About Spencer 

Spencer is a former kindergarten and first grade teacher who was recognized as one of the best teachers in his city, state, and national charter network. After winning over $30,000 across four different teaching awards, he left the classroom when he became a dad in order to spend more time at home with with his son. As a dad, Spencer learned that the same strategies that worked to teach older students to read also worked with his son at 18 months. So after teaching his son to read by 2 years old, he organized everything he knew into three online courses (the Toddlers CAN Read program) in order to help parents and caregivers across the world teach their little ones how to read, too!

Background Experience 

‍In six years, he received:

‍● Harriett Ball Excellence in Teaching Award ($10,000)

● Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award ($20,000)

● Amherst Commitment to Teaching Award ($3,500)

● HEB Rising Star Texas Teacher of the Year (Seilymi-Finalist)

FamilyEducation Area of Expertise 

Spencer Russell is one of FamilyEducation's fact-checkers, specializing in content relating to literacy and learning.