Literacy at the Center

In this episode of Literacy at the Center, host Dr. Melissa Hickey sits down with Dr. Kymyona Burke, former State Literacy Director for Mississippi and current Senior Policy Fellow at ExcelinEd, to explore the national landscape of literacy reform.Dr. Burke shares insights from leading the implementation of Mississippi’s Literacy-Based Promotion Act and supporting states across the country. The conversation dives into what separates strong literacy laws from successful literacy outcomes—funding, high-quality instructional materials, coaching models, accountability, and sustained implementation support.Listeners will also hear what may be next in literacy reform, including the growing focus on adolescent literacy and the importance of bold, coordinated action at the state level. This episode offers valuable perspective for educators, literacy leaders, and policymakers working to move reading reform from legislation to measurable impact in classrooms.

In this episode of Literacy at the Center, host Dr. Melissa Hickey talks with Dr. Darci Burns, founding leader of the Connecticut Literacy Model and executive director of Hill for Literacy, about why leadership systems are essential for lasting literacy change.Together, they explore how distributed leadership teams, clear district literacy plans, and strong collaboration across educators, administrators, and families help create sustainable systems that support reading success for all students. Dr. Burns shares practical lessons from districts across Connecticut—including large-scale implementation work that demonstrates what is possible when leadership structures are intentionally designed and aligned.This conversation offers valuable insights for district leaders, school administrators, literacy coaches, and educators working to strengthen systems that support high-quality literacy instruction.

In this episode of Literacy at the Center, host Candice LaConti talks with Dr. Michael Coyne, professor at the University of Connecticut and a key leader in the Connecticut Literacy Model, about the real power of tiered instruction. Together they unpack how schools can identify students early, provide targeted small-group support, and build systems that prevent readers from falling behind.Dr. Coyne shares practical insights from research and Connecticut classrooms, including why intervention is about intensity, consistency, and implementation—not just programs. Whether you are a classroom teacher, literacy coach, or school leader, this conversation offers clear takeaways for strengthening early literacy support and helping every student grow as a reader.

In this episode of Literacy at the Center, host Dr. Melissa Hickey sits down with literacy advocate and policy leader Amy Dowell to explore the work behind Connecticut’s Right to Read legislation and what it truly takes to improve literacy outcomes statewide.Drawing from her experience as a parent and longtime education advocate, Amy shares how collaboration among educators, lawmakers, researchers, and families helped shape a comprehensive approach to literacy grounded in research-based instruction. The conversation highlights the importance of professional learning, assessment, data, and sustained implementation support—demonstrating why meaningful literacy reform extends well beyond adopting new curriculum materials.Together, they discuss the power of partnerships, lessons learned from statewide implementation, and what comes next as Connecticut continues to strengthen literacy instruction for all learners.This episode offers educators, administrators, and families a deeper look at how policy, practice, and shared commitment can come together to ensure every student has the opportunity to become a confident, skilled reader.

In this episode of Literacy at the Center, host Cody Fusco talks with Dr. Margie Gillis, founding member of the Connecticut Literacy Model, explains why sustained, job-embedded professional learning is essential to translating the science of reading into classroom practice. Drawing on Connecticut data and district experience, the conversation underscores how investing in educators strengthens instruction, builds internal capacity, and advances equitable literacy outcomes for all students.