David Liben

David and his wife Meredith currently run Reading Done Right. David is a nationally recognized reading expert who is uniquely able to translate research on the brain and reading into practical applications for teachers and students. Prior to being involved with the Common Core State Standards and helping educators in all settings make the shifts they need to so students can thrive. David taught and led schools at all grade levels during a 35 year school-based career. 

David and his wife Meredith have taught, written and collaborated together for the past 38 years. Their teaching and work has spanned every grade and most school types, though it has been predominately in urban centers (mostly in Harlem).

Both David and Meredith have worked in rural schools and in community college and teacher prep programs as well. They coordinated the project designed to provide the best information and tools to educators around questions of defining the text complexity and range of reading called for by the Common Core State Standards during the first decade they were in widespread use.

During the past several years, the Libens have been working to support teachers, students and instructional materials makers by teaching about the practical implications of reading research. Most recently, their collaboration has resulted in two books: Know Better Do Better: Teaching the Foundations so Every Child Can Read and Know Better Do Better: Comprehension, Fueling the Reading Brain with Knowledge, Vocabulary and Rich Language.