The Wise Readers to Leaders Teen Board is an opportunity for exemplary Junior Literacy Leaders (JLLs) from our summer program to continue to be engaged in leadership, development, programming, and planning for Wise Readers to Leaders throughout the school year. The Teen Board meets several times during the year to oversee many of the important year-round activities of Wise Readers. This year we have 85 Teen Board Members!

The WRTL Teen Board is divided into five Committees, each with its own unique responsibilities and chairs who lead their committee. In addition to the committee responsibilities, Teen Board Members help plan events and lead Junior Literacy Leader interviews and training.

Leila Sehati is a senior in high school at Geffen Academy and a devoted member of the Wise Readers to Leaders (WRTL) community. Her experiences with WRTL has fueled her passion for advocating for literacy and educational equity. Since joining the Teen Board in 9th grade, Leila has taken on progressively greater leadership responsibilities, serving as a Committee Chair in 11th grade and being elected as Co-President in 12th. These roles have deepened her commitment to supporting WRTL’s mission. In addition to her leadership on the Teen Board, Leila has actively participated in other programs serving as a remote reading and math tutor in the Remote Tutoring Program and as a Junior Literacy Leader during the Summer Program. Her commitment to WRTL demonstrates her true passion for empowering young scholars while emphasizing inclusivity and support. Volunteering with WRTL has been a meaningful journey for Leila, allowing her to make a difference in the lives of many scholars while growing as a leader and advocate.

Erin Landis is a senior at Palisades Charter High School. She has been involved with Wise readers to leaders for five years now and is currently the Vice President of the Executive Teen Board. In addition, she has been a reading mentor during the school year with numerous scholars and attends the summer camp yearly. Wise Readers to Leaders has taught her leadership, teamwork, and the power of giving back to the community, shaping her into a more compassionate and driven individual.

Barbara Cotliar is a Senior at Beverly Hills High School. She has been involved with Wise Readers to Leaders since her Sophomore year. She started as a remote tutor for English and became a Junior Literacy Leader for the Summer Literacy Program. She has actively contributed to the Teen Board and is currently serving as the Co-Chair of the Events Committee. Barbara’s involvement with WRTL has taught her so much about working with children of all ages. She has developed social/work skills that will be useful for the rest of her life and is so grateful that she gets to work with an organization as wonderful as WRTL.

Miyah is a Junior at Milken Community School and has been involved with Wise Readers to Leaders for three years. During her time with the program, she has enjoyed helping young readers develop a passion for learning and watching their confidence grow. Miyah is excited to continue contributing to this inspiring community!

Audrey is a senior at Brentwood School and has proudly served as Co-Chair of the Fundraising Committee for the past two years. Since 2021, she has been an active member of Wise Readers to Leaders, contributing as a Junior Literacy Leader, Teen Board member, and remote tutor. Audrey cherishes her time with Wise Readers to Leaders, especially the meaningful friendships she has built with both the children and fellow volunteers. She enjoys watching the students’ academic growth and personal achievements throughout the summer and school year. Beyond her volunteer work, Audrey enjoys playing tennis, baking, and expressing her creativity through art.

Celine Peykar is a Windward School junior on the Wise Readers to Leaders Teen Board Executive Committee and Committee Chair. She has been an active and dedicated member of this organization for the past two years, starting as a Junior Literacy Leader in the Summer Literacy Program 2022. Since then, she has done remote reading tutoring, led her own Spanish Enrichment classes, and now runs the entire Enrichment Committee. Wise Readers to Leaders has impacted her in numerous aspects that have helped her grow and learn more about her community. WRTL has taught her how to become an upstander for her community and the importance of caring for each and every single individual. She has created strong and meaningful relationships with each of the scholars, and she has been able to see such a positive impact on their lives, providing them with a nurturing and educational environment.

Olivia Bamshad is a senior at Brentwood School. She began at Wise Readers to Leaders in 2021, as a freshman. Olivia has volunteered as a Junior Literacy Leader over the summer, participated as a Teen Board member, and taught coding classes during the summer program. She now holds the role of Treasurer of the Teen Board as well as Social Media and Digital Marketing Co-Chair. Olivia’s experiences at WRTL have sparked her passion for education equity. She cherishes all the memories she has made during her time at WRTL. She has built incredible bonds with the scholars and has enjoyed watching them grow and improve in their reading and math each year. Olivia is excited to continue advocating for educational equity and is grateful for the lasting impact WRTL has had on both her and the community.