Leah Morris - Executive Director
director@abea.on.ca

Leah has been an administrator in the Literacy Field since 1987. She first worked at the program level as the Haldimand Coordinator of the Haldimand-Norfolk Literacy Council. In that role she assessed clients, trained volunteers, managed the Haldimand office, developed school awareness programs, implemented workplace education programs and actively participated on various literacy committees across Ontario. Leah is a published author (1998) of her workplace experience, illustrator in the research document “Rural Reflections” (1997) and co-developer and illustrator of the children’s colouring book, “Blip”. You will often find Leah in the role of facilitator, workshop leader or key note speaker at conferences. In 1988 Leah was trained as a Clear Writing Consultant/Trainer and has since that time presented her workshops internationally, provincially and locally to health, education, social service and business sectors. Leah graduated from McMaster University in 1983 and returned to Hamilton in 1997 upon accepting the position of Executive Director of the Adult Basic Education Association. Over the years, under Leah’s leadership, ABEA has become a well established Literacy Network, Assessment Service and Community Partner.

Recipient of the 2010 Kim Brooks Memorial Award presented by the Hamilton Literacy Council, as well as the 2010 Council of the Federation Literacy Award presented by Dalton McGuinty.

Sara Gill - Assistant Executive Director - currently on maternity leave (returning August 2010)
edassist@abea.on.ca

Sara Gill has been involved in the adult literacy field for over 10 years. She has been a tutor, small group instructor, assistant program manager,researcher/developer, instructor team leader, speaker, and currently an educational assessor and online instructor for OntarioLearn - Teacher of Adults-Literacy Educator. She has worked in Literacy and Basic Skills programs, as well as in workplace essential skills education. She is a certified Laubach Literacy Tutor, and has specific training in such areas as: adult learning principles, literacy partnerships in the community, learning disabilities, CAMERA and Clear Writing principles. She has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Guelph University, majoring in English and minoring in Family & Child Studies and a Masters of Education degree through Brock University.