Staff

Paul Socolar, editor and director
215-951-0330 x2107, pauls@thenotebook.org
Editor and director of the Notebook since 1999, Paul was one of the Notebook’s founders in 1994. He came to the Notebook as a public school parent with a long history of involvement in public education and other social justice issues. His children both graduated from Philadelphia public schools. He has been an active Home & School Association member and served as a parent representative on a School Council. Prior to becoming editor, he worked on education issues for the National Coalition of Education Activists and the American Friends Service Committee.

Wendy Harris, managing editor
215-951-0330 x2145, wendyh@thenotebook.org
Wendy became the Notebook's managing editor in October 2008. She has been a contributing writer to Black Enterprise magazine covering small businesses and previously worked as a managing editor for Hollister Creative Services, a custom publishing company in Wynnewood, Pa. She is also the author of two business books: Black Enterprise Guide to Starting Your Own Business and Against All Odds: Ten Entrepreneurs Who Followed Their Hearts and Found Success. Wendy is a Philadelphia native and Penn State graduate.

Dale Mezzacappa, contributing editor
215-951-0330 x2112, dalem@thenotebook.org
Dale joined the staff in February 2008 after two years as a freelance contributor. She brings to the Notebook two decades of experience covering education for the Philadelphia Inquirer, a strong local and national reputation as an award-winning reporter, and a wealth of local and national contacts. As contributing editor, Dale writes stories as well as editing content for the Notebook. She is the immediate past president of the board of the national Education Writers Association, teaches a journalism course at Swarthmore, and works with Philadelphia high school newspapers through the Prime Movers project.

David Limm, online editor
215-951-0330 x2155, davidl@thenotebook.org
David joined the Notebook in September 2012. He was formerly the education editor at Vault. He has also worked as an afterschool teacher in New York’s Chinatown and as a freelance writer for Teachers College. David is a graduate of Brown University and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Shawn Phillips, advertising sales / business manager
215-951-0330 x2160, shawnp@thenotebook.org
Shawn came to the notebook in June 2012 with 20 years' experience in publishing, advertising and marketing. He was previously the Classified Advertising Manager for ALM Media in Philadelphia and their daily newspaper The Legal Intelligencer. While at ALM Shawn was also the national sales coordinator for lawjobs.com. Shawn earned a Certificate in Editing and Publishing from Temple University. Shawn has previously worked for Gannett, the publishers of USA Today and Journal Register Company, the publishers of The Reporter in Lansdale.

Tim Cravens, development director
215-951-0330 x2144, timc@thenotebook.org
Tim joined the Notebook in January, 2013. He has served in a number of capacities for several nonprofits in his career, including Hadassah, the American Friends Service Committee, and Prometheus Radio Project. Tim also served for five years on the board of Marriage Equality New York. A product of public schools for his elementary and secondary education, he holds a BA from Emory University and an MDiv from Harvard University.

Other contributors

Benjamin Herold, reporter
Ben is an education reporter based at WHYY/NewsWorks who also contributes regularly to the Notebook. His reporting appears here as part of a content-sharing partnership. After 10 years as a volunteer and freelancer, Ben joined the staff of the Notebook in 2011 through the partnership with WHYY's news website, NewsWorks. Since moving to Philadelphia in 1998, Ben has worked as a researcher, freelance writer, and award-winning independent documentary filmmaker. His focus has been on the experiences of public school students and their families. Ben has a Master's degree in Urban Education from Temple University and was a Columbia University/New York Times Institute Education Reporting Fellow.

Staff consultants

Harvey Finkle, photography
www.harveyfinkle.com
Harvey is a still photographer who documents the activities of many progressive organizations and has produced a substantial body of work concerned with social, political and cultural issues. His work has been extensively exhibited and published, including three books entitled, "Urban Nomads," "Still Home: Jews of South Philadelphia" and "Reading."

Mildred S. Martinez, Spanish translation
millysuazo@gmail.com
Mildred has served as Spanish translator for the Notebook since 2000. She provides translation services from her home in Allentown, PA.

Joseph Kemp, designer
Joseph Kemp is a graphic designer in Morrisville, PA, a strong supporter of public education, and a Morrisville school board member.