Leadership is not about title or position. Leadership is about your ability to influence others and make an impact.

Spotlight on Literacy Leadership is a half-day event on Thursday, November 3rd from noon to 6:00 pm ET designed to help educators influence others to adopt literacy instruction based on the science of reading. By attending, you will become part of a movement advocating for literacy for all, as well as:

  • Gain the tools, resources and tactics you need to successfully persuade others about the science of reading.
  • Receive slide, email, and elevator pitch templates you can use right away, and customize for your own situation during a workshop session.
  • Earn up to 4 CE certificates.
  • Be part of an exclusive follow-up pitch session on Thursday, November 17th at 4:30 pm ET where selected attendees can present their customized pitch slide decks to our panel.

This half-day event includes:

  • A presentation from Assistant Superintendent Brent Conway about how he came to advocate the science of reading in his district;
  • A panel discussion featuring educators and experts who have persuaded others on the need for literacy instruction transformation;
  • On-demand access through May, 2023; and
  • A workshop session where attendees will get the pitch templates and practice presenting them in breakouts.

Schedule​

Time (ET) Session Title Speakers
12:00-1:00 pm Platform open & Networking  
1:00 -1:30 pm Kickoff Session  Terrie Noland
1:30-2:30 pm How a District Leader Came Around on the Science of Reading Brent Conway
2:30-3:00 pm Networking Break  
3:00-4:00 pm Influencing Up, Across & Down on the Science of Reading Jake Flowers, Missy Purcell & Lori Severino
4:00-5:30 pm Workshop: Influencing Others About Literacy Terrie Noland & Rebecca Brown

 

Register

Featured Speakers

Brent Conway

Brent Conway is an Assistant Superintendent from Massachusetts. While Brent's background and scope of work for schools is expansive, his passion is with improving literacy outcomes for all students. At this event, Brent will be our featured speaker, and will discuss what influenced him and the strategies he employed in persuading others on the importance and need for literacy instruction transformation. Additionally, he will be joining us on November 17th, for a follow-up event, where selected attendees will be invited to present their customized pitch slide decks to our panel.

Terrie Noland

For 25 years, Dr. Terrie Noland has put her energy into education and literacy; first as a teacher and administrator, and now as V.P. of Educator Initiatives for Learning Ally. Terrie's mission is to spark a flame of enthusiasm in others for continued personal and professional growth and development. In this event, Terrie will lead our kickoff session, wrap party, and participate in our panel discussion.

Speakers & Panelists

Rebecca Brown

Rebecca Brown

Rebecca Brown is an elementary educator in the Metro Atlanta-area. She has been teaching for 7 years with experience in the upper grades and currently teaches fourth grade in Gwinnett County. Last year, Rebecca was named Teacher of the Year at her school and was later named a Top 25 Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist in Gwinnett County. She is a teacher leader at her school and an advocate for the Science of Reading. Rebecca lives in Dacula, GA with her husband, Ben, and their four cats!

Jake Flowers

Jake Flowers

Jake is a superintendent of a small K-8 district in Peoria, Illinois. He has been serving as Superintendent since January 2021, and began a journey into the science of reading in late Spring/Summer of 2021. This school year, it has become the focus in their PK-4 building. This has been all new learning for him as an educator and leader and while their journey is just in the beginning years, he is confident (even with detours) their district will flip the script in literacy outcomes.

Missy Purcell

Missy Purcell

Missy Purcell is a former teacher, a wife and mother to 3 boys and a fur baby. She is a convert from balanced literacy and now works to encourage educators across the country to embrace the #ScienceOfReading.

Lori Severino

Lori Severino

Dr. Lori Severino is a retired Assistant Professor of Special Education at Drexel University, and Co-Founder of Credentials Unlimited. She has a BS in PK-12 Special Education and taught in public education for 26 years. As a Wilson certified trainer, she has trained hundreds of teachers in the structured literacy approach. She received the 2019 Floyd G. Hudson Award from the Council for Learning Disabilities for her service in the field, and co-authored Using Creativity to Address Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia: Assessments and Techniques. She is passionate about micro-credentials as a way for teachers to develop specific skills through high-quality coursework.

Are you an administrator looking to register multiple staff members?

Please call 609-243-5855 for assistance.