Lara Spear Riley is a seasoned literacy expert and children’s author with over two decades of experience in education and literary development. Currently serving as the Lead Author and Literacy Advisor at Two Tails Story Co. since September 2020, Lara specializes in creating engaging learn-to-read materials featuring children's beloved pets. Concurrently, Lara contributes to JDRF Greater New England as the Chair of Outreach Volunteers, focusing on fundraising and mentoring newly diagnosed families. Previous roles include founding and owning The Switch Witch LLC, and working as a Literacy Consultant and Reading Teacher in North Carolina and Maine. Lara has also contributed to academic literature and has served as a supervisor and lecturer for literacy graduate students at the University of Southern Maine. Educational credentials include a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from The Johns Hopkins University and a Literacy Specialist Master's Program from the University of Southern Maine, alongside a Bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College.