About Rian

Rian Reed is a native of Penllyn, PA where she was raised in a loving family of 5 by James and Toni Reed. Laughter, adventure and appreciation for the diversity that people bring to the table have always been at the core of what makes Rian unique. In her hometown, she is recognized as a recipient of the honor Citizen of the Week for her contribution to civic engagement within the public school system. In October 2024, she will be inducted into the Wissahickon High School Hall of Fame.

Rian Nichole Reed, MBA, NBCT,  is a highly effective and results-oriented leader in K-12 education with 12 years of experience driving instructional excellence and whole-school effectiveness through coaching and an anti-racist lens. As the Director of Adult Learning at Kramer Middle School, Rian secured grants, such as the OSSE Educator Wellness Grant, to develop the Educator Wellness Program, resulting in increased staff retention and access to valuable classroom resources. She also fostered strong community partnerships, leading to the school receiving the 2022 NABSE National Demonstration School Award. She also has experience working with the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant and the Pathways to Success Program. Rian is passionate about creating equitable learning experiences for all students and fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement among educators.

Rian's expertise extends to curriculum development, assessment, and culturally responsive teaching. As a Schoolwide Enrichment Model/Literacy Coach, she designed research-based lessons that significantly improved students' ANET reading scores. She also built teacher and staff capacity for equity through school-wide and district-wide professional development initiatives, serving as a panelist for the Exploring Leadership Cohort and the Advanced + Enriched Instruction Symposium. Rian's commitment to educational equity is evident in her work as a 2021 District Visions Fellow for Race & Equity, where she audited the Secondary English Curriculum through a culturally responsive lens.

Rian is a sought-after speaker and presenter, sharing her expertise and insights on various educational topics. She has been invited to speak at prestigious institutions and events, such as the Harvard University Graduate School of Education's African American Alumni Conference, where she presented on culturally responsive teaching practices and a guest speaker for the California Association of the Gifted.  She has also led professional development workshops for educators on equity in education and teacher leadership. Additionally, she has been featured as a guest speaker on podcasts such as "The I AM Dr. Sharon Show: Education First Series" and "EduMatch: Students with Exceptionalities Vlog." Her work has been featured in publications such as The Washington Post, The Washington Informer, The Georgetown Voice, The Atlantic, and many more. She is also a co-author of the 2018 Snapshot in Education, where she wrote about recruitment and retention strategies for school systems seeking to increase teacher diversity.   

Throughout her career, Rian has demonstrated exceptional community engagement, program development, and teacher empowerment skills. She established Elevate Academy in partnership with UDC and The Mission Continues, introducing a hydroponics system and community garden to Kramer Middle School, strengthening the school's STEM program and college and career readiness initiatives. Rian is a National Board Certified Teacher with a Master of Business Administration (MBA). She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the DC Metro Chapter of Black Women's Education Alliance, Inc., the National Council of Negro Women, Inc., Junior League of Washington, National Women of Achievement, Inc. and the Top Ladies of Distiction, Inc. Her dedication to educational equity and her passion for empowering educators and students make her an invaluable asset to any educational organization. She is pursuing an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership at George Washington University through the Equity-Centered Pipeline Initiative. 

Rian continues to impact her community by creating spaces to discuss education, health and wealth. Check-out the rest of her site to find out more about how you can engage with Rian and be apart of making an impact in your personal and professional life though education, health and wealth.