Dr. Anika T. Prather is an accomplished educator with a B.A. in Elementary Education from Howard University and multiple graduate degrees in education from New York University and Howard University, including a Master’s in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College and a PhD in English, Theatre, and Literacy Education from the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on enhancing literacy among African American students through engagement with classic literature, and she self-published her dissertation Living in the Constellation of the Canon: The Lived Experiences of African American Students Reading Great Books Literature.
Anika is a co-author of The Black Intellectual Tradition and has held various educational positions, including teacher, supervisor, and Head of School. She previously lectured in the classics department at Howard University and was the Director of High-Quality Curriculum and Instruction at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy until February 2024. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Professor and coordinator of Elementary Education at Catholic University. In 2015, Anika founded The Living Water School, a distinctive Christian institution rooted in Classical Education and the Sudbury Model, and co-established The Living Water Center, which hosts educational activities and The Blacks in Classics Museum in Old Town Alexandria. Additionally, she is a sought-after speaker and educational consultant for public, private, and charter schools through her consulting company, Anika Prather Consulting.
Anika, married to chemical and computer engineer Damon M. Prather, shares a passion for high-quality education. Together, they developed the educational program for their school and are parents to three young children. In addition to her educational pursuits, Anika is a performing artist who integrates music, drama, and storytelling into her presentations. She has produced two jazz albums and is also a self-taught fiber artist. You can explore her music on Spotify (Anika-Tene’) and her fiber work at NikaKnits.
*Anika and her family recently made the difficult decision to leave their church home—one that has been central to Anika’s life for nearly 50 years and to Damon’s for 17 years. This church has been the foundation of much of Anika’s work, making this transition one of the most painful experiences she has ever faced. Damon and Anika have shared their journey through social media and her blog. Now, they’ve compiled all of these posts into one document, hoping that their testimony will offer support to anyone navigating a major life change. You can read their full story here.
Dr. Anika T. Prather 
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