The people
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Working at Ooka Island
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About
Ooka Island is a children's learn-to-read program delivered as a game, designed to get kids excited about reading early and give each child a personalized path to reading success. It grew out of Dr. Kay MacPhee's decades of literacy work: she built the SpellRead program for older children and adults, sold it for more than $20 million in 2006, then in 2008 partnered with children's author Jim Barber to adapt the method for young children as Ooka Island. Based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, with a Toronto office, the company was acquired by Scholastic in April 2017; the team stayed intact under Scholastic. MacPhee's granddaughter, Joelle MacPhee, ran marketing and told the TechTO stage in 2016 how she recruited an experienced CEO rather than force the role herself.
Backers
Acquired by Scholastic in April 2017. Founder Dr. Kay MacPhee had earlier built and sold the SpellRead literacy program for more than $20 million in 2006.
Quick answers
What is Ooka Island?
A game-based learn-to-read program for young children, built on Dr. Kay MacPhee's phonics method and designed to give every child a personalized path to reading.
Who founded Ooka Island?
Dr. Kay MacPhee and children's author Jim Barber, in 2008 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. MacPhee had earlier created the SpellRead literacy program.
What happened to Ooka Island?
Scholastic acquired it in April 2017, and the Charlottetown and Toronto team joined Scholastic.