"Having had Dr. Donald Durrell as professor for the Reading Instruction classes, I took a special interest in teaching reading. After graduation, I taught in the primary grades for six years and then became a Reading Specialist.

"At present, I volunteer at a charter school as a Reading Specialist and am operating a private tutoring service.... I am forever grateful for my reading courses at Boston University, which prepared me to launch a successful reading specialist career — especially under the tutelage of the renowned Dr. Donald Durrell."

— Mary Pecci, Reading Specialist
SED'60, BS

"I have written several books about the teaching of literacy and consult with schools and districts all over the country. I am a frequent presenter at local, state, and national conferences. I received a wonderful education at SED from faculty who were both knowledgeable and passionate about their field of study. I hope I am respected by the students I teach for these same professional attributes that were modeled for me in such an exemplary fashion."

— Nancy (Naumann) Boyles, Professor of Reading and Graduate Reading Program Coordinator,
Southern Connecticut State University, CT
SED'72'76'80, Ed.M., CAGS, Ed.D.

"My learning and practical experience from SED began in 1963 in the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study with Dr. Mabel Noal in the field of Reading. I later (1971) earned my Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction under Dr. Thomas E. Culliton, Jr.. All during this time, I was the reading teacher, then Reading Supervisor, then Coordinator of Reading for the Somerset, MA, Public Schools. I completed a 43 year career at Somerset in 1999.

"Much of my professional career stems from my BU SED experiences and classes to such BU notable professors as Dr. Donald. D. Durrell, Dr. Helen Murphy, Dr. Thomas G. Devine, Dr. Richard Chambers, Dr. Lee Indrisano, all in the reading/language arts field.

"The Somerset reading program boasted three full-time reading specialists at the high school, four full-time reading specialists in the middle schools, and four full-time reading specialists/reading clinic teachers in each of our elementary schools. During this time (1972-1992) I don't believe there was another school district in Massachusetts with this many reading people. I had the pleasure of developing and coordinating a multi-faceted reading program with the full support of a town that had confidence in me and the fact that I was a product of Boston University."

— David M. Cucinotta, Former Reading Specialist
Somerset, MA
SED'65'71, CAGS, Ed.D.