Nancy Blair started her career as an intensive care nurse.   After completing graduate training in Nurse Anesthesia at the University of Pittsburgh, she became licensed as a Certified Register Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).  Nancy believes her training in medicine has prepared her to have a deeper understanding of the recent scientific studies where functional MRI’s have shown the importance and the critical need for explicit and systematic scientific-based instruction for children with learning disabilities.

Nancy has worked in conjunction with West Chester University’s 3E Institute and Educator 500 program. The Educator 500 identifies, rewards and supports entrepreneurial educators and teams who are proactively developing and implementing innovative programs that meet the unique needs of students by incorporating collaborative solutions, business partnerships, and parent and community involvement. 

Nancy served as a volunteer and officer in many educational organizations committed to helping children with learning disabilities. She collaborated with various professionals to bring Dr. Mel Levine, a renowned pediatrician who specializes in children with learning disabilities, to the Philadelphia area to provide training to over 800 educators.

Nancy holds her Level I and Level II Wilson certification and is honored to be a Wilson Level I Trainer. She has been trained in Lindamood-Bell, the RAVE-O Vocabulary and Fluency Program at Tufts University and in the Neuhaus Metacognition program to increase vocabulary and reading comprehension.  She holds a private academic reading specialist license from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.  Nancy grew her tutoring practice quickly based on the success of students with whom she was working.  Her tutoring practice included students in public, parochial and independent schools.

In June 2006, Nancy’s dream of helping many more students was realized when she collaborated with other passionate educators in the Philadelphia area to start the Academy In Manayunk, in conjunction with The Lab School of Washington®.  The Academy In Manayunk (AIM) began in September 2006 with 24 students and, in its second year, doubled the number of students.  Nancy serves as the Associate Director and Director of Admissions at the Academy. The Academy is proud to be a Wilson partner school and has trained numerous teachers in Level 1 Certification in their first two years.

Nancy currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Branch of International Dyslexia Association (IDA).  She is married and has two children.