Season 2, Ep. 16 w/Leta Palmiter: Dyslexia, Assessment, and Mississippi's Journey

In this episode of On the Road to Literacy Success, Dr. Staci Bain sits down with Leta Palmiter, CEO of Illuminations Literacy Solutions, creator of Vertical Take-Off Reading, founder and board member of the Illuminations Center for Dyslexia in Meridian, Mississippi, and author of Mississippi Rising: How the Last Became First in Literacy Growth. Together, they discuss Mississippi’s remarkable literacy journey, the urgency of dyslexia advocacy, and what becomes possible when educators, leaders, families, legislators, and practitioners work together with clarity and purpose. Leta shares how structured literacy, teacher training, practitioner certification, and innovative tools like VTO Reading are helping transform literacy outcomes for students. This conversation is filled with hope, practical insight, and a powerful reminder that literacy progress does not happen by accident. It happens when people refuse to accept low outcomes, build systems that support teachers, and keep students at the center of the work. From dyslexia advocacy to education technology, Mississippi’s literacy progress offers important lessons for schools, districts, and states across the nation. As you believe, literacy is a human right, and every child deserves access to instruction that helps them read, write, and thrive. R esources mentioned in this episode: 📚 Mississippi Rising by Leta Palmiter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7F4XK7X 🌐 Illuminations Literacy Solutions https://illuminationsliteracy.com/ 🌐 Vertical Take-Off Reading https://vtoreading.com 🎟️ Breaking Barriers: Expanding Literacy for All Learners Conference Meridian, Mississippi October 1–2, 2026 https://breakingbarriersliteracy.com 📚 Promo Code: readingisahumanright This code provides free shipping on Mississippi Rising or any product available through the Illuminations Literacy Solutions website. I am also honored to be a featured speaker at the Illuminations conference in Meridian, Mississippi, October 1–2, 2026. I hope to see you there.