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

Teach the right reading skills.
Provide great experiences in great books.
Inspire a lifelong love of reading in every student.

Our Mission:

Teach the right reading skills.
Provide great experiences in great books.
Inspire a lifelong love of reading in every student.

We Are…

readers who believe that a meaningful connection to books is the basis for both personal enrichment and academic success.
teachers dedicated to helping students master the reading skills they need at every stage of reading development.

partners with colleges, universities and other non-profit educational organizations nationwide, bringing valuable programs to families in the communities they serve.

readers 
who believe that a meaningful connection to books is the basis for both personal enrichment and academic success.
teachers
dedicated to helping students master the reading skills they need at every stage of reading development.

partners
with colleges, universities and other non-profit educational organizations nationwide, bringing valuable programs to families in the communities they serve.

readers 
who believe that a meaningful connection to books is the basis for both personal enrichment and academic success.
teachers
dedicated to helping students master the reading skills they need at every stage of reading development.

partners
with 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 three million students across the United States since 1970.

Paul Copperman

Founder and President

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 institutions across the country. We’ve built a staff of skilled, caring teachers who are passionate about teaching reading and sharing their love of books. Driving this 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

Chief Executive Officer

Vice President, Technology

Started as a teacher in 1995

– Doug Evans

Chief Executive Officer
Vice President, Technology
Started as a teacher in 1995

Company Information

“We’re fortunate that so many talented, intelligent and enthusiastic people have found a home at the Institute of Reading Development. Our employees bring unique skills and strengths to their various roles across the organization, but they are all readers and share in the Institute’s mission to inspire a love of reading. Our team is dedicated to providing students and their families with the best possible experience in our programs.”

– Josh Kizner

Chief Operating Officer
Vice President, Partnerships
Started as a teacher in 2000

– Josh Kizner

Chief Operating Officer
Vice President, Partnerships
Started as a teacher in 2000

Lisa Fink

Director of Curriculum
Started as a teacher in 1987

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

Director of Curriculum
Started as a teacher in 1987

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

Director of Instruction
Started as a teacher in 1991

John Boyd

Director of Instruction
Started as a teacher in 1991

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

Sales Manager
Started as a teacher in 2006

Eugenie Borton

Customer Service Manager
Started as Program Advisor in 2010

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
Started as a teacher in 2008

Nicole Prior

Director of Technology
Started as a teacher in 2008

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

Director of Marketing
Started as marketing assistant in 1995

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.

Operations

Successfully teaching reading skills to our students involves a lot of planning and preparation. Our industrious operations team ensures that everything runs smoothly year after year. The operations department handles all program schedules and distributes books and materials to families across the country.

Join Our Sales Team Today

Join Our Sales Team Today