Our Board of Directors

The core values of our Board of Directors follow education research data that has shown reading at age seven was a key factor in determining whether students went on to get a high-income job, having better housing and a more professional roles in adulthood. The Board seeks to improve the quality of both early childhood reading and writing, through an innovative curriculum and research based pedagogical standards, as well as the design of imaginative play materials and learning environments.

Thomas Hardy, Chairman and Secretary

B. S. Government, Nasson College. Publisher, Vero Communiqué. Software systems owner (now retired). Memberships: National Press Club, Columbia Journalism Review, Society of Professional Journalists, LIONS (Local Independent News Society and Pulitzer Center K – 12. Children’s book author, “The Exclusive Life of Reba K. Williams, a Parakeet.”

Jann L. Moylan, Vice Chair

Master’s Degree, Economics and Urban Regional Planning, Florida State University. Jann Moylan received a B.S, Social Studies, Florida State University.

Sallie Hardy, Advisor

Sallie Hardy has a passion for the outdoors and an appreciation of the benefits it has on young adults. Having been shown the wilderness at a young age, she knows and understands the importance of experiencing what mother nature has to offer. She has a decade of experience working with young children; introducing them to the outdoors. Sallie provides us, although from Australia, best practices on teaching young children meaningful, memorable activities, that have immersed her students in Australia’s natural world. Sallie holds a bachelors degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from the University of Maine, Orono.

Sheana Firth

Marketing Director, Islamorada Beverages, Islamorada, FL. Prior to joining Islamorada Beverages, Sheana was, for over two years, the Chief Brand Officer and Director of Marketing for The Mental Health Association of Indian River County.
B.S. Sociology and Psychology, Florida State University. Applied empathy and human-centric framing to strategize a new brand identity and strategic marketing plan. Utilized the non-linear process of “Design Thinking” to inform process innovation and the creation of marketing programs, consumer engagement, and brand identity.

Sherry Nist Corey

Sherry was Chair of The Young Journalist Board upon our founding and has enthusiastically returned to Board in June of 2022. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Honors College but has always circled back to mentoring youth about their endless opportunities in education and life. Sherry has worked in big cities, small towns and as far away as China. In the past, she has written about Vero Beach, its history, people, and treasures for Vero Vine & the Press Journal’s Newsweekly. Her heroes from an early age have been historical Muckrakers. One of her most enjoyable pastimes is exploring Vero Beach via early morning bike rides, beach strolls or golf cart cruises, while stopping to appreciate the “treasures” everywhere. She finds Vero Beach to be the perfect place to live, work, play and give back.