INSTITUTE OF
READING DEVELOPMENT
A Nationwide Leader in Reading Skills Programs
INSTITUTE OF
READING DEVELOPMENT
A Nationwide Leader in
Reading Skills Programs
INSTITUTE OF
READING
DEVELOPMENT
A Nationwide Leader in
Reading Skills Programs
Our Mission
Provide great experiences in great books.
Inspire a lifelong love of reading in every student.
Our Mission:
Provide great experiences in great books.
Inspire a lifelong love of reading in every student.
We Are…
partners with over 60 colleges, universities and other non-profit educational organizations nationwide, bringing valuable programs to families in the communities they serve.
who believe that a meaningful connection to books is the basis for both personal enrichment and academic success.
dedicated to helping students master the reading skills they need at every stage of reading development.
partners
with over 100 colleges, universities and other non-profit educational organizations nationwide, bringing valuable programs to families in the communities they serve.
who believe that a meaningful connection to books is the basis for both personal enrichment and academic success.
dedicated to helping students master the reading skills they need at every stage of reading development.
partners
with over 60 colleges, universities and other non-profit educational organizations nationwide, bringing valuable programs to families in the communities they serve.
The Institute of Reading Development has proudly taught valuable reading skills to more than two million students across the United States since 1970.
Paul Copperman
Our Story
“In 1970, Paul Copperman founded the Institute of Reading Development with the vision of making reading a central, vital part of life for children and adults. As a child, Paul had been shaped by reading great books. He understood that reading is a formative experience that gives us insight into what makes life meaningful. He set out to help students of all ages and backgrounds build the reading skills they needed to immerse themselves in great books and develop a lifelong love of reading.
In that first year, Paul was the sole teacher and taught about 300 students. Since then, the Institute of Reading Development has grown to teach students of all ages, from preschoolers through adults, in partnership with over 100 local institutions in all 50 states. We’ve built a staff of skilled, caring teachers who are passionate about teaching reading and sharing their love of books. Our programs now include live online classes in addition to those taught in the physical classroom. Driving this evolution is a team of talented, dedicated people who share Paul’s vision of reading as a transformative experience, and who believe in the simple pleasure of getting lost in a good book.
As our programs have expanded, our reason for being has remained constant: to teach students the reading skills they need and provide great experiences with great books – all in service of inspiring a love of books and reading. Many children grow up with our programs, from learning about the alphabet and the magic of picture books to mastering advanced reading skills and engaging with great works of literature. We’re proud to be a partner to families as their children develop into successful students and lifelong readers.”
– Doug Evans
– Doug Evans
Company Information
– Josh Kizner
– Josh Kizner
Lisa Fink
Curriculum
Our curriculum team sets every student up for success, with research-based instruction that keeps students engaged while they learn. We take pride in selecting great books that capture every student’s imagination and spark a love of reading. With our effective curriculum and inspiring teachers, we’re confident that our students learn the right reading skills at every grade level.
Departments
Lisa Fink
Curriculum
Our curriculum team sets every student up for success, with research-based instruction that keeps students engaged while they learn. We take pride in selecting great books that capture every student’s imagination and spark a love of reading. With our effective curriculum and inspiring teachers, we’re confident that our students learn the right reading skills at every grade level.
Teaching
There’s a reason that so many Institute employees start out teaching our programs! We hire individuals with a deep love of reading and provide them with extensive teacher training so that they can effectively share this love with students. The passion for books and reading is noticeable in the teaching department, which trains and supervises our teachers nationwide.
John Boyd
John Boyd
Teaching
There’s a reason that so many Institute employees start out teaching our programs! We hire individuals with a deep love of reading and provide them with extensive teacher training so that they can effectively share this love with students. The passion for books and reading is noticeable in the teaching department, which trains and supervises our teachers nationwide.
Tiffany Gilbert
Eugenie Borton
Contact Center
Thousands of families contact us every year to learn more about our reading programs and how to enroll. Whatever questions or concerns parents may have, our skilled and compassionate sales and customer service teams are there to help. Whether families are considering a program, already signed up, or in the middle of a program, they can count on the contact center to give them the solutions and support they need.
Information Technology
Our core mission remains constant, but our programs and how we deliver them are continually evolving. Our dedicated IT department provides real-time support for families using our digital learning platforms and maintains all of the websites, applications, and systems needed to give every student a great experience.
Nicole Prior
Director of Technology
Nicole Prior
Director of Technology
Information Technology
Our core mission remains constant, but our programs and how we deliver them are continually evolving. Our dedicated IT department provides real-time support for families using our digital learning platforms and maintains all of the websites, applications, and systems needed to give every student a great experience.
Ryan O’Leary
Marketing
Each year our print and digital advertising campaigns reach millions of families, letting them know more about our exceptional programs and how to enroll. Our creative marketing team is always looking for new ways to get the word out about the big difference our programs make for students’ reading development.
