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High-Impact Literacy PD Is Personalized, Not Packaged
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EDT
Presented by Kendra Totman Padilla, Former Educator, Current Structured Literacy Coach, Stern Center for Language and Learning; and Kimberly Hunt, Experienced Educator, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Lamoille North Supervisory Union (VT)
Moderated by Leigh Buettler, Former Educator, Current Director of Professional Learning, Stern Center for Language and Learning
Sponsored by Stern Center for Language and Learning
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
This edWebinar interrupts the “sit-and-get” workshop cycles that fail to drive lasting literacy improvement on their own and show how personalized coaching supplies the missing link between Science of Reading knowledge and daily classroom practice. Explore breakthrough solutions with a district leader and coach whose adaptive partnership is unfolding to benefit teachers and students.
Learning objectives include:
- Recognize why the passive learning model of most PD doesn’t stick and actually adds to burnout
- Optimize the essential assets of teacher time, energy, and attention with strategic, selective, adaptive coaching
- Explore the key components of a model that differentiates learning for teachers and for their students
- Assess whether your school’s current PD plan and practices have what it takes for sustained literacy success
The presenters discuss:
- Why the most effective coaches are “fad-free” allies with career-long impact
- Powerful examples of supporting literacy teachers with practical implementation that adapts in real time
- Proven methods to personalize professional learning at scale
Viewers discover a professional learning model that successfully converts knowledge into teacher confidence and student growth. We move together beyond fleeting trends and one-size-fits-all “coaching” that’s tied to curriculum or product sales. Instead, learn about the key elements of a proven framework that’s actually working for educators and will help your school meet its distinctive goals.
This edWebinar is of interest to K-12 teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.
About the Presenters
Kendra Totman Padilla is a dedicated Structured Literacy Coach at the Stern Center for Language and Learning, where she partners with teachers and administrators to bridge the gap between literacy theory and classroom practice. With a focus on refining evidence-based instruction, she empowers educators to implement high-impact strategies that support all learners. Her coaching is informed by years of experience leading reading intervention programs and teaching primary literacy as a classroom educator in Baltimore. A lifelong advocate for educational excellence, Kendra serves on her local school board and as a youth mentor. She holds an M.Ed. from Lesley University and a postgraduate reading specialist certificate from Goucher College. By combining her deep knowledge with a collaborative coaching approach, Kendra helps schools build sustainable, data-driven systems for literacy success.
Kimberly Hunt is the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for the Lamoille North Supervisory Union in Vermont. Kimberly is a dedicated leader and brings extensive expertise in team building, leadership, and instructional quality improvement. Throughout her career, Kimberly has championed a broad-based equity approach to learner outcomes. Her notable achievements include enhancing Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS), expanding access to advanced mathematics for underrepresented students, and implementing districtwide family-school partnership initiatives. Additionally, she has served as a Professional Development Coach for leaders at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has a graduate degree in educational policy and management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and she is deeply committed to fostering faculty growth and student performance through collaborative, data-driven leadership.
About the Moderator
As the Director of Professional Learning at the Stern Center for Language and Learning, Leigh Buettler leads strategic partnerships and literacy initiatives. She collaborates with administrators and educators to implement research-based frameworks that expand learning and drive academic success for all students. Leigh has been dedicated to the field of education since 2004, beginning her career as an Adjunct Lecturer at SUNY Albany. A former Teach For America Corps Member with an M.S.Ed. from Fordham University, her background spans roles as a middle and elementary educator and an instructional coach. Dual certified in General and Special Education, Leigh leverages her deep pedagogical expertise and extensive knowledge of the Science of Reading to bridge research and practice. She is committed to empowering educators with the evidence-based literacy tools necessary to foster inclusive, high-achieving learning environments where every student can become a proficient reader and writer.
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
Join the Professional Learning & Practice community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
The Stern Center for Language and Learning is an education-focused nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding the power of learning. Located in Williston, Vermont, and founded in 1983, The Stern Center’s professional team provides learning evaluations, one-on-one customized instruction, and professional training for educators.
