Deepen Reading Comprehension: Building Knowledge with Text Sets & Active Reading Tools

Shayla Shepherd joined Newsela in 2026 as a Professional Learning Manager and is based in Madison, Indiana. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Hanover College. Prior to joining Newsela, she served as a high school science (chemistry) teacher, technology integration specialist, and professional development consultant.

At Newsela, Shayla designs and delivers engaging, practical professional learning. She is committed to building genuine relationships with the educators she supports and ensuring they feel confident using the Newsela platform to enhance instruction, streamline workflows, and create differentiated, meaningful learning experiences for their students.