Akimi Gibson has a dual role at Sesame Workshop. As VP & Educational Publisher of the Media & Education division, she leads the Formal Learning initiatives, partnerships, and business for the Workshop. The focus of this group is to leverage the power of research-proven media to enhance and advance teaching and learning from P-Grade 3. The group is focused on aligning and synchronizing theelements that define high-qualityearly childhood education in order to reach personalized learning for each child and grown up by taking a dual-generational approach. Our work ranges from innovations through action research and embedded partnerships with like-minded organizations on curricula, professional and leadership development, and family partnerships. Additionally, Gibson leads the Racial Justice Content Synergy work as part of the Creative and Production division. This role partners with internal leaders across the Workshop to develop and strengthen a shared vision and provide assurance and coordination for the organization-wide initiative, Coming Together. 

Prior to joining Sesame Workshop, Gibson was Deputy Executive Director at NAEYC where she oversaw the Professional Development, Publications, Marketing & Communication, and Sales departments. Gibson also held several senior leadership positions at Scholastic, Inc. During her tenure with Scholastic, she served as the group publisher, overseeing the development of educational products for P-20 through schools, public and school libraries, early childhood programs, parent education, and Universities. Earlier roles included senior positions at educational technology start-ups and media companies looking to venture into the school and educational consumer markets, such as the Walt Disney Company. 

Gibson is also a children’s book author, a former program administrator, teacher educator, and literacy coach. As a former classroom teacher, she has worked with infants and toddlers, to special needs second grade, to literacy tutoring for students in K-6th grade and holds various degrees in human and child development as well as school administration. 

Featured in: Lessons in Social-Emotional Learning (11:00am - 11:45am)