Our Team

Pam Allyn - President and Founder

Pam is the author of many books, including Every Child a Super Reader, co-authored by Dr. Ernest Morrell, Your Child’s Writing Life (winner of the Mom’s Choice Award), and What to Read When. She is a renowned public speaker, and the creator of programs that achieve exceptional results in academics and wellbeing, pre-k through grade 12. Her signature programs include LitCamp, LitLeague, and ReadyGen.

Shannon Hickey - Director of Programs and Partnerships

Shannon has been an educator for over 15 years focusing on bilingual and multilingual learners in inquiry-based teaching and learning environments. She believes in supporting educators in identifying their strengths and passions and leveraging those to impact other areas. She is actively raising her own bilingual, bicultural family and brings a unique perspective to US education from an international lens.

Vincent Ventura - Director of LitLife International 

Vincent is the Director of LitLife’s work in international schools. His work centers around empowering every educator to find and celebrate their unique voice while marrying the best and most joyful practices of teaching literacy to all students. Vincent’s joy as an international educator and staff developer comes from his own life experiences being born in Manila, Philippines, growing up in Toronto, Canada, teaching in New York, USA and now, residing in Monterrey, Mexico.

Jim Allyn - Vice President and Counsel

Jim has been with LitLife since its founding in 2002. He oversees contracts, compliance, and IP and licensing. Jim is actively involved in creating a business structure that enables those who work for and with us to achieve their maximum potential, both personally and professionally. He believes in collaborative partnerships promoting outcomes that are high-quality, measurably effective and joyful, as all of our work ultimately impacts children.

Jo Ann Boyko - Chief Financial Officer

Jo Ann is a hands-on finance executive with over 30 years of public, private and non-profit experience. She joined the LitLife team in 2018, bringing her strategic and tactical expertise in financial and strategic planning, asset liability management and risk management, as well as governance, compliance and regulatory engagement. Jo Ann is known as a “doer" that makes a difference.