Valerie J PaytonValerie J. Payton is a Reading specialist and consultant, a sought-after seminar presenter, an editor, and author. She is an adept communicator who enjoys empowering others to remember this truth: "Your Words Have POWER! Speak and write with boldnessand confidence." If you ever need a quick reminder, Grammar at Your Fingertips, with the grammar rules and explanations, is only a touch away.Always talking a lot as a child and wanting to be everybody's "teacher," Valerie was determined to master Reading, Writing, Communication, and especially English grammar and usage. She pursued an education that has propelled her into the role of a literacy advocate. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English Language Arts from Hunter College in New York City and a Master of Education in Reading from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio-attended the New York campus, The Teachers, Inc. She was trained in the "Teachers College Reading and Writing Project" at Columbia University in New York. With over thirty years of service at the Department of Education for the City of New York, Valerie has served as a dedicated teacher, literacy coach, workshop facilitator, curriculum writer and developer, and a test-taking strategist. She was an adjunct professor at the City University of New York - Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), where she taught Academic and Critical Reading (ACR) courses. From a guest speaker for Career Day at Paterson Academy for the Gifted and Talented in Paterson, NJ to a seminar presenter for the Administrative Educational Officers at John Jay School of Criminal Justice in New York, Valerie's literacy mission is making a difference in all generations. She is honored to be a team leader on the Educational Council at Community Baptist Church of Englewood in Englewood, NJ. Valerie currently resides in New Jersey. She has two children and four grandchildren. Visit her website: www.theliteracystudio.com. Read More Read Less