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Winning 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 Dale W. Webster, President, CORE Learning
Co-hosted by CORE Learning and The Reading League
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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 explores how educators, literacy leaders, and policymakers have successfully influenced policy, secured funding, and built coalitions to advance Structured Literacy. Panelists share what it takes to turn reading science into action and create lasting change. Viewers 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 offers practical steps for any K-12 educator, administrator, or advocate looking to strengthen literacy advocacy and bring effective reading instruction to more students.
This edWebinar is part of the Structured Literacy for Every Learner Summit.
About the Presenters
Currently Director of Community Engagement and Recruitment for the Iona Education Department and adjunct professor, Debbie Meyer’s lengthy professional career includes fundraising, nonprofit management, and strategic planning. She 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. Debbie is a member of the Advisory Board of the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children. In 2018, Debbie was named an A’lelia 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. In 2021, she served on the NYC Mayoral Education Transition Team. In 2022, she was appointed to the Chancellor’s Literacy Advisory Committee, and in 2024, NYSED appointed her to the Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force.
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.
Dale Webster is President of CORE Learning, which provides professional learning and implementation support to schools and districts across the country. Dale brings over 30 years of experience in teaching, professional learning, research, state-level policy work and administration, and curriculum development to schools and districts across the country. Dale earned his Ph.D. in learning, cognition, and development at the University of California, Irvine, where his research focused on vocabulary development for multilingual learners.
He has presented nationally on a variety of topics related to the Science of Reading. Dale most recently served as a member of the SB 488 Panel that updated teacher preparation standards for reading instruction in California and the California State Literacy Plan Team. He also served on the California Curriculum Commission, an advisory body to the California State Board of Education on curriculum frameworks and textbook adoptions. Dale is also a member of the Editorial Board for the International Dyslexia Association’s Perspectives on Language and Literacy publication.
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.
