The Literacy Architects is led by founder and managing director Seema Tejura. Seema has over twelve years of experience leading students, teachers, and leaders towards literacy success, influencing over 150,000 students in 350+ schools. She has held various positions in urban school districts, including reading specialist, literacy coach, reading/language arts director, and chief academic officer.

Seema has rolled out the Common Core State Standards to elementary schools in the District of Columbia, changed mindsets in Dallas by showing teachers the power of students citing evidence from the text to support their answers, made the case for writing instruction at every grade level, and raised student achievement through teacher use of close reading modules and text sets. She has structured the inaugural year for two instructional coaching programs and has implemented countless district-wide initiatives. She has experience leading literacy programs for general education, ESL, and special education students.

Seema holds master’s degrees in reading and education leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University and The George Washington University. She is also a reading specialist, Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner, and Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP).

Caitlin is a Science of Reading Specialist and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Vanderbilt University. She has held various positions in rural and urban school districts, including elementary classroom teacher, literacy interventionist, gifted and talented teacher, RTI coordinator, strategic planning board member, and Title Services program coordinator.

Caitlin prioritizes evidence-based best practices within the MTSS framework, while making research both accessible and approachable to educators. Her belief that literacy is a civil right and a prerequisite for survival and success within our society influences her work designing professional development and social media content for The Literacy Architects.

When not working, you can find Caitlin curled up with a book and a dog, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, or enjoying the majesty of the San Juan mountains.

Dr. Karen Betz is an Assistant Professor of Literacy and Coordinator of Reading Science Programs at Marian University in Indianapolis. She graduated from Mt. St. Joseph University’s Doctoral Program with a concentration in Reading Science. She is a former elementary teacher, gifted interventionist, and school and district literacy coach. She is an Orton-Gillingham trainer for the M.A. Rooney Foundation. She enjoys supporting schools, districts, and higher education institutions in their journey to learn more about the science of reading as a consultant in her business, KB Literacy Consulting.