About the Presenter

Julia B. Lindsey, Ph.D. is an expert in early literacy development, curriculum, and instruction. She has worked with teachers, districts, curriculum developers, and other organizations to help translate reading research into practice. Her previous partnerships include collaborating with the Boston Public Schools and the District of Columbia Public Schools to create content-connected decodable texts, working with the Center for Black Educator Development to design and pilot a new Freedom Schools model focused on early literacy, and advising publishing companies on research-based reading instruction. Dr. Lindsey holds a BS in psychology from Davidson College, an MAT from Relay Graduate School of Education, and a Ph.D. in educational studies, specializing in literacy, language, and culture, from the University of Michigan. She is a proud former elementary school teacher. She is currently the Early Literacy Manager for Reading Reimagined, an inclusive research and development program.

About the Moderator

Dr. Amanda Alexander serves as Scholastic’s Chief Academic Officer. In this role, she leads research and validation efforts to ensure the efficacy of products, the delivery of professional learning services, and the company’s partnership with the Yale Child Study Center focusing on the intersection of literacy and health. Prior to joining Scholastic, Dr. Alexander served as the Vice President of Policy and Partnership Development at Teachstone. With more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience, the majority of Dr. Alexander’s service has been as a practitioner in the public sector. She has a B.A. in English and an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction from Howard University, an M.S.Ed. in educational leadership from Baruch College, and a Ph.D. in education from American University.