You will make the wrong choices; what matters is to learn from them. I have made some huge and humbling mistakes along this journey. Sometimes, these feel detrimental in the moment, but the reality is they are just a part of the story. Instead of letting those failures slow you down, use them to propel you forward.
As a part of our series about “Big Ideas That Might Change The World In The Next Few Years” we had the pleasure of interviewing Louise Baigelman, Founder & CEO of Storyshares.
Louise Baigelman is Founder & CEO of Storyshares, a literacy platform and eLibrary dedicated to supporting and empowering striving readers in grades 3–12. An educator with direct experience teaching literacy to struggling and chronically underserved middle-school students, Baigelman has been recognized by The Library of Congress, Forbes, Teach for America, The Milken-Penn Graduate School of Education, and the International Literacy Association for her innovation and impact in the adolescent literacy space.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you please tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
After I graduated from college, I joined Teach for America and became an English teacher at a KIPP charter school in Lynn, Massachusetts. I supported middle school students who had recently immigrated to the United States, and my job was to help students develop English proficiency and to bridge the gaps in their cross-subject learning. My students, while bright and mature middle schoolers, were reading at elementary school levels. As a result, they were struggling in every class. And I knew I couldn’t get my 6th grade students engaged in reading if the only book choices I could offer them were stories written for Kindergarteners, stories like Hop on Pop. While these books were at the right reading level, they were irrelevant to my students’ age and interest level: so they found these titles not only boring, but childish. Worse yet, none of the books in my library had characters that looked like my students. This is what inspired me to start Storyshares: I felt that it was a need that we could and must find a way to solve. So we set out to build a new shelf in the global library: one with representative and intriguing books for readers at all levels, featuring themes and characters that resonate with older students — wherever they are.
Can you please share with us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
I sometimes joke that I am an “accidental entrepreneur” and that Storyshares is an “accidental publisher.” It was a fortunate series of events that led me to build Storyshares, a small company which has already had several phases and which has become the defining purpose of my career. Once I had experienced the problem (students reading far below grade level, and not having books to read), and then the solution (a writing contest to bring together a global community of authors to create new and representative titles to engage striving older readers), I was hooked, and the idea has blossomed from there, into a widespread solution to adolescent literacy.
We started with a one-time writing contest, as an experiment. Could we bring together writers from around the world to develop new stories to meet the needs of older striving readers? The result exceeded all expectations, with over 600 story submissions received in just over four months. It was this that led to the Storyshares publishing approach: a two-sided marketplace powered by crowdsourcing from authors around the world.
This is what we learned: If we equip writers with the guidance, tools, and inspiration to create this content, then we can generate a constantly growing collection of diverse and accessible books, with compelling choices for every student at their unique intersection of reading and interest level. If students can find books that they love, then they can transform into readers.
Which principles or philosophies have guided your life? Your career?
My guiding principles are all rooted in continuous learning and collaboration. Here’s what that means to me:
- Embrace Curiosity: I believe in constantly striving to understand more. There’s always something new to learn, and I actively seek out knowledge and different perspectives. This means listening intently to others and being open to new ideas, even if they challenge my existing beliefs.
- Confidence in Growth: A thirst for knowledge shouldn’t negate the value of experience. I have a strong foundation in the skills and knowledge I’ve built, and I approach new challenges with confidence. It’s a balance between knowing what I know and being open to the vast unknown.
- The Power of Collaboration: No one achieves great things alone. I believe fostering strong relationships and working collaboratively is essential. By supporting and learning from each other, we can achieve so much more.
- Pursue Your Passion: Life is too short to simply go through the motions. I’ve found a way to integrate my passion for education into my work and endeavors. This keeps me motivated, engaged, and brings a sense of purpose to what I do.
Ok thank you for that. Let’s now move to the main focus of our interview. Can you tell us about your “Big Idea That Might Change The World”?
According to results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in October 2022, 68% of 4th graders are not reading proficiently. This number gets worse every year after 4th grade. Two-thirds of students need new books to read as they work to reach grade level. However, most of the books available to developing readers are written for younger students (for example, Hop on Pop or Junie B. Jones). I started Storyshares as a way to create and publish books that meet at the intersection of interest and ability.
How do you think this will change the world?
In grades K-3, students are “learning to read.” In grades 3 and up, students are expected to “read to learn,” But most of them do not yet have the foundational literacy skills that allow them to do this successfully. This is a global literacy crisis. Imagine being a middle or high school student who dreads reading. Years of difficulty have made it a chore, not a joy. Storyshares changes that. We hear it all the time from teachers: students wouldn’t touch a book during independent reading. Why? There was nothing that resonated with them. Storyshares flips the script. Our stories are relatable. The characters mirror their lives, facing challenges they can understand. AND, better yet, the text is written at a level that is accessible and supportive to striving readers. Suddenly, reading isn’t just possible, it’s captivating.
Keeping “Black Mirror” and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks about this idea that people should think more deeply about?
Education is a difficult industry into which to introduce change. Like steering the Titanic, it takes a lot of time to apply new tactics or materials and ask educators to implement them. This idea requires teachers to get approval from administrators to add new material to their curricula, and often needs the support of school boards and whole departments of education, either at the district, city or state level. The good news is, because the recent discussions of “science of reading” have caused many school districts to rethink their approach to literacy education, we are operating in a very strong environment that is open to change.
Was there a “tipping point” that led you to this idea? Can you tell us that story?
When I began my teaching career, I saw firsthand that many of my middle school students were reading at elementary levels. My students’ limited English made navigating middle school texts a daunting task. A huge problem I faced was trying to find books that they could read AND wanted to read, books that weren’t embarrassing, but were engaging and representative. Imagine a teenager expected to read books meant for children several grades younger. This lack of engaging, age-appropriate material fueled my desire for a solution. Storyshares was born from this need, offering engaging, culturally relevant stories that bridge the reading gap and empower older students to become confident readers.
What do you need to lead this idea to widespread adoption?
We need to make parents and educators aware that these new texts are available, and that they are an important solution to America’s literacy problem. With the backing and support of parents and educators, school boards and administrators (and hopefully, nationwide education policy as a whole) will not be too far behind. We also need authors to help us develop more content. The bigger and broader the library, the more relevant our solution will become.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why.
- You will make the wrong choices; what matters is to learn from them. I have made some huge and humbling mistakes along this journey. Sometimes, these feel detrimental in the moment, but the reality is they are just a part of the story. Instead of letting those failures slow you down, use them to propel you forward.
- For-profit companies can be mission-driven: when I first started Storyshares, I had to decide whether to start it as a for-profit or nonprofit company. The choice was presented to me, by many, like this: “if you want to start this company to earn profit, make it a for-profit. If you want to start it to make an impact, go with a nonprofit.” So, at the time, I chose to begin a nonprofit organization. But the truth is, for-profits can be mission driven in a way that aligns your key activities with revenue, to sustain and grow your impact. On the other hand, the nonprofit structure can require that a great deal of your time be spent raising money, instead of developing a more effective solution.
- A lot of people pretend to know more than they really do. This is just a good reminder for any of us who may suffer from imposter syndrome. Everyone does not have everything figured out. Some are just smoother when it comes to “seeming.”
- Pay deliberate attention to your wins, too. I’ve never personally managed to get in the habit of writing down all the things I’ve accomplished in a day; it’s not where my mind goes at the end of the night. But I am working to not let the misses eclipse the hits. It’s essential to take some time to acknowledge your own progress, too.
- Relationships are everything. Nuff said.
Can you share with our readers what you think are the most important “success habits” or “success mindsets”?
For me, the most successful mindset relies on striking the right balance between confidence and humility: to consistently operate as a learner, while also being a “doer,” with the conviction needed to pursue goals and outcomes. There is an infinite amount to learn, and maintaining an open-mind enables continuous growth. At the same time, there is often no ‘right’ answer, so clarity of purpose and key intentions are key for driving an idea and a company forward.
On top of that balance, laser focus is crucial. Distractions are abundant, and staying on track requires intentionality. I try to exercise the discipline to prioritize ruthlessly, eliminate clutter, and dedicate time to what truly matters.
Some very well known VCs read this column. If you had 60 seconds to make a pitch to a VC, what would you say? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
68% of 6th graders can’t read proficiently. They are 4x less likely to graduate high school, and 6x more likely to end up in prison or on welfare. Literacy IS the answer. Storyshares is here to provide extensive literacy opportunities for previously underserved and underrepresented groups.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
Readers can find me on LinkedIn at this link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-kraft-baigelman-0b108788/
They can follow Storyshares at the following links:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/story-shares/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StorySharesLiteracy/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/storyshares
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyshares/
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.
Storyshares: Louise Baigelman’s Big Idea That Might Change The World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.