Michelle Taylor brings more than two decades of experience in literacy instruction, coaching, and educational leadership to the Riverside Learning team. Riverside Learning is honored to collaborate with Michelle, whose passion for student achievement and evidence-based literacy practices has positively impacted educators and learners across Massachusetts. Her expertise spans early literacy, intervention design, curriculum leadership, professional development, and implementation of Science of Reading practices in elementary schools and districts.

Michelle’s journey into education began with a deeply personal experience. Watching her youngest brother struggle in school while her family felt disconnected from the educational process inspired her belief that schools and families could work together in more meaningful ways. At just 15 years old, she began working at a local summer camp operated by a collaborative program, an experience that confirmed her passion for supporting children and learning. That passion led her to Wheelock College, where she gained hands-on experience in diverse educational settings including preschools, public schools, Head Start programs, and after-school programs in both urban and suburban communities.

Michelle currently serves as a Literacy Specialist in Hingham Public Schools, where she supports grades 3–5 teachers as a literacy curriculum liaison, analyzes student reading data, coaches educators, supervises interventionists, and designs targeted reading interventions for elementary students. Prior to her current role, she worked as a facilitator and consultant with HILL for Literacy, where she delivered dynamic professional development, coached educators at the classroom and district levels, and supported literacy leadership teams through strategic planning and data analysis. Michelle describes her time with HILL for Literacy as the culmination of a decades-long professional partnership that profoundly shaped her instructional leadership and understanding of effective literacy practices.

Michelle previously served as Director of Literacy for Carver Public Schools, where she led district literacy initiatives, managed Title I programming, supervised literacy intervention teams, coordinated ELL services, and guided implementation of literacy action plans across grades K–12. During her tenure, she also founded and directed the Makepeace Literacy Leadership Center, a first-of-its-kind professional development center established through a grant she successfully authored and secured. Through this initiative, Michelle created regional networking and professional learning opportunities for literacy coaches and educators throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and the South Shore.

Her professional experiences also include serving as a preschool teacher at Sacred Heart School in Weymouth, first grade teacher in both Massachusetts and Georgia, and Reading Specialist and instructional coach. Across every role, Michelle has remained committed to helping students become confident readers while empowering educators with practical, research-based instructional strategies. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, she returned to her roots as a Reading Specialist, reconnecting with the direct student support work that first inspired her career.

Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Wheelock College and her Master of Education degree from Salem State College. She holds Massachusetts licensure in Early Childhood Education, Human Development, and Reading (All Levels, K–12), and is SEI Endorsed at the Administrator level.

She has completed extensive specialty training in nationally recognized literacy programs and methodologies, including LETRS, Wilson Fundations, Wilson Just Words, Orton-Gillingham, ECRI, Keys to Literacy, Empowering Writers, DIBELS, and Science of Reading implementation through HILL for Literacy. Michelle is widely respected for her collaborative leadership style, practical expertise, and unwavering belief in the power of literacy to strengthen education, communication, critical thinking, and society as a whole.

Outside of her professional work, Michelle is a proud mother of two daughters, Genevieve and Faye Ellen, and lives in Duxbury, Massachusetts with her husband and their dog, Gus. She loves beach days, book days, and snow days, and brings the same warmth, authenticity, and enthusiasm to her personal life that she brings to her work with educators and students.

Riverside Learning is proud to partner with Michelle Taylor in supporting educators, strengthening literacy instruction, and helping all students succeed. Schools and districts interested in professional development, literacy coaching, or collaborative learning opportunities are encouraged to contact Riverside Learning to learn more about how Michelle can support teachers of literacy and empower students through effective, research-based instruction.