Nancy Kerr

Nancy Kerr co-founded and has served as president of the Children's Reading Foundation since 1996. With 22 Chapters in 14 states, the slogan of this international non-profit is, “Read with your child 20 minutes every day.” In 2010, Reading Foundation programs served nearly one million children.

Nancy is the lead author of the foundation's nationally respected, research-based, school-readiness program called READY! for Kindergarten. The program supports parents of children ages newborn to five as their child's first and most loved teacher. READY! for Kindergarten also provides valuable training for child care providers and foster parents.

Nancy works with school districts and communities nationwide to assure children learn to read early and well. In this role she has earned state and national recognition, including the U.S. Department of Education's America Reads Challenge Recognition, an invitation to the White House Conference on Literacy, and 1998 Washington State Literacy Award from the International Reading Association. Currently she is one of 20 national leaders serving as advisors to the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, a ten year effort of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Nancy co-authored the book, The 90% Reading Goal (1998). A second book, Delivering on the Promise, was published in Oct. 2004. Her most recent book, Annual Growth, Catch-up Growth (2007) is in its second printing, and being purchased by school districts from New York to Alaska.

Nancy is a former high school teacher. She represented Family and Consumer Science Educators for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards based in Princeton; co-authored the curriculum guide for “Careers in Education” program in Washington; received the Washington state Crystal Apple Award for her contributions to public education. She has served on numerous state and regional boards which support families and children, such as Success by 6 and Washington State ECEAP Advisory Board.

Nancy and her husband raised their four children in Kennewick, Washington. She grew up in Southern California. She has a BS in Family Sciences from Brigham Young University and Master of Educational Leadership from Washington State University.