About Naima Richardson
Naima Richardson is a literacy leader with 23 years in PK–8 education. As Senior Director of the Science of Reading Network, she partners with districts, such as Baltimore City Schools and Jackson Public Schools, to design and implement coherent programming that strengthens teachers' ability to deliver evidence-based literacy instruction. She leverages her strengths in strategic thinking and data analysis to design and facilitate curriculum-aligned professional learning while grounding stakeholders in a common vision for focused and coherent work.
Before joining Leading Educators, Naima served public schools as a teacher, coach, and assistant principal. In Washington, DC, she designed and implemented an Early Literacy Action Plan that supported educational staff in high-impact practices—driving a 23% increase in K–1 benchmark proficiency in one year. At Leading Educators, Naima has supported 17 school-based coaches in reaching 94% proficiency in feedback during facilitation and directed the launch of a district-wide literacy coaching system for 120 K–8 coaches. She also trained district specialists on coaching facilitation, giving Baltimore City Public Schools its first comprehensive insight into how school-based coaches lead PLCs.
Naima holds master’s degrees in educational leadership and elementary & early childhood education, along with a CERI certification in structured literacy classroom teacher, which she applies to build effective systems that turn research into measurable results.
Before joining Leading Educators, Naima served public schools as a teacher, coach, and assistant principal. In Washington, DC, she designed and implemented an Early Literacy Action Plan that supported educational staff in high-impact practices—driving a 23% increase in K–1 benchmark proficiency in one year. At Leading Educators, Naima has supported 17 school-based coaches in reaching 94% proficiency in feedback during facilitation and directed the launch of a district-wide literacy coaching system for 120 K–8 coaches. She also trained district specialists on coaching facilitation, giving Baltimore City Public Schools its first comprehensive insight into how school-based coaches lead PLCs.
Naima holds master’s degrees in educational leadership and elementary & early childhood education, along with a CERI certification in structured literacy classroom teacher, which she applies to build effective systems that turn research into measurable results.
