Reading for Our Lives

Maya Payne Smart is a writer, parent educator and early literacy advocate. Her practical, evidence-based insights have been featured in major national media outlets including CBS Mornings, TIME, and PBS. She’s a sought-after speaker who has presented keynote addresses and workshops for thousands of attendees at conferences nationwide within the library, early education, and K12 sectors. She and her family live in Milwaukee, where she serves as affiliated faculty in educational policy and leadership in the College of Education at Marquette University. Her website, MayaSmart.com, provides tips and tools for parents to nurture, teach, and advocate for kids on the road to reading.