About Me
Welcome to Lit for Learning Headquarters!
Shanita Ables is the founder and CEO of Lit for Learning Headquarters—an award-winning educator, dynamic speaker, and visionary curriculum writer who transforms classrooms through culturally responsive, high-energy learning experiences. With a deep love for reading, a foundation in music, and a passion for equity, she designs powerful literacy tools and trainings that inspire students and educators alike. Her mission: to make education feel alive, inclusive, and unstoppable.
From Lessons to Legacy — Impact That Lasts.™
Meet Shanita
With a background in elementary education, educational leadership, and curriculum & instruction, Shanita brings nearly a decade of impactful experience in classrooms and district-level leadership. She partners with schools and organizations to deliver high-energy, equity-driven professional development that inspires both educators and students.
Shanita specializes in designing engaging curriculum, leading teacher training, and infusing hip hop pedagogy into standards-based instruction. Outside of education, she enjoys traveling with her family, reading with her son, competing in pageants, and empowering women and youth across the country.
I’ve always loved school—the stories, the experiences, the journey of learning. But when I didn’t see myself or my culture reflected in that journey, I knew something had to shift. It started with music—my first language of connection, creativity, and power. That love sparked a deeper mission: to redesign education through curriculum that’s culturally responsive, academically rigorous, and alive with purpose. Now, I build what I once needed—learning that empowers, engages, and elevates every student.
Shanita’s Journey
- Classroom Trailblazer (2018 → present).
• Raised reading proficiency 75–85 % each year in Title I classrooms by merging novel studies with hip‑hop pedagogy, inquiry‑based projects, and data‑driven small groups.
• Golden Apple Teacher of the Year, 2024—recognized for a rap‑infused GMAS prep series that went viral in our district - Curriculum Writer & PD Designer.
• Authored 40+ standards‑aligned units adopted across Georgia and Maryland, spotlighting intersectional heritage months and social‑emotional learning.
• Developed Starbooks Café and other immersive literacy events that turn libraries into literary cafés—now replicated in 18 schools - Educational Speaker & Consultant.
• Keynote and workshop leader for districts, ed‑tech firms, and national conferences (Muscogee County Empower Conference & Hip-Hop Ed Conference).
• Signature session: “Cultivating Genius through Hip Hop Pedagogy” — a research‑backed blueprint for accelerating reading growth while nurturing student identity. - Leadership in Action.
• PBIS Coach & aspiring assistant principal (youngest member in the 2025 cohort); spearheaded behavior frameworks that cut office referrals by 42%.
• Mentor to new teachers, guiding them to weave inquiry, rap, and restorative practices into daily lessons.
Community & Advocacy.
• Founder, EmpowerHER Academy—a pageant‑style leadership program where 3rd–5th‑grade girls earn crowns for community service, academic gains, and sisterhood.
• Pageant platform “I Am Powerful” elevates postpartum depression awareness, inspired by my own journey to motherhood and my son DJ’s boundless joy for books.
Recognition & Credentials
- M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction
- M. Ed in Educational Leadership
- B.S. in Elementary Education
- Teaching & Coaching Certified (TSC)
- Reading Specialist
- IB PYP Accredited Certificate
- 2024 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year