Oh what a difference 10 years makes! As the founder of Creative Minds Publications, we are so grateful to the many authors, schools, athletes, districts, communities, and companies we have collaborated over the last decade. We look forward to continuing to increase our impact coast to coast. Together, we can tackle reading across America! Check out our decade in review!
2009-After founding the company in the 2005, author Kathryn Starke created her strongest presence across her home state of Virginia.
- Amy’s Travels was picked up by Amazon
- Amy’s Travels received favorable publicity by Midwest Book Review
- Kathryn Starke added to USA Authors Write for Kids website
- Amy’s Travels picked up by Bedford Falls Book Fairs, which Kathryn Starke represents as a visiting author for book fairs and school assemblies for elementary schools throughout Virginia.
- Literacy specialist Kathryn Starke developed the “Teaching with Trade Books” program presented at the following:
- Virginia State Reading Association Conference
- Longwood Literacy Institute
- Virginia Association for School Librarians Conference
- Sheffield Elementary, Lynchburg, Virginia
- Author Kathryn Starke developed a summer writing clinic entitled “Write Away” for the Millwood School in Midlothian, Virginia.
2010-Our founder and CEO, Kathryn Starke, expanded her reach along the East Coast.
- Appointed Advisory Board Member, Reach Out and Read Virginia
- Keynote Speaker, PBS Go Kids Writing Contest
- Keynote Speaker, Alpha Delta Kappa annual educational meeting
- Led Title I read aloud parent workshop, Richmond, Virginia
- Presented “Teaching with Trade Books” at the following:
- Longwood Literacy Institute
- Richmond Area Reading Council
- Virginia Association for School Librarians,
- regional school librarian conference at J. Sargent Reynolds Community College
- Amy’s Travels added to Multicultural Kids
- Amy’s Travels mentioned in an ehow.com article entitled “Ideas for Teaching the Continents
- “Global Learning for Young Children” article by Kathryn Starke published, About Families,
- Kathryn Starke, visiting author, “Passport One Upon an Author” program, Stepping Stones Museum, Norwalk, CT
2011–Amy’s Travels and Creative Minds Publications (CMP) were recognized nationally.
- The Amy’s Travels Project launched on Skype in the Classroom
- Amy’s Travels present in over 20 countries on 6 continents.
- Amy’s Travels acknowledged by the University of San Diego SOLES Department of Teaching and Learning.
- CMP lands on social media platforms as a leader in literacy.
- CMP featured in story, eHow Money
- “Creativity in Children” by Kathryn Starke published, Tidewater Women Parenting Magazine
- Kathryn Starke named Author-In-Residence for I Have a Dream Foundation
- Kathryn Starke presented “Teaching with Trade Books” at the following
- Delaware State Reading Conference
- Virginia Association for School Librarians conference.
2012-Author Kathryn Starke named one of the 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading by the National Author’s Show after Amy’s Travels is released in its second edition.
- Donated books for Fund Raising Gala for Center of the Arts, Bonita Springs, Florida
- Donated books for Jefferson Library, Oregon
- Amy’s Travels is added to data base, University of Miami at Ohio
- Author Kathryn Starke, featured guest/writer for blogs and publications
- The International Educator
- Education Digest
- Pragmatic Mom
- Katie Davis Burp
- Inspire Me Today featured luminary
- Kathryn Starke presented “Teaching with Trade Books,” Virginia State Reading Association Conference ”
- Guest author, Winchester Museum Earth Day Festival
- Keynote speaker, Richmond Area Reading Council Reading Teacher of the Year banquet
- Kathryn Starke develops the “Create Your Own Book” children’s workshop with the Library of Virginia Foundation, now presented annually during the Virginia Literary Festival.
2013-Creative Minds Publications adds more urban literacy consulting nationwide.
- CEO Kathryn Starke, presenter at the National Family Literacy Conference, Louisville
- Kathryn Starke, speaker, Women’s Empowerment Virtual Conference.
- Kathryn Starke, children’s author, Washington Redskins Reading program, FedEx Field
- Kathryn Starke, author for Hispanic Heritage Month programs, Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Features in print include the following:
- Guest contributor, International Reading Association
- Guest contributor, Women’s Voices Magazine.
- Profile, Longwood University’s On Point Alumni Magazine
- Company feature, Fox Small Business News
- Amy’s Travels showcase, Danny Brassell’s “Lazy Readers”
- Kathryn Starke appears at the college/university level-
- Urban educational trainer, VCU AmeriCorps
- Urban educational panelist, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Urban educational panelist University of Richmond
- Guest lecturer, writing education class, VCU
2014-Our CEO Kathryn Starke travels nationwide sharing her love of reading and writing
- Amy’s Travels, spring musical performance created by the Latin Ballet of Virginia
- Named children’s author/literacy advocate, Washington Redskins Read Program
- Appearance, Virginia This Morning
- Library of Virginia Meet the Author event
- Radford Literary Festival
- First Virginia Children’s Book Festival.
- Guest lecturer, multicultural children’s literature, VCU
- Presenter, Amy’s Travels program, Spanish immersion school in Manhattan Beach, CA
- Literacy Trainer, University of Chicago Urban Education Institute supporting urban elementary schools in the following locations:
- Boston, Massachusetts
- New York City
- Charleston, South Carolina
2015-This November, we celebrate our 10th year in literacy education with CEO/author Kathryn Starke creating new partnerships and initiatives.
- Developed educational materials for Chicken Soup for the Soul
- Kathryn Starke represented Chicken Soup for the Soul as the keynote speaker for the Texas Superintendents’ Conference at Rice University on the topic of creating a classroom culture that promotes tolerance
- Amy’s Travels named a recommended title in the Washington Redskins Activity Book
- Named a board member on the Chris Baker 92 Foundation
- Guest author, Dr. Seuss Reading event, MCV Pediatric ER
- Selected as the keynote speaker for the Reach out and Read Northside Pediatrics Celebration at Virginia Union University
- Presented “Motivating Struggling Readers into Independent Readers” at the Virginia State Reading Association to a standing room only crowd
- Presented a Kappa Delta Pi webinar on urban education to over 300 registered participants
2016-Our founder/CEO Kathryn Starke helps tackle reading in the USA, is contacted by the Chicago Tribune as an education expert, and featured as an innovative woman in Thriving Women in Business magazine and on National Entrepreneur Day by Creative Click Media.
- Amy’s Travels selected a DonorsChoose.org project to fund and as part of the annual silent auction in Citizens of the World Charter School, Los Angeles
- Kathryn Starke was honored as the urban literacy specialist for the Henrico Education Foundation and served as the keynote speaker for the first annual Reach Out and Read Conference at Lewis Ginter in Richmond, Virginia
- Tackle Reading is sponsored, published, and donated to inner-city elementary schools nationwide October 2016 thanks to partnership with Geico, Henrico Education Foundation, Tee Spring, Charles Johnson Foundation, and Brandylane Publishers
- Tackle Reading is featured in the following media outlets:
- The Huffington Post
- See Change Magazine for Social Entrepreneurship
- I Heart Radio, Atlanta
- Nashville Presents Saturdays with Singletary
- My Town Tutors
- Farmville Herald
- Richmond Times Dispatch
- Jock Librarian
- In Touch Rugby Holiday Guide
- Women’s Voices Magazine
- Virginia This Morning
- Tackle Reading literacy night at Glen Lea Elementary School, Henrico County
- Tackle Reading fundraiser at Ironclad Coffee Roasters to donate books to RPS
- Tackle Reading selected as a book giveaway for NFL Female, Amazon, and Good Reads
- Author and business owner, Kathryn Starke, featured in the following books:
- So You Want to Write a Children’s Book? by Rebekah Sach
- 50 Marketing Secrets of Successful Women by Teena Hughes
- Habits and Attitudes of Successful People by Lance Casssaza
- Best Part of My Day Healing Journal by Sharon Rainey (quote chosen among 356 names including historical heroes, leaders, actors, musicians, celebrities, etc.)
2017-The first annual philanthropic Tackle Reading day supported by the NFL kicked off March 2, 2017 to celebrate Read Across America was created nationwide with co-creator Michelle Staubach Grimes. One of our very first athlete readers was legendary quarterback Roger Staubach. I spent the first day with the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation in Ashburn. Prior to this, we hosted a Superbowl Saturday party at a local bookstore to celebrate the authors of the educational book.
- Tackle Reading and Kathryn Starke, educational expert, is featured in the following national media outlets:
- Story Monsters Magazine
- Jets Press
- Fox Sports
- Read it Forward/Publishers Weekly
- Bella Magazine
- Reading Today
- Positive Phil Podcast
- Huffington Post
- New York Post
- Admirable Athlete
- com
- Mashable
- Hope for Women Magazine
- Kathryn Starke was a featured speaker in the Teach and Profit Summit and the guest educational author for the Communities in Schools books for breakfast event.
- In addition to the philanthropic Tackle Reading event, Creative Minds Publications provided books or educational programing for nonprofit organizations including the Victor Green Foundation, Quinton Spain NFL Camp, Sacred Heart Center, Harlem Back to School Block Party, and Raising a Reader at the San Francisco 49ers game.
2018-Tackle Reading and Kathryn Starke gain more momentum with the 2nd annual Tackle Reading event. This year, Kathryn was with the Beyond the Laces team with former Philadelphia Eagles players in Philadelphia. Kathryn was the featured reading speaker for UVA Literacy Day and was named #1 of the top 5 up and coming educators nationwide by People Maven. She was also featured as an education expert on Worthington Direct Furniture and an Everyday Visionary on Zermodus.com
- Creative Minds Publications entered the EdTech space and developed the first literacy application to provide the simulation of a one-on-one reading experience between a teacher and student. The app was pitched at the first ever RVA EdTech Tank and selected as a “must have” technology by all school districts.
- Tackle Reading and Kathryn Starke, educational expert, is featured in the following national media outlets:
- Fem Founder
- USA Weekly
- Gulf News
- The 74 Million
- WRVA Morning Show with John Reid
- Laura Steward Show, I Heart Radio
- Minnesota Vikings Homepage
- Sleep Number (official NFL sponsor)
- Sports Illustrated for Kids
- Work at Home Success
- Texas Youth Football Magazine
- Insider Louisville
- Accredited Schools Online
- The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
2019-Kathryn Starke was named among the top 21 educational experts to follow in 2019 by Up Journey. Her writing, speaking engagements, and impact continue to expand nationally.
- Kathryn Starke was the featured speaker for the Teachers of Tomorrow Conference, Virginia Association for Independent Schools annual statewide conference, America Reads, and for the BER literacy seminar in Salt Lake City.
- Kathryn became a regular writer for Teach Hub and facilitator of the Fluent Readers community on Teachers Connect.
- Amy’s Travels was selected as the book for the spring musical by the Latin Ballet of Virginia.
- Creative Minds Publications published the first titles of the new travel series by educator and author, Donna Dalton
- Tackle Reading was selected as one of the top 12 books all about reading by Fupping.
- Tackle Reading and Kathryn Starke, educational expert, is featured in the following national media outlets:
- Inspiring Lives Magazine
- Success Magazine
- Read to Them blog
- Thrive Global
- Medium
- Teaching Channel
- Teach Hub
- Disrupted TV Magazine
- Oklahoman
- Mississippi Parents Magazine
- Richmond Magazine
- Weekly Trends
- Hope by the Book
- Sportswire
- WTVR 6 Sports
- Richmond Family Magazine
- San Francisco 49ers Community Page
Stay tuned to see what else we’re working on this year at Creative Minds Publications, LLC! We’d love for you to join us. Visit http://www.creativemindpsublications.com to see how our company supports your children, family, schools, companies, and community.
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