Kathryn Starke is an urban elementary school literacy expert, reading consultant, author, and the founder of Creative Minds Publications, LLC, a global literacy based educational company. She has been featured on multiple media platforms including Fox Small Business News, Inspire Me Today, Virginia This Morning, and Conversations Live. Kathryn served as a literacy trainer for the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute and VCU AmeriCorps program. Kathryn was on the executive board for the Richmond Area Reading Council and governing board for the Virginia State Reading Association. She currently serves on the board of Reach Out and Read Virginia and is the children's author for the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation reading program. She served as a panelist on educational forums for University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University and was the keynote speaker for the PBS Kids Writing Contest Awards Ceremony. In addition, she leads an annual children's writing workshop sponsored by the Library of Virginia Foundation. A native of Richmond Virginia, Kathryn graduated from Longwood University with a BS degree in elementary education and a Master's degree in Literacy and Culture. She has taught first, second, and third grade and served as a literacy specialist for over a decade in inner city/Title I schools in Richmond Public Schools and Chesterfield County Public Schools in Richmond, Virginia. She is the author of Amy's Travels, a multicultural children's book used in schools on over twenty countries on six continents. The book was recently turned into a musical by the Latin Ballet of Virginia. She is a freelance educational writer for a variety of magazines including Education Digest, Parent and Child, and Literacy Daily, the publication of International Literacy Association. Kathryn was named one of the 50 Great Writers You Should be Reading by The Author's Show. She has provided in depth literacy consulting in over 40 schools primarily in 5 states (Virginia, New York, California, South Carolina, and Massachusetts) and has presented at both state and national reading conferences.