Our Team

CO-FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Rina Madhani began her career in education with AmeriCorps. During her time as an educator at M.S. 223 and Success Academy, Rina felt a powerful connection to a parent who reached out to her for help with their child’s literacy during the pandemic. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-founded Start Lighthouse and set out to create a space with empowering educational opportunities for young learners, regardless of race or zip code.

Awards & Linkedin

CO-FOUNDER

In her third year of medical school, Brittany Kramer observed that healthcare outcomes were intimately intertwined with patient literacy. By co-founding Start Lighthouse, she aimed to foster a life-long joy of learning in children and their families. These practices help to bridge a healthy and fruitful transition into adulthood.

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CHIEF OF STAFF

Nicky Yates has more than 15 years of experience building and scaling mission-driven organizations. She began her career supporting growth and operations at charity: water, helping strengthen systems during a period of rapid expansion, and later served as Deputy Director at STEM From Dance, where she built people, finance, and operational infrastructure to support national growth. Nicky’s love of reading has long shaped her educational and professional path, grounding her work in curiosity, reflection, and learning. She remains an avid reader of historical narratives, drawn to stories that illuminate how systems, people, and movements shape one another over time.

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Savannah is a seasoned educator that loves turning chaos into systems that help people do their best work. Whether she is building processes that can grow with the organization, keeping inventory organized, or figuring out a better way to get things done, Savannah is always looking for practical solutions that make a lasting impact. She enjoys connecting the dots behind the scenes so her team can stay focused on the mission. There’s nothing more satisfying to her than creating order, solving problems, and helping good work happen a little more smoothly every day.

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SENIOR LITERACY HUB LEAD

Ines Purcell believes every child deserves the opportunity to discover the joy and confidence that comes with reading. As Senior Literacy Hub Lead at Start Lighthouse, she combines her passion for teaching with a commitment to supporting fellow educators, coaching Literacy Hub Leads, and helping strengthen literacy instruction across the 4 Literacy Hubs. Having been a teacher in the Bronx and Harlem for 6 years, Ines is dedicated to creating engaging, student-centered learning experiences and building strong partnerships that help students thrive.

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LITERACY HUB LEAD

Gratia began her work in education researching trends in the inequity of literacy teacher shortages. She transitioned to working in schools at an East Harlem community school, where she worked with 3rd graders and saw the gravity of the literacy crisis firsthand. In the classroom, Gratia strives to build positive relationships and elevate student voices at all ages to create safe and productive learning environments. Outside of the classroom, she cultivates her own love for reading through bookclubs and exploring bookstores throughout New York City. Gratia is passionate about helping students see their lives in books and see books as a part of their lives by reading representative books.

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