ABOUT US
We believe that literacy is a human right.
Solving our nation’s reading crisis cannot be achieved without a grassroots movement. We reflect the urgency of this issue in our mission and core values.
Our Mission
The Literacy Lab strives to ensure that all people have access to evidence-based literacy development to unlock opportunities for success in school and life.
We achieve our mission by:
- Prioritizing the development of staff and Fellows.
- Using data analyses to drive innovation and continuous improvement.
- Engaging in strategic partnerships to meet the needs of students, schools, and communities.
Our Vision
We believe literacy is not just a skill, but a fundamental human right. When we fulfill our mission, we will build a world where everyone has the literacy to shape their future and make their hopes and aspirations a reality.
History
The Literacy Lab was co-founded by Tom Dillon and Ashley Johnson in 2009 in response to the challenges that Ashley saw in her own classroom as a high school special education teacher for District of Columbia Public Schools. The Literacy Lab began by offering after-school reading tutoring to children in Washington, DC and Alexandria, VA. In 2012 The Literacy Lab was selected as a national replication partner for the Reading Corps model. In 2016, the organization established the Leading Men Fellowship after identifying the need for more men in the education workforce. As the organization expanded and evolved through years, it remains steadfast in its mission to help resolve the literacy crisis by providing evidence-based literacy instruction.
Core Values
We believe that all children deserve to learn how to read and that literacy is a human right. We reflect the urgency of this issue by operating with the following core values:
Intentional Action, Meaningful Impact
Our impact is strongest when we approach our work with intention, responsibility, and a deep commitment to the students, schools, and communities we serve. We strive to create meaningful change through practices that reflect our values.
People First
People are not just part of our organization; people are our organization—we must focus on their humanity. This drives us to best serve, support, and prioritize our students, staff, Fellows, and families, understanding and attending to their needs, hopes, and dreams as people.
Both/And Mindset
To honor our internal and external commitments, we must employ a both/and mindset. This drives us to reject either/or thinking and decision-making and lean into creative both/and thinking and execution. We will be disciplined and adaptive, systematic and creative, collaborative and decisive.
Lifelong Learning
We must center and prioritize our learning and development as individuals and as a collective. This drives us to use data, research, and feedback to assess and revise our practices continuously. We will be bold and humble as we learn from and with students, school partners, Fellows, and one another.
Intentional Resource Stewardship
We must be fully and broadly sustainable to achieve our desired impact for those we serve. This drives us to create and maintain sustainable, engaging roles for staff, Fellows, and to be diligent and thoughtful in how we generate and allocate our financial and other resources.
