Today we’d like to introduce you to Louise Baigelman.
Louise, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I began my career as a teacher, teaching English to middle school students in an underserved community. I was astonished by how many of my students struggled with reading, and further struck by the lack of content or resources available to support them. I knew that I could not empower my students to strengthen their literacy skills if they were forced to practice with books meant for little kids — let alone inspire a love of reading among them. Thus began my journey as an accidental entrepreneur, seeking to transform the adolescent literacy space. Our core purpose has never wavered, but we have evolved along the way based on what we see in today’s classrooms: expanding from a book publisher to an intervention program, to a partner for reimagining 3-12 literacy in schools and districts.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely been a bumpy road! I have learned new things at truly every turn, and have had to pivot accordingly. I started Storyshares initially as a nonprofit, with a cofounder who turned out to have a different vision. We subsequently parted ways, which required me to rebuild for the next stage alone. From there, I ran Storyshares as a nonprofit for several more years, with exciting impact but without a path to true sustainability and scale. When I hit the end of my fundraising rope, I brought on a new partner and we converted Storyshares to a Public Benefit Company, which is a mission-driven for-profit. Since then, we have seen tremendous growth, and have been able to be responsive to what the market and our students and educators need — leveraging a nimble team to refine and expand how we fill these gaps to transform adolescent literacy.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Storyshares?
Storyshares is a movement born out of a fundamental realization: we cannot tackle the literacy crisis by doing the same thing that has always been done. Our story began in a middle school classroom, where I saw firsthand the disconnect between older striving readers and the elementary-level materials they were given. To truly support readers after third grade, I knew we had to stop trying to fit the square peg of early-childhood literacy content into the round hole of the teenage experience. We are a mission-driven organization started by teachers, for teachers, and we have spent years reimagining the adolescent literacy landscape from every possible angle.
While we started as a book publisher, we quickly recognized that solving the literacy crisis required more than just books. We have since expanded with an intervention curriculum, coaching, and systems-wide consulting – all while centering student engagement – evolving into a comprehensive resource that addresses the entire puzzle of reading motivation. What sets Storyshares apart is our refusal to infantilize the learner; we specialize in “high-low” content—high-interest, age-appropriate themes written at accessible reading levels—that honors the maturity and nuances of teen and young adult readers.
We are most proud of our unwavering commitment to keeping the older striving reader at the center of everything we do. We want the world to know that Storyshares isn’t just a curriculum company—it’s a shift in perspective. We provide the relevant content and research-based tools necessary to transform the reading experience, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to become a confident, lifelong reader through material that actually reflects who they are.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
1) Trust your own instincts. Especially as a female CEO, I am struck by the number of people who have strong opinions and advice for precisely how you should run your company. Sometimes, you receive contradictory advice, or suggestions that are challenging to implement. Other times, you receive spot-on, break-through advice. Your job is to sift through all of these inputs to identify what feels right, differentiating it from the misguided ideas you are being offered in parallel. I am still working on this piece myself, but I wish I had started trusting my own judgment sooner.
2) Believe deeply and completely in your idea. In my experience, being an entrepreneur requires an unwavering commitment to not only your idea, but also your ability to manifest it. A healthy level of obsession is crucial for weathering the tough times and clearing hurdles along the way.
3) Be a continuous learner. Be confident in what you know, and aware of what you don’t. Be comfortable learning while doing, knowing that mistakes are an inevitable part of the process.
Pricing:
- LIFT Intervention for Teens: $2,399 per small group
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.storyshares.org/
- Instagram: @storyshares
- Facebook: @Storysharesliteracy
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/story-shares
- Twitter: @storyshares
- Youtube: @storysharesliteracy
