The IMSE Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring all children in every zip code learn to read, is proud to announce the appointment of Krista Gauthier as its new executive director. An extension of the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE), the Foundation plays a major role in expanding teacher access to IMSE’s training in order to help students across the country achieve reading proficiency.

Gauthier's appointment comes at a critical time, with a national literacy crisis affecting millions of students. Recent data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reveals that reading scores for nine- and 13-year-olds declined by four points in the 2022-2023 school year compared to the 2019-2020 school year, and by seven points compared to a decade ago. Roughly 40% of students nationwide struggle to read, and students with dyslexia are particularly at risk.

"Our education system is struggling to meet student needs," said Gauthier. “Too many kids are slipping through the cracks because teachers are not equipped with the training and tools to teach literacy effectively. I am honored to join the IMSE Foundation in its mission to change that.”

A report by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) traces the roots of the crisis, showing that only about a quarter of teacher preparation programs cover all five critical components of reading instruction—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Furthermore, nearly 60% of programs dedicate less than two hours to dyslexia training. Yet research shows that with better instruction, over 90% of students could become proficient readers.

As the founder and president of Dyslexic Edge, an organization providing specialized tutoring for students with dyslexia and enrichment activities for STEM fields, Gauthier has been grappling with the literacy crisis long before coming into her new position. During her time at Dyslexic Edge, Gauthier has been instrumental in creating a major partnership to launch an innovative after-school program called the Dyslexic Edge Academy, which launched on October 21, 2024. The IMSE Foundation expects this network of alliances to be an important asset for Gauthier as she pursues key Foundation initiatives in the months ahead.

Among the initiatives is a school-based practicum conceived by leaders at the IMSE Foundation and Raising Hands Literacy Project, a New Jersey nonprofit focused on reducing the achievement gap for underserved students. The organizations have come together to launch The Reading Lab, an in-person IMSE Orton-Gillingham certification center. This facility allows teachers to complete the IMSE practicum while providing at-risk children with over 55 hours of free, intensive reading tutoring they need but may not otherwise be able to afford. Once completed, these teachers will be eligible to take the KPEERI exam and become CERI Certified - a model that meets both the needs of children and the teachers who teach them.  

Along with The Reading Lab, Gauthier will oversee efforts to empower teachers and advocate for structured literacy training nationwide. As a parent of a child with dyslexia, she is deeply committed to ensuring that every child receives evidence-based reading instruction and draws inspiration from the stories of students who found the support they need.

"I could barely focus on school, and I used to struggle a lot,” said Alessandra Rodas, a student who went through Gauthier’s Dyslexic Edge program. “I was afraid for anyone to find out I was dyslexic. But now, I have more confidence, I can read in front of people, and I made a lot of friends in the program. It’s been really helpful.”

The IMSE Foundation has already awarded five scholarships to teachers. Scholarship recipients include: Elizabeth Zakrzewski from The School District of Philadelphia, Pamela Bartholomew from Lancaster City School District, Lauren Matthaey from Norfolk Public Schools, Sadie Hewitt from Oakland Unified School District, and Trisha Miller from PSD 202 School District. One teacher trained in structured literacy impacts classrooms of children to come. Every child. Everywhere. Deserves to learn to read. 

For more information on the IMSE Foundation, its partnerships, and scholarship programs, visit https://imsefoundation.org/.