ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
Our Story - The Power of Literacy
The Read Nardagani Literacy Foundation was born from a simple belief: every person who wants to read should be able to. Founded in 2026 as an Idaho nonprofit corporation, the Foundation develops, distributes, and promotes the Nardagani reading method, a proprietary, phonics-based visual decoding methodology using 12 simple symbols that makes learning to read English intuitive and accessible.
We exist because the traditional approach to teaching reading isn’t working for everyone. Two-thirds of American fourth graders can’t read at grade level. 130 million adults in the United States read below a sixth-grade level, 43 million are functionally illiterate. The cost, in lost potential, lost income, and lost opportunity, is staggering.
Read Nardagani offers a different path. By making the rules of English visible through a simple symbol based method, we remove the cognitive barriers that cause struggling readers to fall behind. Our system works for children learning to read for the first time, adults returning to education, English language learners, and individuals in reentry programs. We believe literacy is not a privilege, it’s a right.
MISSION
To develop, distribute, and promote evidence-based literacy programs that make reading accessible to every learner, regardless of income, geography, language, or background.
VISION
A world where every child reads proficiently by third grade and ensures every adult who struggles with literacy has access to effective tools, and reading instruction grounded in evidence, equity, and accessibility.
VALUES
Equity
Every learner deserves access to effective reading instruction.
Evidence
Our work is grounded in The Science of Reading and Scarborough’s Reading Rope.
Accessibility
We design for every learner, every background, every age.
Accountability
We measure outcomes, publish results, and steward every dollar with transparency.
relationships
We work alongside districts, educators, literacy leadership, and communities.
LEADERSHIP
narda pitkethly
Chief Executive Officer
Narda Pitkethly
Narda’s daughter was a challenged reader. To help her Narda created a reading method using twelve simple symbols to enable efficient decoding of English words. She later founded Nardagani, Inc. to continue the development of the Nardagani reading method and help other challenged readers. She resides in Ketchum, Idaho, where she continues development of the Nardagani Reading Program with her dedicated team. The Read Nardagani Literacy Foundation is Narda’s vision for making The Power of Literacy with Read Nardagani available for everyone in need at no cost.
jerry klein
Chief Operating Officer
Board of Directors
Jerry Klein
Jerry is a Certified Public Accountant and a former CFO and CEO of public companies. His expertise includes strategic, financial management, operational leadership, and customer-centric innovation. He has served on the Board of public, private, and nonprofit organizations. His understanding and commitment to life-long learning and reading literacy is deeply rooted in his experience as an employer and manager of people from all walks of life, nationalities, education and socio-economic levels.
Lynn townsend-white
Lynn graduated from Boise State University and joined her family’s potato starch business in Washington state. During her 23-year tenure, Lynn became the CEO and sole owner of the business, growing it from one manufacturing facility to three and from 45 employees to100. Her interest in reading and children’s education comes from watching her own children grow and learn and also working with employees from all walks of life, education levels and regions from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Maine.