Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland joined the CRPC in July 2021. Previously, she held the position of Coordinator of Special Education for Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Career and Technical Education and Alternative Education programs. Prior to pursuing administration, she was tenured as a special education teacher, receiving master teacher status for New Hartford Central School District, New Hartford, NY.

Kelly began her teaching career as a pre-kindergarten teacher at Rutland County Head Start, Rutland, VT. She then moved on to teach at the Bridgewater Village School, Bridgewater, VT and Ilion Central Schools, Ilion, NY. She is an experienced educator teaching students across grade levels at the kindergarten, first, and fourth grade levels as well as middle and high school. In those roles she has taught various disciplines including, reading, English Language Arts, resource room, co-integrated, and self-contained special education classes. In addition to teaching, she has served on advisory committees for curriculum, instruction, policy, school safety, as well as serving on her home district school board as Board President from 2016-2019.

Born and raised in Ilion, NY, Kelly, attended Ilion Jr. Sr. High School, earned her B.A from SUNY Potsdam in Elementary Education and Writing/English. She holds a Master's of Education degree in Literacy B-12 from Castleton State College, Castleton, VT.

Kelly’s experiences and knowledge allows her to specialize in the areas of: curriculum, instruction, special education, and literacy. She completed the Leadership Academy at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA in 2019 and has obtained her School Building and District Leader certifications.

Kayleigh Sandford

Kayleigh Sandford joined the Central Regional Partnership Center (CRPC) in July 2024, following her time as a Literacy Specialist with the Mid-State RPC at Syracuse University from 2022 to 2024. With 10 years of experience in both general education and special education, Kayleigh is passionate about the Science of Reading, promoting evidence-based literacy practices, and fostering educational equity.

She holds New York State Professional Certifications in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) and Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6). Kayleigh earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Childhood Education and a Master of Science in Education and Special Education from Le Moyne College. Currently, Kayleigh is pursuing a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership at SUNY Oswego, with a focus on obtaining School Building and District Leader certifications. In addition, she is a member of The Reading League’s Educator Preparation Program Community of Practice.

Kayleigh brings expertise in the Science of Reading and Writing, systems-level coaching, implementation science, data-based decision-making, instructional design, evidence-based interventions, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS). Her professional journey is dedicated to enhancing educational systems to positively impact student outcomes through improved literacy practices and inclusive educational approaches.