ABOUT US

The Reading Institute develops, implements, and expands the reach of reading science-aligned literacy interventions and professional learning for educators to ensure emergent readers develop the essential building blocks to become successful readers. 

OUR STORY

Since 2020, Dr. Katie Pace Miles has shared Reading Ready and Reading Go with thousands of tutors and PK-2 students through her development of an evidence-based university tutoring model. The success of this model led to numerous colleges replicating the tutoring model across the United States. Dr. Miles and her colleagues acknowledge that the university tutoring model is one way to reach students in need of support; however, there are districts, schools, and community-based organizations in need of affordable effective interventions. With the generous support of funders, Dr. Miles and her team have established The Reading Institute to increase access to Reading Ready, Reading Go, and our 10-hour Science of Reading microcredential course.

OUR TEAM

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Dr. Katie Pace Miles

Founder & President

Katharine Pace Miles, Ph.D. is an associate professor at Brooklyn College, City University of New York (CUNY). Dr. Miles’s research interests include orthographic mapping, high frequency word learning, reading interventions, and literacy instruction that is both developmentally appropriate and grounded in the science of reading. Dr. Miles is the academic advisor for Reading Go!, an evidence-based intervention for first and second grade students. She is the author of Reading Ready, an explicit and systematic word reading curriculum for kindergarten and first grade students. Dr. Miles is also the co-founder and principal investigator of CUNY Reading Corps, which improves preservice teacher training and provides free high-dosage tutoring to historically underserved NYC students. Dr. Miles’s latest projects involve opening new advanced graduate coursework in reading science and finding more ways to bring free tutoring to emergent readers in need of support.

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Christina Oliver

Executive Director

Christina holds administrative, managerial and programmatic responsibilities working with the TRI team, strategic and foundation partners. Christina Oliver is a recognized Edtech leader, strategic advisor, manager and fundraiser with a successful track record scaling edtech solutions that drive impact, equity and access. Most recently, she consulted with the team at ReadWorks on school and district partnerships and was the Executive Director at Read to Lead. Christina has led program development, partnerships, and curriculum development teams that have all delivered measurable and transformative literacy learning experiences for students nationwide. She is committed to ensuring all students and their families have access to essential building blocks to be confident and joyful readers.

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Emily VanHouten

Director of Programs and Partnerships

Emily is TRI’s Director of Programs and Partnerships. Emily brings curricular and program expertise to TRI overseeing product development and working with our partners to develop impactful programmatic models. Prior to TRI, Emily served as an elementary teacher, instructional coach, school leader, and a program designer and partnership director at an education foundation focused on effective family engagement strategies for schools and districts. Emily believes in the power of collaboration and partnership, and daily centers TRI’s mission in her work to establish pathways for all students to be successful readers.

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Madeline Glickman

Manager of Programs and Partnerships

Madeline is TRI’s Manager of Programs and Partnerships. In this role, Madeline works with partners at higher education institutions, schools and districts to help them successfully implement Reading Ready and Reading Go! programs.

Madeline has deep experience as a literacy teacher and reading interventionist in Title 1 schools. She believes in the power of strong reading instruction for all students. In addition, she has worked as an education consultant to support and advocate for school leaders across the country.

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Yascara Maldonado

Administrative Assistant

Yascara Maldonado earned a degree in business and spent 10 years training and building customer relations. She then pursued a degree in her passion, early childhood education and spent some time in schools in both a teaching capacity and administrative work. Yascara has dedicated her professional career to bridging the gap between organizations and the access to resources. When she is not out connecting with the community she spends her time at dance and gymnastics practice with her daughter, working on a manuscript, and spending time with family.

OUR BOARD

  • Jayne Bentzen

    President and Board Chair of the Benedict Silverman Foundation

  • Diane Archer

    Founder and President of Just Care USA

  • Andrew Fletcher

    Director of Literacy
 Community School District 7