REDEFINING CLASSICS

Dr. Anika T. Prather is an educator and scholar with a B.A. in Elementary Education from Howard University and advanced degrees from New York University, Howard University, and St. John’s College. She holds a Ph.D. in English, Theatre, and Literacy Education from the University of Maryland, where her research focused on enhancing literacy among African American students through classic literature. Anika is the author of Living in the Constellation of the Canon: The Lived Experiences of African American Students Reading Great Books Literature and co-author of The Black Intellectual Tradition.

She has held various educational leadership roles, including Head of School, lecturer at Howard University, and Director of High-Quality Curriculum and Instruction at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy. Anika is currently an Assistant Professor and coordinator of Elementary Education at Catholic University. In 2015, she founded The Living Water School, a Christian institution grounded in Classical Education, and co-established The Living Water Center, home to The Blacks in Classics Museum.

Anika is also a performing artist, having produced two jazz albums and created fiber art under the name NikaKnits. She is a passionate speaker and consultant, offering her expertise to schools nationwide through Anika Prather Consulting. Along with her husband, Damon M. Prather, she is dedicated to advancing high-quality education, while raising their three children.