Presented by Horacio Sanchez, President and CEO, Resiliency, Inc.; Maya Goodall, Senior Director of Emergent Bilingual Curriculum, Lexia Learning; and Kerri Larkin, Senior Education Advisor, Education Partnerships
Moderated by Cassandra Wheeler, Senior Manager of LETRS State Success, Lexia Learning

Sponsored by Lexia Learning as part of Science of Reading Week April 24-28. Learn more.

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When we talk about the science of reading, we often think about the research into instruction and classroom best practices. Understanding how the brain functions when learning to read is just as important, especially when we talk about equity.

Watch Horacio Sanchez, President and CEO of Resiliency, Inc., Maya Goodall, Senior Director of Emergent Bilingual Curriculum, Lexia Learning, and Kerri Larkin, Senior Education Advisor, Education Partnerships, as they discuss neuroscience, equity, and the pursuit of literacy during Lexia’s Science of Reading Week.

Viewers discover the connection between optimal brain function and literacy success while understanding how factors like poverty and lack of resources can impact students in classroom. Learn how neuroscience can help us better support all our students in this session.

This recorded edWebinar is of interest to PreK-12 teachers, librarians, school and district leaders, and education technology leaders.

This edWebinar is part of Science of Reading Week.

This five-day event, April 24th – 28th, is your front row seat to learn from the brightest minds in the national literacy conversation and your key to unlocking literacy learning for every student. Join us for the week to unpack the science and ensure your students learn to read, write, and speak with confidence.

About the Presenters

Horacio Sanchez is a highly sought-after speaker and educational consultant, helping schools learn to apply neuroscience to improve educational outcomes. He presents on diverse topics like overcoming the impact of poverty, improving school climate, engaging in brain-based instruction, and addressing issues related to implicit bias. He is recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities on resiliency and applied brain science.

Horacio has been a teacher, administrator, clinician, mental health director, and consultant to school districts across the United States. Horacio sits on the True Health Initiative Council of Directors, a coalition of more than 250 world-renowned health experts committed to educating on proven principles of lifestyle as medicine. He is the author of the best-selling book, The Education Revolution, which applies brain science to improve instruction, behaviors, and school climate. His new book, The Poverty Problem, explains how education can promote resilience and counter poverty’s impact on brain development and functioning.

Maya Goodall, Senior Director of Emergent Bilingual Curriculum, Lexia® Learning, has worked in education for more than 20 years, teaching both nationally and internationally. Maya has a rich professional background that includes teaching in the classroom, coaching, training, and implementing and designing curricula with measurable outcomes. She founded Lingual Learning, a curriculum company dedicated to helping students become confidently bilingual. Maya speaks three languages and has a Master of Education degree and a Master of Arts degree in applied linguistics.

Kerri Larkin brings more than 20 years of special education experience to her role as Senior Education Advisor. Kerri began her career teaching secondary language arts and special education at Anacostia High School in Washington, DC Public Schools (DCPS). She left the classroom to become the director of her teacher preparation program, which prepared and evaluated special education teachers in partnership with the George Washington University. Based on her leadership in teacher preparation, Kerri was hired back into DCPS by Michelle Rhee through the Master Educator program. From there, Kerri led special education as the Director for Academic Programs and then Senior Deputy Chief of Specialized Instruction until March 2021.

Kerri leverages her experience in partnership with other district leaders to increase educational equity through meaningful inclusion, evidence-based practice and sustained professional learning. She is a passionate anti-racism advocate with an emphasis on meaningful inclusion and systemic change.

About the Moderator

Cassandra Wheeler is a proud “Poet” of the 1990 graduating class at Sidney Lanier High School of Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) in Alabama. In 1994, following undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education, Cassandra returned home to MPS and began her career as an educator at Morningview Elementary School. After earning her master’s degree and administrative certification, Cassandra joined the Alabama Reading Initiative, where she authored Alabama’s Reading First Initiative grant and managed Alabama’s statewide DIBELS pilot. In 2004, after serving the children of Alabama for ten years, Cassandra expanded her outreach to impact the life trajectories of students everywhere by joining the (then) Voyager Expanded Learning organization. Now, as the newly merged Lexia Learning, Cassandra serves the organization as the first-ever Senior Manager of LETRS State Success.

Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.

Join The Science of Reading community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.

Lexia® Learning, a Cambium® company, is one of the most impactful and highly respected reading-technology companies in the world. Founded over 35 years ago, Lexia’s research-proven programs help educators deliver personalized reading and language instruction for millions of K–12 students across the world.