Episode 26 - Grief, Legacy, and Literacy: How Loss Shaped an Educator’s Mission to Help People Read

Former teacher and principal, and current K–12 literacy director, Katie Megrian has spent over two decades working in schools. She founded The Reading Symphony, a mission-driven platform that helps families and educators understand how reading develops and how it can transform lives. Behind her work lies a deeply personal story of love and loss. In this episode, Katie shares how losing her brother at age four, her aunt as a teen, and her father to pancreatic cancer just months before her wedding shaped not only her outlook on life—but her purpose.Lisa and Katie explore how grief evolves through different life stages, why keeping a loved one’s name alive matters, and how storytelling and reading can bridge the space between past and present, memory and possibility. Together, they remind us that healing doesn’t mean “moving on”—it means making meaning through connection, conversation, and legacy.This episode is a must-listen for parents, educators, and anyone learning to explore possibilities after loss. You can find Katie on:Instagram @TheReadingSymphonySubstack: The Reading SymphonySend us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music