Meet Andrea Nartey

Andrea Nartey is an educator, former school leader, and mom of three who has spent her career helping teachers and families unlock the joy and science of reading. 

As a principal and literacy lead, Andrea spent years coaching teachers on effective reading practices, from phonemic awareness and decoding to comprehension and fluency, and worked to standardize those practices across classrooms. Her work has always centered on helping children not only learn to read, but also develop a love for reading.

Today, Andrea leads a children’s nonprofit organization where she continues to connect play and learning by weaving read-alouds and early literacy experiences into every aspect of youth programming. 

At home, Andrea has taught two of her three daughters to read at the ages of three and four, using research-based methods that blend structure and warmth. Her youngest, who is one year old, is already beginning to explore letters and sounds—a reflection of the playful, consistent exposure she believes in. 

The Readbefore5™ grew from Andrea’s belief that when children are taught how to read through science, and why reading matters through love, they don’t just gain a skill; they gain confidence, pride, and that unmistakable glow of understanding.