Multisensory Language Arts Program. Because of her education and experience in the teaching field she is considered a "cutting edge" expert, educational developer and researcher for early childhood and primary literacy education. She spends her time divided among her many hats; writing, presenting as a keynote speaker, training new Zoo-phonics users and teachers, just to name a few. She supplies innovative techniques to motivate children and teachers with ground-breaking ideas for the classroom. Not only is she a business owner, of Zoo-phonics, Inc. and the Safari Learning Academy in Sonora, CA, but also a mother, grandmother, wife, and friend. Her passion for children drives her ambition to make the world a better place, and raising up the next generation with great education to do so.

(National Sales Director)

Charmaine Turpin Erwin

Charmaine is the National Sales Director for Zoo-phonics Inc in Sonora, CA. She is also a trainer of teachers and educational consultant. She conducts in-services and presents at educational conferences throughout the United States. She is a member of NAEYC, SECA, NKA, and NHSA. She has been employed with Zoo-phonics for the past 28 years. She was Zoo-phonics’ creator Georgene “Gigi” Bradshaw’s SDC/RSP aide during the early stages of the program and saw first-hand how successful the methodology worked in the special education classroom.

Jennifer Furnari

Jennifer has been with Zoo-phonics for more than 20 years, teaching the program to teachers all over the country. She is a graduate of Humboldt State University with a double major in Theatre Arts and Spanish, which led to her working with the Zoo-phonics in Espanol Program. She combined her love of children and learning in her roles as a private tutor, a Spanish teacher, and a 4th Grade teacher for several years in the Bay Area. Currently, she works in marketing, in addition to her time spent traveling with Zoo-phonics "Teaching the World to Read." She is also a proud mom to an active 10-year-old boy who spent two years at the Safari Learning Academy learning Zoo-phonics himself and is now an avid reader.

Sheri Cronk

Sheri Cronk is a dedicated teacher with over 20 years of classroom experience. She has taught in the states of Montana and Nevada. Her teaching experiences include Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade. Sheri received her BA degree in Elementary Education from Montana State University which included state endorsements in both Reading and Early Childhood. She furthered her education by earning her MA degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Lesley University. Sheri began using Zoo-phonics in 2001 and it has been an integral part of her curriculum ever since. Sheri has been an active Zoo-phonics teacher trainer since 2003. She thoroughly enjoys traveling the country and sharing her Zoo-phonics knowledge and experience with teachers!

Della Johnson

Della Johnson lives and teaches in Kershaw County, South Carolina. She has been in public education for 26 years now, teaching Pre-K, Kindergarten, First, and Third Grade. This year marks her 10th year as a 1st Grade teacher. Della has a BA in Early Childhood Education, a Masters in Administration & Supervision, and is currently in the final stages of completing her Doctoral Degree in Curriculum & Instruction. She has been with Zoo-phonics as a trainer for nearly 15 years, and loves to share the program everywhere she goes!

(Educational Consultant)

Dana Schuetze

Dana Schuetze is a nationally recognized educational speaker and Zoo-phonics trainer. Dana began her career in Phoenix, teaching at Montessori schools as well as in the Alhambra School District. Through her 30+ years of experience in preschool and elementary education as a K-1st Teacher, Literacy Coach and National Consultant, she believes in a multi-sensory, kinesthetic approach to learning. Dana is also the “Safari Leader” you will see in the Zoo-phonics instructional DVD that comes with every kit!

Beth is a retired lower elementary school teacher. She taught Zoo-phonics in her Preschool (Pre-K) classroom for 10 years. Originally from New Orleans, Beth now lives in Sewanee, TN. She works part time as the Pre-K Supervisor for Franklin County Schools. All of her Pre-K teachers use Zoo-phonics and think it is the best program on the market for early childhood. Her Pre-K teachers have been the main participants in our Zoo-phonics research study.

Kathy Massie

Kathryn Massie began her career in Psychology at Mary Washington College and led their student-run preschool center for 2 years. She taught Kindergarten, 1st and 3rd grades for 6 years in Spotsylvania County. Kathy then owned and taught Doswell Junction Preschool for a year before returning to public school in Hanover County. Kathy taught Kindergarten and 3rd grade at Beaverdam Elementary for 7 years. Obtaining a Master’s Degree in Administration & Supervision she served as an Assistant Principal at Park Ridge Elementary in Stafford for 6 years before finding her life’s work directing the Stafford Schools Head Start program, where she has been for 22 years. She became a trainer with the Zoo-phonics program after seeing the difference the methodology made in her students’ literacy scores.

Kasi True

Kasi True was born and raised in Mitchell, NE. She graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a degree in Elementary Education and an endorsement in Early Childhood Unified. After college, Kasi moved to Gillette, WY where she currently resides. This is where she began her teaching career as a 1st Grade teacher for the Campbell County School District. While teaching in the classroom, Kasi earned her Master’s Degree in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis in Reading from Black Hills State University. After teaching 1st Grade for five years she began teaching Junior Kindergarten in 2014 where she currently still teaches. It was in her Jr Kinder class that she fell in love with Zoo-phonics and in 2016 became a trainer of teachers for the program.