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«Back to all edWebinarsWinning Support for Structured Literacy: How to Advocate for Change in Schools and Policy
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT
Presented by Debbie Meyer, Director of Community Engagement and Recruitment, Iona Education Department; Pamela Bradley, CEO & Founder, PRB Consultants; Dr. Antonio Fierro, Vice President of Professional Learning and Academics, 95 Percent Group; and Maya Valencia Goodall, Chief Strategy Officer, CORE Learning
Co-hosted by CORE Learning and The Reading League
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Bringing Structured Literacy into more classrooms takes more than just good intentions. It requires a clear message, strong advocacy, and the ability to navigate school systems and policy decisions. Whether you’re working within a single school or pushing for district- or state-level change, building support is key to ensuring all students receive evidence-based reading instruction.
This second edWebinar of the Structured Literacy for Every Learner Summit will explore how educators, literacy leaders, and policymakers have successfully influenced policy, secured funding, and built coalitions to advance Structured Literacy. Panelists will share what it takes to turn reading science into action and create lasting change. Attendees will learn how to:
- Communicate the need for Structured Literacy in ways that resonate with decision makers
- Engage school and district leaders in making evidence-based instruction a priority
- Navigate policy and funding systems to expand access to high-quality literacy instruction
This conversation will offer practical steps for any K-12 educator, administrator, or advocate looking to strengthen literacy advocacy and bring effective reading instruction to more students. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.
This edWebinar is part of the Structured Literacy for Every Learner Summit.
About the Presenters
Debbie Meyer is a founding member of the Dyslexia (Plus) in Public Schools Task Force, a small group of community leaders working to help students with dyslexia and related language-based disabilities thrive in their neighborhood schools. She also serves as a board member of both the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children and Harlem Women Strong, and is a member of the Arise Coalition Literacy Committee. Most recently, she was appointed as a contributor to NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ Transition Team. In 2018, she was named as an A’leila Bundles Community Scholar at Columbia University to look at the intersection of dyslexia and mass incarceration and the role of universities in changing the trajectory of struggling readers. Debbie’s lengthy professional career is in nonprofit management and fundraising.
Pamela Bradley is the CEO and Founder of PRB Consultants and President of Berea Scholars. She is passionate about educating youth, especially in underserved communities. She believes it is important for educators to build healthy, respectful relationships with those they teach. She believes the best teaching comes out of healthy and respectful adult-student relationships.
Dr. Antonio A. Fierro is the Vice President of Professional Learning and Academics with the 95 Percent Group and co-author of Kid Lips, a phonetics curriculum for young children. For almost 20 years, Dr. Fierro was a member of the national LETRS cohort of literacy consultants led by Dr. Louisa Moas. He has also led many initiatives nationwide to improve instruction for English learners. Dr. Fierro currently sits on the national board of The Reading League and the advisory board of LETRS 3rd edition. Dr. Fierro is a former Texas State Teacher of the Year.
As Chief Strategy Officer, Maya Valencia Goodall ensures that the vision and mission of CORE Learning’s products are based on scientific pedagogy, applied linguistics, and asset mindset. Maya has over two decades of experience in educational publishing and educational technology. Prior to joining CORE, she developed products for Multilingual Learners at Lexia and Lingual Learning, a company she co-founded and sold to Rosetta Stone. Maya began her career as a classroom teacher, both nationally and internationally, teaching in both English and Spanish. Her expertise is found at the intersection of theory, LX design, and practical use in the classroom.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the Language and Literacy community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
For 25+ years, CORE has pioneered evidence-based and research-grounded professional learning experiences and school supports that equip educators with the tools they need to advance rigorous instruction, high-quality materials, and effective assessments. CORE partners with educators to strengthen the foundations of teaching and learning, ensuring all students experience a rigorous, relevant, and inclusive public education.
The Reading League is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the awareness, understanding, and use of evidence-aligned reading instruction. Their mission is to ensure all educators employ practices rooted in the science of reading, leading to successful literacy outcomes for every student. Committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, The Reading League offers resources such as professional development partnerships, an annual conference, a peer-reviewed journal, and various educational materials. By fostering collaboration among educators, researchers, and policymakers, they strive to transform reading education and empower all learners.
