Story & Lesson Highlights with Louise Baigelman of Philadelphia

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Louise Baigelman. Check out our conversation below.

Louise, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
My current focus is on the intersection of core ELA curriculum and literacy intervention within the larger education space. This is something that definitely felt daunting to tackle before. I assumed that perhaps I didn’t understand it fully, or that I didn’t have enough context on what was already being done to have a relevant voice in the matter. But as I have spent time going deeper and deeper into the current disconnects in the literacy space beyond 3rd grade, I have finally developed the background information and confidence I need to realize that no one has figured it out yet. And it is time. And if we don’t tackle it, then who will lead the way?

Storyshares has always taken a responsive approach to evolving what we offer for striving readers and educators in grades 3-12, and it has led us to this point: where we know that to truly transform the skills and opportunities of older students working on foundational literacy skills, we must not look at different components, standards, or programs in silos. We must instead help lead the way for bridging rigorous grade-level instruction and content with access points and scaffolded practice for the huge number of students who have fallen behind.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the founder and CEO of Storyshares, a literacy company focused on addressing low-literacy for the millions of students who have fallen behind in reading.

I graduated from Cornell with a BA in English and Psychology, and I received my MA in Education from Boston University. I began my career as a Teach for America corps member, where I taught reading and ran the Multilingual Learner program at KIPP Academy Lynn.

Inspired by my own experiences in the classroom, I founded Storyshares to reimagine literacy intervention for adolescents, by building a new shelf in the global library filled with engaging choices for older striving readers.

Since then, Storyshares has published a collection of close to 1,000 diverse texts, which meet students at their unique intersections of reading ability and interest – inspiring a love of reading as they work to improve their skills. Storyshares has also evolved to address the larger challenges for secondary educators who support foundational literacy skills: providing them with the tools, knowledge, and training to teach reading to the huge proportion of students in their middle and high school classrooms who cannot read proficiently. Storyshares has reached over 1.5 million students in 180 countries across the globe. Just this summer we launched LIFT — a first of its kind literacy intervention program for middle and high school students.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child I was shy and nervous, but I was also full of thoughts, stories, and ideas. The older I became, the more I began to believe in my own voice. It truly wasn’t until recently that I discovered something that I now try to teach my own children: you should not be afraid of sharing your vision with the world. It is easy to be stuck if you are fearful: afraid of imperfection, or not knowing enough. But the risk of sharing your bold ideas is not as great as the risk of keeping them to yourself.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
I miss my dad every day, and I wish he could be here now. I have new questions for him all the time. He had an endlessly rich inner world, and he developed so much wisdom — as he spent most of his time thinking, reading, and writing. He supported, advised, and encouraged me in the earlier stages of this work, and I often feel like I can hear his voice as I encounter new challenges. But I miss his ongoing insights, and the ability to ask him “what should I do about this?” in real-time.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Progress, equity, innovation, and humor.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will remember my relentless passion for the inspiring a love of reading among every student. And my unwillingness to give up on underserved and overlooked learners.

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