Presented by Andrew Fletcher, Senior Executive Director, Early Literacy, New York City Department of Education; Rebekah Nelson, Instructional Specialist, Early Literacy, New York City Department of Education; and Sandy Goldberg, Education Director, The WNET Group

Sponsored by The WNET Group and the New York City Department of Education

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Closed captioning will be added to the recording within 2 weeks of the live presentation.

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As the 2020-21 school year ends, we can look ahead together to a brighter 2021-22 school year. Helping young learners prepare for the new school year and build critical literacy and academic skills is a head start for success. In this recorded edWebinar, educators from the WNET Group, New York’s flagship PBS station, and representatives from the New York City Department of Education share how the city’s Early Literacy Team is meeting the challenges of equity and excellence for every learner. These master educators share pedagogy, practical tips and techniques for integrating media resources into everyday learning activities for young learners at school and at home to introduce, reinforce and enrich learning for every young child. edWebinar viewers will get a special preview of some of the literacy, science, math, and social studies videos and accompanying resources that teachers and parents can use to ignite curiosity, build foundational skills, and introduce children to the wonder and joy of learning.

This recorded edWebinar will be of interest to preK through elementary teachers, librarians, school and district leaders, professional development leaders, curriculum leaders, technology directors and coordinators, and early childhood program directors.

About the Presenters

As a teacher, literacy coach, and educator for the past almost 20 years, it has been Andrew Fletcher’s life mission to ensure literacy for all. Andrew began his teaching career in San Francisco and later taught in Los Angeles and New York. He is currently Senior Executive Director of Early Literacy within the Division of Early Childhood Education at the New York City Department of Education. The Early Literacy Team works to ensure equity and excellence for all through its implementation of the Mayor’s and Chancellor’s Universal Literacy Initiative, which has the goal of every student being able to read on grade level by the conclusion of the second-grade year.

Believing that education and social justice are one and the same, Rebekah Nelson has been an educator for nearly 15 years. She began her career in an elementary classroom in the South Bronx, where she solidified her passion for educational equity and realized the importance of high-quality instruction. She has served in several roles at the New York City Department of Education, providing professional learning to educators, developing instructional resources, and supporting citywide literacy initiatives. Rebekah is currently an instructional specialist with New York City’s Early Literacy Team, working towards the goal of ensuring that all students are reading on grade level by the end of second grade.

Sandy Goldberg is the education director in the Kids’ Media & Education department at the WNET Group, New York’s flagship PBS station. In that capacity, she oversees the department’s preK-12 content production, professional development and outreach efforts and helps to create a vision for the department’s future growth and development. Sandy has worked in the education field for over 30 years and is an experienced classroom teacher, technology staff developer, and educational software producer.

Closed captioning will be added to the recording within 2 weeks of the live presentation.

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The WNET Group creates inspiring media content and meaningful experiences for diverse audiences nationwide. It is the nonprofit parent company of New York’s THIRTEEN – America’s flagship PBS station – WLIW21, THIRTEEN PBSKids, WLIW World and Create; Long Island’s only NPR station WLIW-FM; and ALL ARTS, the arts and culture media provider. The WNET Group also operates NJ PBS, New Jersey’s statewide public television network, and newsroom NJ Spotlight News. Through these channels and streaming platforms, The WNET Group brings arts, culture, education, news, documentary, entertainment and DIY programming to more than five million viewers each month. The WNET Group’s award-winning productions include signature PBS series Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, PBS NewsHour Weekend and Amanpour and Company and trusted local news programs MetroFocus and NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi. Inspiring curiosity and nurturing dreams, The WNET Group’s award-winning Kids’ Media and Education team produces the PBS KIDS series Cyberchase, interactive Mission US history games, and resources for families, teachers and caregivers. A leading public media producer for nearly 60 years, The WNET Group presents and distributes content that fosters lifelong learning, including multi-platform initiatives addressing poverty, jobs, economic opportunity, social justice, understanding and the environment. Through Passport, station members can stream new and archival programming anytime, anywhere. Community-supported, The WNET Group represents the best in public media. Join us.