With a life rooted in global experience, a passion for child development, and a deep understanding of the gaps in modern education, Elizabeth is leading a literacy revolution that’s helping children learn to read confidently and joyfully-often before they even enter kindergarten. Today, she stands as one of the most influential education founders of our time, her work influencing children, parents, and educators across the U.S. and beyond.

A Global Upbringing that Shaped a Literacy Leader

Born in Monte Carlo, Monaco, Elizabeth was the second eldest of nine siblings in a large, internationally mobile family. Her childhood was anything but conventional. She was homeschooled while the family moved between Europe, Peru, and Brazil – a life filled with learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom. Her father, a man passionate about reading and early education, introduced her to phonics at just two years old using a British curriculum. This early exposure became a defining moment in her life.

Elizabeth recalls vivid memories of escaping into fantastical worlds through books long before most children learned their ABCs. These early reading experiences shaped not just her love of language, but her belief that learning to read early offers children a deep sense of independence, curiosity, and self-worth.

Throughout her adolescence, Elizabeth took on a leadership role in her family. Caring for younger siblings gave her firsthand experience in teaching and nurturing young minds. Rather than just babysitting, she made it a personal mission to help her siblings, and their friends learn to read, often with remarkable success.

“Watching children glow with pride when they learn is one of the greatest feelings in the world” she says.

From Passion Project to Purpose-Driven Company

Elizabeth moved to New York City in her early twenties, enrolling in Early Childhood Development and General Childhood Education courses while continuing to tutor children in reading. She was struck by how even children enrolled in elite schools were struggling with basic literacy skills.

“It didn’t make sense” she explains. “These were bright, curious children, but they weren’t learning to read. Something in the system was broken.”

This realization became the catalyst for what would eventually become the Alexander Reading Method. She spent five years researching global reading programs, studying deficiencies in American education, and refining her own approach through hands-on teaching with children aged 2.5 to 8.

By 2010, with over a decade of private tutoring experience and proven results, Elizabeth launched Reading in Preschool, a tutoring company centered around her proprietary reading methodology. Her goal was simple but ambitious: to ensure children enter school not just prepared, but ahead-reading at a second-grade level by the end of kindergarten.

Building The Alexander Reading Method

The Alexander Reading Method is a structured yet playful approach to early literacy that combines phonics-based learning, multi-sensory tools, and an emphasis on confidence-building.

“We start teaching letter recognition and sounds in Pre-K” Elizabeth explains. “But the focus is always on having fun with it-being silly, bubbly, and encouraging children to enjoy the process.”

Her method follows a clear set of benchmarks from age 3 through 1st grade, preparing children to confidently tackle the academic demands of 2nd and 3rd grades. Unlike traditional systems that emphasize memorization of sight words, The Alexander Reading Method teaches children how to decode words phonetically, giving them tools to approach unfamiliar words with confidence.

Most significantly, Elizabeth’s philosophy centers around confidence as the cornerstone of learning. “Instilling confidence is one of the best gifts we can give our children” she says.

“If a child believes they can do something-even when it’s hard-they will keep trying. And that’s where real learning happens.”

From One State to Seven: A Growing National Impact

What began as a solo tutoring venture in New York has grown into a nationwide movement. Today, Reading in Preschool operates in seven U.S. states and offers online instruction internationally. More than 500 children-many as young as three-have completed the program with a staggering 98% success rate.

Her growth has been entirely organic, built on word-of-mouth referrals from grateful parents and enthusiastic educators. “We never needed to advertise” she shares. “The results spoke for themselves. When your child goes from crying at drop-off to becoming the confident, go-to reader in the class-it gets noticed.”

Elizabeth recalls one particular student – a shy little girl entering kindergarten who would sob every day.

“Once she learned to read, everything changed. She walked into school with her book under her arm, smiling. Her teachers said she was like a different child. That’s when I knew I had to scale the method and help more children.”

The Art and Science Behind Learning Through Play

What truly sets Elizabeth apart is her insistence that learning should be joyful. The Alexander Reading Method integrates storytelling, visuals, games, and tactile learning to ensure children are engaged.

“We learn faster when we’re having fun” she says. “If you spend enough time with young children, they’ll show you how they learn best.”

Elizabeth and her creative team-including her sister-in-law, Meiga, a talented design artist-have developed visually appealing materials, including Expressive Letters flashcards and workbooks designed to help children progress from letter recognition to phonetic word reading and beyond.

She’s also mindful of the diverse learning styles of children. “Sometimes, parents will call us asking for a recording of the letter sounds, because they’re unsure how to teach it. We’re happy to help. Our goal is to support not just the children, but their families too.”

Beyond Reading: A Holistic Approach to Child Development

Elizabeth’s commitment to early childhood education doesn’t stop at literacy. She is a vocal advocate for child mental health, nutrition, and parent education. “The pandemic disrupted so much. Many kids are still catching up, emotionally and academically” she says.

She launched a campaign titled “5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Thrive and Excel in School” sharing practical tools for families navigating today’s complex educational landscape. Her advice includes starting phonics-based learning early, incorporating learning into daily schedules with rewards, encouraging a growth mindset by normalizing mistakes, and involving multiple caregivers in the learning journey.

She also emphasizes the power of storytelling in building resilience.

“Tell your child stories of when you made mistakes and how you learned from them. Books like Perfect Ninja help children realize it’s okay to stumble-as long as you keep going.”

The Business of Education, the Heart of a Mission

Running a growing company while remaining creatively involved hasn’t been without challenges. Elizabeth is candid about learning how to delegate and trust others-especially when her health made it necessary. A longtime survivor of chronic Lyme disease, she’s had to build a team that could sustain the business during her periods of illness.

“My sister Julie has been a huge support. She manages the back office and oversees teacher training. Our long-time teachers also help onboard new educators” Elizabeth says. “And most importantly, we only hire teachers who are warm, bubbly, and patient-especially with children who need a little more love.”

One of her core hiring philosophies: don’t prioritize degrees over experience and personality. “A degree doesn’t mean much if you can’t connect with a child. We hire based on kindness, creativity, and the ability to meet each child where they are.”

The Future is Playful, Confident, and Literate

Never one to rest, Alexander is constantly innovating. Current exciting projects include:

• A Novel Spelling Method: Addressing the specific challenge of “tricky” non-phonetic words with a fun, retention-focused approach developed years ago and finally being productized.
• An Animated Series: Bringing the Alexander Reading Method letters program to life in a 26-episode (20 min each) fun, animated format – a potential game-changer for accessibility and engagement, currently seeking philanthropic funding.
• Expanding Reach: Continuing to grow the network of trained teachers and develop new materials that make learning reading, writing, and spelling even more engaging and effective.

A Clarion Call for Systemic Change

Alexander’s vision extends far beyond her own company. She is a vocal advocate for systemic reform in early literacy education. Her message to schools is clear: “Adopt The Alexander Reading Method, starting in pre-K or at least in kindergarten to give them a fighting chance in 1st and 2nd grade.” She dreams of a national shift, stating boldly, “I’ve always said that if the US adopted our program and followed our benchmarks, we could change the trend of the US being so behind statistically in reading.”

When asked who she’d love to connect with, her answer reflects this ambition

“If there’s a philanthropist out there who wants to help us bring these projects to life faster, we’d love to meet them” she says with a smile. “We have the vision. We just need the support.”

Her dream? To have The Alexander Reading Method adopted nationwide, starting in Pre-K. “If we implement this early enough, we can shift national literacy rates. We can give every child-not just those in elite schools-a head start.”

Redefining Success in Education

For Elizabeth, success isn’t measured by test scores or market share. It’s the proud look in a child’s eyes when they read their first sentence. It’s the relieved smile of a parent whose child finally feels confident in the classroom.

“To me, success is having something of great value to offer, surrounding yourself with the right people to carry the mission forward, and continuing to grow-even when others doubt you” she reflects.

“If you’re truly helping people, you’ve already succeeded.”

For her, success is multifaceted:

1. Offering Profound Value: Providing a method that genuinely transforms children’s lives through literacy and confidence.
2. Building the Right Team: Delegating effectively and empowering talented, kind individuals to deliver the mission.
3. Persistence and Purpose: Overcoming doubt (internal and external) by staying focused on the core mission of helping children.
4. The Ripple Effect: “I love that we have given teachers work and pay them well, and of course most importantly that we have and will continue to build children’s confidence… If you’re helping people, that’s success in itself.”

The Legacy: Confidence Forged Through Words

Elizabeth Alexander stands as a beacon in the world of early childhood education. She is not just teaching reading; she is dismantling ineffective paradigms and replacing them with a joyful, evidence-based, confidence-building journey. Her story – from a precocious toddler reader in Monaco to a transformative founder in America – is one of passion, rigorous research, profound empathy, and unwavering resilience. The Alexander Reading Method is more than a curriculum; it’s a movement that empowers the youngest learners, giving them the irreplaceable gift of literacy and the unshakeable confidence to navigate their world. In a time when educational challenges seem daunting, Elizabeth Alexander offers a powerful, proven, and profoundly hopeful path forward, proving that the most influential learning often begins with a playful giggle and the simple, world-changing power of a sound. Her influence is not merely in the children who read early, but in the confident, capable individuals they become. That is the true mark of a transformative founder.

Elizabeth Alexander is more than an entrepreneur. She is a change-maker, an educator, and a believer in the limitless potential of young children. Her work proves that when literacy education is rooted in joy, play, and patience, it becomes more than just a skill-it becomes a gateway to confidence, creativity, and lifelong success.

In an era where school systems are struggling and families are seeking answers, Elizabeth offers a beacon of hope. Through the Alexander Reading Method, she’s not only transforming how children learn to read-she’s changing how they see themselves.

And that, truly, is the mark of a lasting legacy.