edWebinars
«Back to all edWebinarsReadership Starts with Leadership: How School Leaders Are Transforming Reading Culture
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT
Presented by Marcy Sparks, Library Services Coordinator, Socorro Independent School District (TX); Erica White, Library Services Coordinator, Irving Independent School District (TX); and Dr. Kertrenia Wright, Principal, Benito Martinez Elementary School (TX)
Moderated by David Hopp, Senior Director, National Sales, Beanstack
Sponsored by Beanstack
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Strong leadership is always part of the story in schools where students love to read. When superintendents, principals, and educators align behind a shared vision, reading culture doesn’t just improve—it thrives.
Join this edWebinar with a panel of visionary school and district leaders as they share how they’ve launched and sustained successful reading initiatives across campuses. From empowering media specialists and teachers to aligning district priorities with daily reading practice, these leaders will show how collaboration and commitment at the top drive measurable literacy gains.
Attendees of this session will:
- Discover how school and district leaders are building unified reading cultures
- Learn strategies to align stakeholders and spark schoolwide reading engagement
- Explore practical ways to support librarians and teachers in literacy initiatives.
- Gain inspiration to lead reading transformation at the campus or district level
All K–12 administrators, media specialists, and instructional leaders are encouraged to attend this edWebinar.
About the Presenters
Marcy Sparks is the Library Services Coordinator for Socorro ISD in El Paso, Texas, where she leads districtwide efforts to foster a strong reading culture through initiatives like the “5 Million Minutes” challenge, campus literacy nights, and student-led book clubs. With over a decade of experience and a master’s in library science, she champions literacy, inquiry, and instructional technology, including integrating Beanstack to gamify reading and boost engagement. A proud TALL Texan alumna, Marcy also provides professional development, supports collection development, and advocates for equitable access to library resources to cultivate lifelong readers and inclusive, student-centered libraries.
Erica White, MLS, is the PreK-12 Library Services Coordinator for Irving ISD. She is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of libraries in shaping student achievement and empowering educators. She actively champions collaboration between librarians, teachers, and principals, fostering a shared vision where libraries are essential hubs of learning, innovation, and instructional partnership.
Dr. Kertrenia Wright, Principal of Benito Martinez Elementary School, is an accomplished educator with 27 years of experience across a diverse range of educational communities, including Dallas ISD, El Paso ISD, Department of Defense Schools, Killeen ISD, and now Socorro ISD. She also serves as an Alumni Navigator for National University, guiding students on their academic journeys. Holding advanced degrees in biology and educational leadership, her doctoral work focused on supporting English language learners. Grounded in a philosophy she calls the “5Gs”—Grow, Give, Guide, Greatness, and Grace—Dr. Wright believes in continuous improvement and servant leadership. She encourages others to grow in their craft, give generously of their knowledge, guide others to greatness, and do so with grace.
About the Moderator
Before his role at Beanstack, Dave Hopp dedicated seven years to educating secondary students in Baltimore City Schools. He led the school’s newcomer ESOL program, served as the school’s New Teacher Mentor, and coached various sports teams. Dave holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Scranton and a master’s in education from Johns Hopkins University. His position as Vice President of School Sales allows him to channel his passion for coaching and competitive spirit to support his team and clients. As a former reluctant reader, Dave finds Beanstack’s community reading goals and districtwide initiatives to be particularly motivating for similar students. Dave is a proud dad of two boys (plus his dog, Admiral), a husband of the greatest literacy teacher he has ever met, and one who has a ceaseless appetite for learning new things.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the ELA Today community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Instead of a quiz-based approach, Beanstack uses competition, recognition, and proven gamification principles to motivate students to read and grow a school district’s reading culture. The flagship product of Zoobean Inc., Beanstack, is licensed by over 15,000 customers worldwide. Its investors include Mark Cuban from ABC’s Shark Tank, and its founding members were previously Washington, DC’s teacher of the year and Google’s first head of K-12 education outreach.
