Dr. Alisha A. Hayes, Ed.D., Ed.S., M.Ed., B.S.

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Founder & Head of Dr. Hayes Educates and The Hayes Academy of Innovation
Licensed Educator • Reading Specialist • Educational Diagnostician • Curriculum & Instruction Expert

Professional Overview

Dr. Alisha A. Hayes is not just an educator — she’s a reformer, a diagnostician, and a creator who challenged the systems that forgot the child. With over 20 years of experience in education, she has served as a classroom teacher, school principal, curriculum coordinator, reading and ELL specialist, college professor, and now, founder of an innovative learning ecosystem that unites research, empathy, and creativity.

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As the creator and developer of The H.A.Y.E.S. Method™, Dr. Hayes built a framework born from both research and rebellion — a response to policies and practices that valued test scores over children. Her approach merges structured literacy, executive function development, and hands-on STEM-based learning to create classrooms where learning feels alive, relevant, and deeply human.

Her life’s work is grounded in one unwavering truth: education should be personalized, purposeful, and liberating — never standardized.

Educational Background

• Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) – Curriculum & Instruction
  Research focus: developmental appropriateness, assessment systems, and instructional leadership.
  Her dissertation — “An Examination of the Common Core State Standards and Technology Standards Across the United States: A Focus on Fourth Grade Math Achievement” — challenged national standards and testing practices, exposing how inequitable systems and assessment fees distorted true learning.
  That research laid the foundation for The H.A.Y.E.S. Method™, a new way of teaching that puts children, not compliance, at the center.

• Education Specialist (Ed.S.) – Educational Leadership, Supervision, and Assessment

• Master of Education (M.Ed.) – Reading & Literacy Instruction with a Concentration in ELL and Literacy Intervention (earned Reading Specialist licensure)

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) – Early Childhood Education (PreK–3) & Family Studies

 Licensure & Endorsements (Tennessee License #000510**)

• Reading Specialist (PreK–12)

• Elementary Education (K–6)

• English Language Arts (7–8)

• Administrator (PreK–12)

• English as a Second Language (PreK–12)

• Curriculum & Instruction (PreK–12)

Assessment Authority & Legal Compliance

Dr. Hayes is legally and professionally authorized to administer and interpret academic and psychoeducational assessments under T.C.A. §49-10-103(14)(B) and State Board Policy 5.105.
Her evaluations are designed for instructional decision-making, program placement, and curriculum development, aligning with IDEA §300.502 and NCED professional standards for Educational Diagnosticians.

She conducts comprehensive assessments for:

• Reading, writing, and math difficulties (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia)

• Executive functioning and ADHD-related learning patterns

• Giftedness and twice-exceptional (2e) learning profiles

• Academic planning for IEPs, 504 Plans, RTI, and private school placement

To maintain ethical clarity, Dr. Hayes does not conduct IQ or clinical mental health evaluations. Instead, she provides data-driven academic diagnostics and collaborates with families and providers for holistic support.

Specialized Training & Credentials

• Educational Diagnostician (Non-Clinical) – Qualified to administer, interpret, and report psychoeducational and academic assessments (WJ-IV, KTEA-3, CTOPP-2, TOWRE-2, BASC-3, Conners-4, GORT-5, Acadience, etc.)

• ADHD-CE Certified Educator – Specialized in executive function coaching, self-regulation, and academic strategy support

• Executive Function Assessment & Coaching Specialist – Trained in EF screeners and intervention design

• “Unstuck and On Target” Certified Facilitator – Evidence-based executive function and emotional regulation program

• Orton-Gillingham Structured Literacy Certified (IMSE)

• Conceptual Math & Numeracy Intervention Trained

• Certified ELL Instructor – Skilled in multilingual, culturally responsive teaching

• PESI Professional Development Coursework – Trauma-informed teaching, ADHD interventions, and EF strategies

• Ongoing Professional Learning – Neurodiversity, cognitive scaffolding, trauma-informed practices, and assessment literacy

Professional Roles

• Founder & Executive Director – Dr. Hayes Educates & Hayes Academy of Innovation

• College Professor – Courses in literacy, assessment, and instructional design

• School Principal & Administrator – Led RTI systems, testing, and staff development

• Curriculum Coordinator – Built equitable, data-driven instructional systems

• Reading & ELL Specialist – Implemented literacy interventions and ESL programming

• Educational Consultant & Trainer – Developed teachers, literacy

• coaches, and doctoral candidates across the U.S.

Creator of The H.A.Y.E.S. Method™ Framework

Dr. Alisha A. Hayes is the creator and developer of The H.A.Y.E.S. Method™ Framework, a research-based instructional system designed to transform learning into a mastery-driven, multi-sensory, and community-centered experience.

• Rooted in her years of research, teaching, and curriculum development, the H.A.Y.E.S. Method™ Framework merges structured literacy, conceptual math, social learning theory, and project-based STEM to ensure every learner thrives cognitively, creatively, and emotionally.

• At its core, the framework is anchored by the H.A.Y.E.S. Lesson Model:
  H – Hook & Engage – Capture curiosity and connect learning to real-world relevance.
  A – Active Exploration – Build understanding through inquiry, movement, and discovery.
  Y – Your Voice & Thinking – Empower students to reflect, discuss, and express understanding.
  E – Expand & Apply – Deepen mastery through interdisciplinary and real-world connections.
  S – Showcase & Reflect – Celebrate learning through authentic projects and presentations.

This model functions within the broader HAYES Framework, which promotes mastery through:

• Community-Driven Learning

• Cognitive Scaffolding

• Critical Thinking & Inquiry

• Creativity & Innovation (Creativigity)

• Together, they form a living framework that blends academic rigor, creativity, and compassion, aligning with Dr. Hayes’s belief that education should be structured, purposeful, and deeply human.​​