Know Better, Do Better: Comprehension

David has over 40 years of experience in education. He has taught elementary, middle school and high school students in public and private schools as well as community college and teacher preparation courses in New York City and Vermont. He is currently a literacy consultant with Student Achievement Partners and others. David along with Meredith founded two innovative model schools in New York City. In 1985, they joined other teachers to found New York Prep, a junior high school in East Harlem. In 1991, they founded the Family Academy. David served as the school’s Principal and lead curriculum designer for the first twelve years of the school. During that time, in addition to overseeing the curriculum, staff and programs, David led the development of the Family Academy curriculum, which now exists in part as www.Readworks. Articles by the Libens describing the school model and full curriculum have appeared in Educational Leadership and Phi Delta Kappan. In 2019, David published a book on foundational reading with Meredith Liben called Know Better, Do Better: Teaching the Foundations so Every Child Can Read. They are currently working on a book about the full spectrum of reading. Since 2010, David has focused his work on helping publishers create high quality, comprehensive ELA programs that afford all students access to the promises made by college and career readiness standards. He has also developed many professional learning courses and has consulting and coached districts and schools, working with educators on how to teach students to learn independently from complex text. David synthesized the research behind the CCSS.