Michael Gary Named Board Chair of Reading Allowed | News | Friends Select School

Driven by the widening literacy gap in Philadelphia and the need for high-quality, structured literacy support, former Friends Select learning specialist Angela Marks sought to build a program that would ensure every child could access the instruction needed to become a confident and capable reader, regardless of a family’s financial constraints. “At Friends Select, I saw that all students could learn to read proficiently with the right instruction, and especially, that struggling readers could blossom when given access to high-quality, individualized instruction based on best practices,” Angela said. “I believed— then, and now—that literacy is a basic human right. The best instruction must be available to all students.” 

The partnership between Friends Select and Reading Allowed began with the educational nonprofit’s founding in 2019, when Angela started her new career journey by launching the organization. Deeply aligned with his personal values of equity and access to education, the organization’s mission resonated with Michael, and he asked to be Reading Allowed’s first board member. “I was drawn to work with the organization because I view literacy as a justice issue and believe education should be in service to society,” he explained. “My board service is driven by collaboration and understanding what Friends Select and Reading Allowed can learn from each other to foster greater educational equity in the broader community.” 

As Reading Allowed expanded, its organizational needs grew as well. Last November, Reading Allowed held an event at Friends Select to announce the next chapter of leadership, naming Michael as Reading Allowed’s board chair and welcoming new executive director Tamara Smith, a longtime education advocate with 20 years of experience in executive leadership, allowing Angela to focus more fully on strategic vision. The celebration also highlighted powerful stories from students and tutors whose lives have been transformed by the organization. “With Tamara as our new executive director and Michael as our new board chair, we wanted to share our unbridled optimism and excitement for what is to come and for Reading Allowed’s potential,” Angela said. “Personally, it was so humbling and gratifying that so many wonderful people who share my passion and vision were willing to come together.” 

As Michael steps into his new board leadership role, he is motivated by the passion of the educators who work for Reading Allowed. “I’m inspired by the dedication of Reading Allowed’s tutors and the possibilities that come from training new generations in the science of reading,” he said. “What if we could really launch a movement and ignite something big, getting so many professionals trained who can do good in this way?” He is also eager to bring the Friends Select philosophy of being a “private school with a public purpose” to his additional role at Reading Allowed and leverage resources that could advance literacy justice for all Philadelphia students. He said, “Chairing the board is about helping shape the future of literacy justice and channeling the values and resources of both organizations for the benefit of all young learners.”