About Us
We help schools reach their literacy potential. We have worked to raise students' literacy skills for years, as educators, researchers, and instructional leaders.
Our Story
Dr. Josh Lawrence, a literacy researcher and educator, was frustrated by the persistent gap between research-based practices and their effective implementation in schools. Traditional professional development (PD) models often fell short, emphasizing theoretical learning rather than practical, sustained application. To address this challenge, Dr. Lawrence developed the SCALE Model for Instructional Coaching, an implementation-focused adaptation of the Collaborative Coaching Model, designed to power the Reading Ways Adolescent Literacy PD program.
The SCALE Model centers on in-school literacy leaders who facilitate peer-to-peer discussions and contextual exercises, ensuring that new literacy practices are applied in real classrooms, not just learned in theory. While highly effective, SCALE still faced a common challenge: schools made progress while external support was in place but struggled to sustain it once outside experts left.
Determined to break this cycle, Dr. Lawrence partnered with Jay Fahey, a product strategy and technology expert, to develop the SCALE Learning Platform, a private digital learning community that empowers schools to build internal capacity. With discussion boards, a shared resource library, and an AI Coaching Assistant, the platform enables school-based teams to sustain the Collaborative Coaching Model independently.
Armed with this technology, Reading Ways now delivers its Adolescent Literacy Program to middle and high schools nationwide. By equipping educators with targeted, high-impact resources and connecting them with local literacy leaders, Reading Ways ensures lasting, school-wide change. Instead of relying on temporary external support, schools can invest in their own instructional leaders, providing them with the tools, training, and network they need to sustain best practices long after initial implementation.
With AI-powered coaching, collaborative learning tools, and a commitment to research-backed strategies, Reading Ways is revolutionizing professional learning, ensuring that literacy progress is not just achieved, but sustained.
Our Approach
At Reading Ways, we provide our partners with research-based and tested solutions, delivered on a cutting-edge technology platform that fosters collaboration and long-term growth. Our platform equips teachers and instructional leaders with the tools they need to integrate high-impact literacy strategies across all subjects.
We believe in sustainable professional learning, not one-time interventions. That’s why our RW-certified consultants offer flexible, on-demand support, tailoring our approach to meet the evolving needs of each school and district. Rather than relying on temporary partnerships, we work to keep both expertise and funding within the district, ensuring that educators have the resources and training they need to maintain progress long after initial implementation.
By combining proven literacy strategies, AI-driven coaching, and collaborative learning tools, Reading Ways builds self-sustaining communities of practice, empowering schools to lead their own professional development and drive lasting, school-wide change.
Team
Joshua Lawrence
Dr. Joshua Lawrence is a researcher, innovator, and leader in literacy education and adult learning. With extensive experience in school-based research and professional development, he is committed to bridging the gap between research and practice. His work spans natural language processing (NLP), assessment development, and large-scale educational interventions, all aimed at improving literacy outcomes. He has held faculty positions at the University of Oslo and the University of California, Irvine, and has led multiple grant-funded research initiatives. Joshua’s expertise drives the vision of Reading Ways, ensuring that the platform remains at the forefront of literacy education innovation. Learn more about his work at www.joshualawrence.com.
Richard (Jay) Fahey
Jay Fahey is an experienced product strategist and operations leader with a background in scaling technology solutions. Before co-founding Reading Ways, he held key product leadership roles at Grubhub, CVS Health, and Vistaprint, where he specialized in platform development, product-market fit, and user engagement strategies. Jay brings a deep understanding of how to design and implement scalable, user-centered solutions, ensuring that Reading Ways continues to grow and serve educators effectively.
Naman Gala
Naman Gala is a data scientist and AI engineer specializing in machine learning, data analytics, and automation. With a strong background in artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making, Naman supports Reading Ways in developing AI-powered tools that enhance literacy instruction. He has expertise in building scalable data pipelines, implementing NLP models, and leveraging cloud-based solutions to optimize educational technology. His work ensures that Reading Ways remains at the forefront of AI-driven professional development for educators.
Selected publications
Jim Fahey
Jim Fahey leads the client onboarding and success team at Reading Ways, ensuring that every school and district implementing our platform receives the support they need to maximize its impact. With extensive experience in customer relations, professional development, and educational implementation, Jim is dedicated to building strong partnerships with educators and administrators. His work focuses on streamlining onboarding processes, enhancing user experience, and driving long-term success for our partner schools.
Selected publications
Quanah Lawrence
Quanah Lawrence graduated from York University with a Film Production BFA. She specializes in editing and post production work and is excited to bring these skills to the Reading Ways team. The unique and impactful work at Reading Ways appeals to her interest in education which has been fostered in her family by generations of educators. While she focuses on video production, she enjoys the many opportunities Reading Ways provides to work in a variety of fields, including resource development, research, and customer success.
Selected publications
Maria Ferreira
Maria Ferreira is studying architecture at Instituto Superior Técnico, part of University of Lisbon, Portugal. She is currently working on her thesis and is taking on part-time, freelance jobs related to marketing and design. After winning one of Reading Ways’ design contests, she has been part of its team, working as a web assistant that focuses on designing resources, website management and video production.
Selected publications