The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) and the Georgia Council on Literacy (Council) are pleased to announce Sarah Richards as Georgia’s Literacy Coach.

Senate Bill 211 passed during the 2023 session of the Georgia General Assembly requires GOSA to hire a literacy coach to serve the Council and coordinate with the state’s education agencies to improve literacy. Richards will use her years of education and literacy instruction and coaching experience to assist the Council in meeting its statutory responsibilities. Richards will coordinate efforts to ensure that the science of reading requirements passed during the 2023 legislative session are implemented with fidelity and on time. 

“The Council has added a leader to the team that is knowledgeable, well-versed in the science of reading and passionate about helping underperforming students achieve their fullest potential,” said Scott Johnson, Council Chair. “These attributes will serve the Council and the state of Georgia well. I am excited to work with Sarah in these endeavors to improve literacy in all age groups.”

Richards most recently served as a statewide coach for GOSA’s Governor’s School Leadership Academy in the last year.  She will begin in her role as Georgia’s Literacy Coach July 1, 2024.

About Sarah Richards, Georgia’s Literacy Coach

Sarah Richards brings over two decades of service as an educator and a passion for literacy to her role as Georgia Literacy Coach.  Over her 21-year career, Mrs. Richards has been committed to positively impacting student achievement. She served as a classroom teacher and Literacy Master Teacher Leader with Atlanta Public Schools, and as an elementary instructional administrator, supporting curriculum and data for Title I schools in Fulton County. As a Statewide Coach with the Governor’s School Leadership Academy, Mrs. Richards fostered the professional growth of teachers in rural and urban communities across Georgia.  

Mrs. Richards holds an M.Ed. in Education Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia, and a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa. Her strong foundation of literacy knowledge is rooted in the science of reading and supported by training in the Orton-Gillingham approach, certification through the Rollins Center/Cox Campus, and a reading endorsement. 

Mrs. Richards is dedicated to advancing literacy outcomes to build a brighter future for all of Georgia’s children.