Meet the Team

John is the founder and CEO of Sounds-Write and one of the co-authors of the programme.

John has been a qualified teacher, university lecturer and teacher trainer for over thirty years, teaching English language and literature in many different countries and settings.

He trains practitioners in Sounds-Write and promotes the Sounds-Write programme in schools and other educational institutions across the world.

John is an enthusiastic edu-blogger, who posts regularly on all aspects of literacy teaching at his site theliteracyblog.com.

Tita has a background in e-learning and is the designer and author of many teaching resources, including some of the Sounds-Write books and the Sounds-Write online courses.

She holds a doctorate in Educational Technology, and for over 25 years was an academic at The Open University, UK, where she designed online and distance courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Anna has a doctorate in education and spent nearly three decades working in academia, most recently as a senior lecturer at The Open University, UK. She researches and publishes on education and language learning and has co-edited three collections of case studies by education practitioners. She is the editor of Systematic synthetic phonics: case studies from Sounds‐Write practitioners (2022).

Kelly is Head of Business at Sounds-Write and is responsible for the operational and business management aspects of the company. Kelly started her career after graduating from university with a Degree in Sociology with Law. Her first job was at Orange working as a Bid Manager, responding to tenders and negotiating contracts for their largest corporate customers. She continued her career in Bid Management for over 20 years and at the point of leaving BT in November 2021, she was a team manager managing a team of 15.

Kelly is passionate about Sounds-Write having seen the benefits first hand with her son who has Moderate Learning Difficulties and who learnt to read and write using the Sounds-Write programme.

As Business Manager for the US and Canada, Jill is responsible for business development and supports existing schools and practitioners who are implementing Sounds-Write in those countries. 

Jill has over 18 years of educational experience in elementary and middle schools. She most recently served as an instructional design strategist and coach at a STEAM magnet school.

Jill’s passion is empowering educators with the knowledge to bridge the gap between the science of reading and culturally responsive classroom practice to improve equitable literacy outcomes for students. 

Jill holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Masters’ Degrees in Educational Psychology and Educational Administration from the University of Iowa.

Caroline is an in-house trainer at Sounds-Write, where she supports newly-trained practitioners. She taught across the primary age range for 18 years and spent 7 years as English Lead with particular responsibility for the development of early reading and writing.

After completing her Sounds-Write training she was responsible for overseeing the successful implementation of the programme throughout her school. She firmly believes that Sounds-Write is the best approach to ensure that all of our children can learn to read and write.

Jodie is our Marketing Manager and looks after the website, social media, email marketing and advertising. She has over five years experience in marketing roles and enjoys the variety that the job brings to each working day. 

Jodie studied a BA Honors Degree in Creative Media and English Literature.

You can contact Jodie with any media opportunities by emailing marketing@sounds-write.co.uk.

Clare holds the CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Manager position at Sounds-Write, where her primary focus is fostering a welcoming and interactive community of phonics professionals. Drawing from her extensive management experience with sales and marketing teams across various industries, Clare recognises the significance of the customer journey within our organisation and is committed to its ongoing enhancement.

Clare takes pride in contributing to future generations’ literacy and writing development, emphasising the vital role phonics plays in their educational journey.

Emily’s originally from North Belfast and spent 10 years living and working in London. In 2021, she relocated back to the Emerald Isle to the sunny coastal town of Bangor. She studied English Literature at Kingston University and a PGCE at Roehampton University. Emily spent 5 years in London working at St George’s CofE primary school, one of the Sounds-Write Training Schools in the UK, where she was a literacy teacher in Year 6.

Emily is an in-house assistant trainer at Sounds-Write, where she supports newly-trained practitioners and those teaching phonics in Y3-6. When she’s not working you will either find her reading a good book, baking or taking a stroll on the beach.

Jacinda brings to Sounds-Write a broad career base. She completed a Degree in Psychology, graduating with Distinction. Her work within disability services and early childhood sectors brought her to primary education. She has taught early childhood and primary-aged children in New Zealand and Australia over the past 15 years.  

Her commitment to improved literacy outcomes for all students led her to Sounds-Write. Jacinda guided the implementation of Sounds-Write across her primary school in Canberra in 2016 and over the next 7 years she applied the Sounds-Write teaching principles in her classrooms. Then as the Classroom Support Coordinator (Inclusive Education), she has worked with teachers, families and students to see immense growth and the powerful impact that Sounds-Write has had on every student. Her work in this field saw her recognised as a Highly Accomplished Teacher in 2019.

Jacinda’s role as an in-house trainer for Australia will see her support schools and practitioners to achieve positive outcomes for all students.

Jehan has dedicated much of her career to education, beginning with a PGCE in secondary English. Over the years, she has taught English and Media, led practical road safety training for primary school children at a local authority, and currently serves as a primary school governor.

After transitioning from the classroom, Jehan expanded her expertise into administrative and operational roles across the childcare and higher education sectors. She is thrilled to bring together her diverse experience and passion for education in her current role at Sounds-Write.