About Us
Welcome to READ (Reading, Education, and Development), your dedicated partner in fostering a lifelong love of reading in children. Based in Richmond, Virginia, we specialize in tutoring preschool and elementary age students; offering a unique blend of individual and small group sessions tailored to each child's needs.
Our Mission: At READ, we believe that every child possesses the potential to become an avid reader and a lifelong learner. Our mission is to unlock this potential through specialized tutoring services, focusing on phonics, phonemic awareness, writing, spelling, reading comprehension, and fluency. Our approach is particularly effective for students with learning challenges, such as dyslexia, and those seeking enrichment in their reading journey.
Unique Offerings
We are proud to be the first in Richmond, VA, to introduce the "Little Learners and Loved Ones" classes - an innovative program designed to engage preschoolers and a caregiver in a shared reading experience. Through captivating stories and interactive early literacy activities, we aim to instill a foundational love for reading at an early age.
Our Expertise
At the heart of our success is our team of highly qualified tutors. Trained in a structured literacy keystone approach encompassing the Orton-Gillingham techniques as well as hands on multisensory learning. Our seasoned educators are all licensed and certified to teach reading through the VDOE and have completed thorough background checks. They bring a wealth of experience and a compassionate touch to their teaching methods. Each reading expert is matched with students to create a nurturing environment that fosters learning and growth.
Core Values
Our philosophy revolves around instilling a passion for reading and empowering children to overcome any learning obstacles. We are committed to helping each child reach their fullest potential, emphasizing early intervention and personalized learning plans.
Join Us on Our Mission: Whether your child faces challenges in reading or you seek to enrich their literacy skills, READ is here to guide them on a path of success and enjoyment in reading. We invite you to be a part of our reading revolution, where every child is a star waiting to shine.
Our Team
Anna Hatfield - Director, Reading Education And Development
Anna embarked on her educational journey at the University of Tennessee, specializing in Child Development. She earned her Masters in Early Childhood Education in 2005, further advancing her knowledge and skills. Continuing her pursuit of excellence, she obtained a postmasters in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Supervision at VCU.
Throughout her career, Anna has showcased her dedication to education by teaching across various grade levels in elementary schools. Her commitment to linguistic diversity is evident through her Teaching English as a Second Language endorsement. Anna has earned numerous reading certifications and is well-versed in Structured Literacy Approaches/Science of Reading methodology, including Wilson, Heggerty, OG approach, Walpole, and McKenna.
Anna's leadership extends to both public and private school systems, where she has held significant roles such as Principal, Educational Specialist, and ESL Supervisor. She has been a presenter at local, state, and national conferences, covering a spectrum of educational and leadership topics. Anna passionately believes in the transformative power of literacy, stating that witnessing a child learn to read is an unparalleled joy.
Currently residing in Henrico, Virginia, Anna is a devoted mother to three boys, supported by her husband, and their Frenchie, Frank. Outside of her professional endeavors, Anna finds joy in activities such as yoga, tennis, reading, gardening, and actively engages in volunteer opportunities within her community.
Dr. Kaye Thomas – Reading Specialist
Kaye’s true passion in life is her love of teaching and learning. She has dedicated herself to academic pursuits and educating individuals for over 45 years. Kaye holds multiple degrees and has a vast number of professional experiences. Through all of Kaye’s experiences she hasn’t found anything as awe inspiring as watching a child learn to read. It is in this moment that doors open to imagination and discovery and the world becomes unlimited.
Her journey began at Longwood University, Farmville, VA where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and two Masters’ Degrees in Developmental Reading and Educational Leadership. As she continued traveling the educational trail, she earned her Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Technology from Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, and then her final academic accomplishment was earning her Doctorate Degree from Virginia Tech in Educational Policy and Leadership.
Her instructional roles have encompassed all levels of K-12 education (elementary, middle, and high) both in the classroom and in administration. She has served as a central office administrator, as a staff development instructor for educators, as a parent education facilitator and as an Assistant Superintendent. Additionally, she has held the position of adjunct professor at The University of Richmond and Virginia Union University.
The accomplishments Kaye has achieved have been recognized at the county, state and national level. She has won awards for educational leadership, presented at multiple conferences, represented the state at a national consortium and testified before congress on the benefits and advances in public K-12 education.
Kaye is extremely grateful she has a profession she loves and looks forward to continuing to seek ways to share the love of learning with others.
Hannah Castro - Reading Specialist
Hannah earned both her Bachelor's and her Master's of Teaching degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She holds an active teaching license in the state of Virginia, with a certification to teach Pre-K-6th grades. Hannah enjoys furthering her teaching knowledge by attending in-person or virtual conferences and webinars. She specifically enjoys professional development on the Science of Reading, which is based on decades of research and evidence on how children learn to read.
Hannah has taught in a wide variety of schools, including public, private, and virtual schools, as well as homeschooling her own children for four years. Hannah especially enjoys teaching reading and watching students have that "lightbulb" moment when they learn to decode, comprehend, read more fluently, or better understand a new concept. Hannah has experience with ESL, special education, gifted, and general education students in grades pre-k, kindergarten, second, and third; as well as reading, math, and ESL tutoring for ages 3-12.
In addition to working for READ, Hannah also teaches pre-kindergarten at Trinity United Methodist Preschool. She relishes in the ability to make learning come alive through engaging read alouds, learning games, and hands-on activities. Her classroom theme is Pete the Cat, because she likes helping instill a love for storybook characters in her students!
Hannah lives in Henrico, Virginia, with her husband and two teenage children. Aside from teaching, Hannah loves being a soccer and field hockey mom, volunteering at her church, and spending time with friends and family.
Rachel Fanshaw Bio- Sept. 2024
Rachel began her educational journey at Towson University in Towson, Maryland with her degree in Early Childhood Education. She earned her Masters of Education in Reading from Towson University in 2012. She has been teaching for 14 years and is a Certified Reading Specialist in grades K-12.
Rachel has taught in private schools and public schools across four counties in two states. She holds her Teaching Certificate in both Maryland and Virginia. She has worked with children with Autism, ADD, Dyslexia and learning disabilities in a variety of school settings. She has also assisted adults in their reading journey. She is committed to the success of all types of readers, as she tailors each lesson to the specific needs of the individual student. She finds great joy in sharing her love of reading with her students.
Rachel is the author of a children’s book titled, The Tangle Jangles. It is a story about a girl who wakes up with tangles in her hair and embarks on a journey to find out what is going on with her hair at night! Her book was published in February of 2024. After being published, she has enjoyed encouraging others to become authors, as she shares her writing journey with both children and adults alike. Rachel enjoys the magic of a child connecting with a book and wanting to become a successful reader and writer.
Currently residing in Midlothian, Virginia, Rachel is a wife and mother of two children. When she isn’t teaching children to read, Rachel enjoys reading, creating, yoga, art, swimming and gardening. Rachel’s book can be purchased through Mascot Publishing or Amazon.