Teaching Reading, Empowering Parents, and Challenging the Status Quo

“The missing piece is we are missing the parents. I’ve never met a parent who wanted their child to go to school and not succeed. I’ve met a lot of parents who don’t have the skills or the tools necessary to help their child become successful. We talk about no child left behind, but what about no parent left behind? Let’s bring those parents along with us.” Dr. Rob Picou, Superintendent of Tupelo Public School DistrictJoin our conversation with Dr. Rob Picou, Superintendent of Tupelo Public School District, as we explore the district’s literacy journey, from their current phase of implementing the science of reading research to visions of future initiatives to overcome obstacles, challenge the status quo, and transform reading achievement. We discuss:Embracing the science of reading and evidence-based instructionLeveraging literacy strengths and addressing challenges such as professional development for district leaders and student school readinessThe need to provide the tools parents need to support literacy at homeChallenging the status quo to prioritize a genuine love for readingIn this episode:00:00 Tupelo Public School District00:45 Tupelo’s science of reading journey01:53 Building upon literacy strengths in phonetic instruction and evidence-based programs03:09 Supporting principals and school leaders06:15 Partnering with community members and parents to support literacy development07:37 Superintendent Picou's advice on challenging the status quoConnect with Dr. PicouWebsiteScience of Reading ResourcesThe Science of Reading: What You Need to KnowA Guide to High-Quality Structured Literacy MaterialsIf you liked this episode, listen to this conversation with Dr. Sarah Calveric to learn practical strategies to accelerate reading achievement.