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Families Make the Difference: Practical Ways to Boost Early Literacy and Math
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST
Presented by Lori Anderson, Director of Elementary Curriculum, School City of Hobart (IN); Sara Gutierrez, Director of Early Learning, School City of Hobart (IN); and Allison Leedie, Former Educator and Literacy Coach, Current Sr. Manager, School Partnerships, Khan Academy Kids
Sponsored by Khan Academy Kids
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Family engagement is one of the highest-leverage ways to accelerate early literacy and math—when it fits real families’ time, languages, and routines. In this edWebinar, moderated by Allison Leedie, School Partnerships—Khan Academy Kids and former educator and literacy coach, with guests from School City of Hobart, Lori Anderson, Director of Elementary Curriculum, and Sara Gutierrez, Director of Early Learning, PreK–2 educators explore practical strategies that connect school and home.
You learn to:
- Launch weekly home routines for phonological awareness, vocabulary, and early numeracy
- Adapt multilingual, family-friendly messages and visual guides caregivers can use tomorrow
- Align centers and take-home activities so families see and reinforce priority skills
- Track progress with simple checks and celebrate growth to sustain engagement
Viewers leave with strategies that can be put into action on the very next day, and a district example from Hobart that shows how small habits build big gains—while honoring diverse caregivers and busy schedules. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to PreK-2 teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.
About the Presenters
Lori Anderson serves as the Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction for School City of Hobart, Indiana. With 19 years of classroom experience across multiple elementary grade levels, including as an MTSS interventionist, Lori brings a deep understanding of student learning and instructional practice. She also served ten years in school leadership roles as an assistant principal and head principal before advancing to district leadership. In her current capacity, Lori partners closely with building leaders and educators to foster student success and promote professional growth. She regularly leads and engages in grade-level meetings to support teachers in developing as instructional leaders within their classrooms and collaborative teams.
Committed to continuous learning, Lori actively participates in professional development statewide and with the Indiana Department of Education to bring evidence-based strategies to her district. A passionate advocate for family engagement, Lori believes that strong partnerships between school and home are essential for students to thrive both academically and socially. She values the meaningful relationships she has cultivated with staff, students, and families and looks forward to strengthening these connections to support early learners.
Sara Gutierrez serves as the Director of Early Learning and Education for the School City of Hobart, where she leads a vibrant ecosystem of prenatal to kindergarten programming focused on family engagement, preschool, and kindergarten. As an instructional leader, she guides and empowers educators to deliver high-quality, developmentally appropriate experiences that help every child and staff member “Be Excellent on Purpose.”
A passionate advocate for early literacy, play-based learning, and family partnerships, Sara has helped develop Hobart’s recognized Brickies from the Start initiative, which connects schools and caregivers in building strong foundations for lifelong learning. She also partners with the Indiana Department of Education to design statewide professional development supporting smooth transitions to kindergarten. Known for her joyful energy and commitment to collaboration, Sara inspires educators and families alike to see themselves as partners in growing curious, confident learners, one meaningful connection at a time.
Allison Leedie has spent her career helping children fall in love with reading. She began her career in the classroom as an elementary teacher, where she discovered the magic of watching a child unlock a book for the first time. That experience led her to become a literacy specialist and coach, supporting other teachers in giving students the strong foundation they need as readers. With a master’s in language and literacy from Harvard, Allison now leads School Partnerships at Khan Academy Kids. The best part of her job is sharing joyful, accessible resources that help every child grow into a confident, curious reader for life.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the Community & Family Engagement community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Khan Academy Kids is a free early learning program that empowers teachers and families to nurture confident, curious learners. Developed by Khan Academy in partnership with early childhood learning experts from Stanford University, the app helps children ages 2–8 build foundational literacy, math, and executive functioning skills through play-based learning. Interactive lessons, books, and activities adapt to each child’s level, while teachers can track progress and assign standards-aligned lessons in the classroom. Used by schools and districts nationwide, Khan Academy Kids supports equitable access to research-backed early education—no subscriptions, ads, or barriers. Available on mobile, tablet, and Chromebook devices, the app brings joyful, effective learning to every child, everywhere.
