
Breaking the Cycle of Illiteracy Through Professional Development
“Reading is the new civil right.”
– PHYLLIS HUNTER

Alice Thomas Memorial Fund
Alice Peale Pierce Thomas was the founder, president, and CEO of The Center for Literacy and Learning. Alice passed away quietly and peacefully on November 3, 2022.
A core mission of social justice drove her strong belief that all children, regardless of how they look, where they come from, or how they learn, can and will achieve school success when provided with highly effective teachers and positive, supportive learning environments.
In founding and growing The Center, Alice changed the lives of countless tens of thousands by permanently changing the nature of education at a local, national, and international level – and by reforming the very way that teachers teach.
The Problem

Only 36% of US 4th graders are reading proficiently. Despite this, it is our belief that all children, regardless of background, can achieve school success when provided with highly effective teachers and supportive learning environments.
Our Solution

We believe that literacy and education are civil rights. We strive to achieve these rights in our communities through evidence based literacy, professional development, and interactive programs and courses for parents, teachers, and education professionals.
Our Methods

The Center is an education focused nonprofit focusing on literacy and learning. We tackle real-time issues such as ways to remediate struggling readers, differentiate instruction for diverse learners, and build and sustain collective capacity.
2024 Plain Talk About Literacy & Learning®
Wednesday, January 31 through Friday, February 2, 2024.
Professional Learning Services — Customized For You
We offer a variety of services to meet your needs, including Early Childhood to Language and Literacy programs.