From Red Flags to Reading Success: The Audit Every School Needs with Stephen Polera & Dr. Wendy Bunker

When K-2 intervention numbers and 3rd-grade reading struggles reached crisis levels, Westmoreland Central School took action. Stephen Polera and Dr. Wendy Bunker explain how aligning district systems with Science of Reading practices creates collaborative cultures that drive measurable reading improvements.Stephen and Wendy share their revolutionary process for: ✅ Conducting classroom audits with expert teams ✅ Implementing phased Science of Reading training ✅ Creating 4-day teacher bootcamps ✅ Restructuring schedules for high-dosage tutoring ✅ Building co-teaching models that workEpisode Mentions:District-wide and School-Based Implementation School Administrators Association of New York StateWestmoreland Central SchoolDr. Benita BlachmanDr. Linnea EhriBolman and Deal’s Four-Frame Model of LeadershipSection 818: Evidence-based and scientifically based reading instructionRocco MiglioriTrevor Haskell Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES - Ann TurnerThe Simple View of Reading & Scarborough's RopeOrthographic MappingAchieve the Core Audit ToolSix Syllable TypesDr. David Kilpatrick - Equipped for Reading SuccessJust-in-Time vs. Just-in-Case ScaffoldingHow to Choose a Co-Teaching Model 0:00 - Introduction & Background 2:13 - Research Foundations 4:23 - The Problem: Red Flags in Reading Data7:14 - Science of Reading Framework Overview 9:30 - Classroom Audit Process 12:34 - Audit Implementation & Team Calibration 16:32 - Four-Day Teacher Bootcamp 20:13 - Scheduling & Staffing Changes 22:46 - Classroom Activities That Work 24:37 - Early Results & Student Joy 27:36 - Measuring Success: Metrics That Matter 29:23 - Parent & Caregiver ConnectionsWhen teachers, coaches, administrators, and families grow together, they create schools where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged, supported, and ready to thrive.