Pooja Patel, MA

Pooja Patel, MA is a seasoned learning specialist with over two decades of experience in English, history, and humanities education. After earning her Master's degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, she has worked in various roles, including middle school general educator and K-12 learning specialist.

As co-director of ThinkSRSD, Pooja is dedicated to helping educators worldwide implement evidence-based literacy practices to support student success. She has authored and co-authored numerous chapters, peer-reviewed articles, and two books: Releasing Writers and Using Formative Assessment to Differentiate in The Middle School Classroom.

Pooja has presented at conferences such as AMLE, Everyone Reading, and IDA on topics like meeting the needs of learners, writing instruction, formative assessments, and reading comprehension. She has a proven track record of supporting students with diagnosed learning needs by guiding parents through evaluations, providing evidence-based practices, administering assessments, and advising on next steps.

Currently, Pooja works at the Dwight-Englewood School as a 7th-grade English and history teacher, along with serving as the Middle School Literacy Coordinator and English Curriculum Coordinator. Her passions include building foundational literacy skills, using appropriate assessments, supporting neurodivergent students and families, student-centered education, evidence-based practices, and educational equity.