Janai Gilkes

Janai Gilkes is a program manager in Brooklyn and Queens. Janai is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Brooklyn. Over the course of her career in education administration spanning from the NYC Department of Education’s Division of Early Childhood (DECE) to the City of New York (CUNY) Janai has focused on creating opportunities where students can pursue both their academic and socio-emotional goals allowing them to thrive and gain success. She was a teacher for both second and fourth grades with Grace Church School where she provided authentic, differentiated learning experiences that cultivated essential academic skills and knowledge for her students promoting their confidence and self-esteem. Janai is committed to giving all students access to an amazing education; she is truly excited about working with Reading Partners and its proven model and measurable results to change the educational trajectory for so many students, across the country. Janai has a MS.Ed in both General and Special Education K-6 from Bank Street Graduate School of Education and a BA in Psychology from Temple University. Janai loves going to concerts, enjoying apple-flavored foods, and reading because let’s face it- there’s nothing like the smell of a new book!