Alabama Literacy Network's Podcast

Mission Field: Our Local Schools

Interview with Karen Vogelsang: Arise2Read

Communities Demand Science of Reading & Build It Themselves: Interview with Lakisha Young of The Oakland Reach

Learn how the community action and advocacy group The Oakland Reach has mobilized parents to demand the Science of Reading for their children and how they have been very successful teaching children themselves through "The Hub." Lakisha Young is a co-founder and CEO of The Oakland Reach, and their work has been shared across the United States and internationally. 

Wicked Smart Reading with Dr. Antonio Fierro

Learn how literacy leader Dr. Antonio Fierro has dedicated his life to improving reading for all students. As an English learner, he has a unique perspective on how we help these students. His work training teachers, administrators, and university professors has changed the trajectory of countless students and their reading success.

Breaking the School-to-Prison Pipeline Through Early Literacy: Interview with Hilderbrand Pelzer III

Learn from one of the country's top experts in educating incarcerated youth how the school-to-prison pipeline can be broken through early literacy. 

Retention or Social Promotion: an old debate re-emerges from the pandemic: Interview with Dr. Kymyona Burk

Learn about the battle over retention in Alabama's Literacy Law, how states are improving outcomes for students through early literacy policies, and how the pandemic is creating challenges and innovation in this interview with Dr. Kymyona Burk of ExcelinEd. 

Science of Reading AND Learning: Interview with Mrs. Zaretta Hammond

Learn how the science of learning AND the science of reading creates learning environments where students become powerful readers & writers from renowned author Zaretta Hammond.

Leadership for Literacy Improvement: Interview with Pati Montgomery

Learn how and why leadership for literacy requires more than just generic leadership strategies from author & school improvement consultant Pati Montgomery of Schools Cubed, LLC. Her book The Principal's Primer for Raising Reading Achievement is part of LETRS training for Administrators, and her work across the United States has given her expertise in how to improve literacy through systems, structures, and the Science of Reading.

Coaching the Most Important Teams - Interview with Kristen Wells-Wynn

Instructional coaches in schools are coaching the most important teams: teachers. Learn how instructional coaching has been an essential part of the improvement in teacher performance & student achievement in Mississippi in this interview with State Literacy Director Kristen Wells-Wynn. 

The Role of Fathers in Literacy: Interview with Dr. Khalid White

In honor of Father's Day, learn how fathers can impact a child's literacy. Listen to an interview with Dr. Khalid White, educator, author, filmmaker, and advocate for fathers, including a discussion regarding the narrative about black fathers. 

Winning with the Science of Reading: Interview with Tricia Culpepper

Cullman City Primary School was recently awarded the Louisa Moats National Award for Excellence in Implementing the Science of Reading. Learn how this school has changed its reading instruction and how the success that led to this award is changing the lives of students for the better.