Tulsa

Heather joined the Reading Partners team in 2017 as a program director and served most recently as the managing director in Tulsa. In her tenure at Reading Partners, Heather has led the team to see 93 percent (a 10 percent increase) of principals from partner schools reporting improved school-wide reading progress. Before joining Reading Partners, Heather built a wealth of knowledge and experience while teaching and leading in both district and charter schools. Immediately prior to joining Reading Partners, Heather was the principal of Wright Elementary School in Tulsa Public Schools (TPS), where she led her team to increased reading proficiency for all third, fourth, and fifth-grade students on the Oklahoma Core Curriculum Tests (OCCT). Heather is excited to lead the Reading Partners team through new opportunities as we make plans for the 2021-22 school year.

Alexis is an accomplished academic as well as a seasoned tutor committed to an inclusive and integrity-rich approach to education. She received a presidential scholarship to study at San Francisco State University and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in humanities. After her undergraduate studies, she worked for an after school nonprofit as a tutor and coordinator for a weekly self-esteem group for girls. In 2011, she received an international scholarship to complete a master’s in American studies in Norwich, UK, where she focused on children’s literature and gift theory. After receiving her master’s, she lived in Istanbul, teaching ESL to early learners, and then Seattle, where she began her relationship with Reading Partners. She’s served two AmeriCorps service terms with Reading Partners in Seattle and Baltimore and now serves full-time as Reading Partners’ community engagement director.

Rae Carmichael is a Springfield, Missouri native and has spent her career weaving together the tapestry of social work and education. Rae holds to a firm conviction that given the right support, all students can achieve and thrive. Equipped with a Bachelors of Social Work from Southeastern University in 2012, and a Masters of Social Work from Missouri State University in 2013, Rae’s passion for youth advocacy led her Tulsa Public Schools where she served as a social service specialist. After earning her LCSW, Rae transitioned to Collegiate Hall as the director of student services in July 2019. In June 2020, the pandemic forced schools to pivot education and Rae embraced the challenge and accepted the role of founding school director for Collegiate Hall Primary School. Today, Rae Carmichael brings her unwavering commitment to providing equitable education opportunities to Reading Partners. Through collaboration and data driven practices, Rae has a deep desire to positively impact the literacy landscape in Tulsa.

Amanda has devoted her entire professional career to public education, first as a classroom teacher in Memphis and Dallas and later as an instructional coach. In 2019, Amanda and her family moved from Dallas to Tulsa. Upon arrival, Amanda joined the Tulsa Reading Partners team as an AmeriCorps member, first as a literacy lead, and then as a site coordinator at McKinley Elementary and McClure Elementary. Amanda graduated from the University of Memphis with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a Masters in Library Science at OU-Tulsa.

Kim Taylor graduated from Northwood University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. While completing her degree, Kim decided to dedicate her career to organizations that make a positive impact in her local community. For over ten years, Kim has held a variety of roles ranging from development, special events, volunteer administration, and community engagement at local agencies. She received her international accreditation for Certification in Volunteer Administration in 2014.

Kelly Clouser is a seasoned educator and dedicated advocate for literacy, committed to ensuring that all students have equitable opportunities to become confident, capable readers. Her career in education spans a wide range of roles, including classroom teacher across multiple grade levels, lead teacher in alternative education, school principal, and most recently a program director for Reading Partners.

Throughout her professional journey, Kelly has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to educational equity and student achievement, with a particular focus on literacy development. She is passionate about creating inclusive, effective learning environments and empowering educators to support diverse learners in building strong reading foundations.

Kelly holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from St. Francis University, a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Penn State University, and certification in Special Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is a certified Pre-Kindergarden through Grade 12 principal in both Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

Through her leadership, Kelly continues to champion initiatives that close the literacy gap and expand access to high-quality education. She firmly believes that children are our greatest asset and deserve every opportunity to become thoughtful, engaged contributors to society.