When the Science of Reading Is Not Enough: Fluency and the Science of Learning

About the Presenters

Dr. Carolyn Brown has devoted her career to developing tools and testing solutions that optimize language and literacy development for all students. She and her colleagues have received support from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and the State of Iowa. Dr. Brown received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in speech pathology and audiology from Eastern New Mexico University and her Ph.D. in the same field at University of Iowa. Her areas of specialization are child development, language acquisition, and the Science of Reading.

She and her husband, Dr. Jerry Zimmermann, have co-founded three companies: Breakthrough to Literacy, the Iowa Language and Literacy Institute, and Foundations in Learning. Each was organized to advance current science and create solutions to help all children learn to read. She is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Iowa.

Angelia Hoyer, a 34-year veteran of elementary education and leadership, has helped hundreds of teachers in her home state of Iowa become more effective English language arts educators. Starting her career off in the classroom, she then became an instructional coach and an elementary school principal in the second-largest district in the state. She coached the teachers in her Title I school to become the best educators they could be through self-reflection, observation, leading professional development, using data, and leading professional learning communities (PLCs).

In 2019, Angelia became the Curriculum Director for Clear Creek Amana Community Schools, overseeing eight schools. She continued to coach and train educators as well as oversee districtwide curricula adoption, coordinate state standardized testing and analysis, and make curricula and virtual learning more accessible to families during the pandemic. Angelia is currently the Partner Success and Professional Development Lead for WordFlight, a literacy assessment and intervention solution for grades 2-8 students. In this role, she helps educators effectively use WordFlight to put students on the pathway to fluency.

About the Moderator

Before taking the helm as CEO, Allison Zimmermann previously served as the Chief Strategy Officer for Foundations in Learning. She brings over 15 years of experience working in the education sector creating equity and opportunity for students. She has worked as a teacher, administrator, and consultant, providing strategic support to schools, non-profits, start-ups, and Fortune 500 companies across the country.

Previously, Allison launched NewView, a non-profit focused on creating tri-sector solutions for society’s largest challenges. She continues to serve on the board of the organization. Allison began her career as a special education middle school teacher in New York City and a Teach For America Corps member. Allison graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in international relations and political science. She received an M.S.Ed. in middle school general and special education from Bank Street College and M.P.P. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Michigan.