"Kids are too valuable. You can't say, 'Well, we'll see what happens in five years.' No, The urgency is always there."

This week, we talked with special guest, Tracie Bergman, a passionate literacy advocate and the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Instruction with a Literacy Focus at Hillsborough County Public Schools. With a career spanning over two decades, Tracie shares her extensive experience and innovative strategies to enhance literacy across one of the largest school districts in the U.S.

Key Takeaways:

Literacy Frameworks: Tracie emphasizes the need for clear instructional frameworks across all grades to ensure consistent, high-quality teaching.
Professional Development: She highlights the vital role of ongoing training and support in enhancing teacher efficacy and adapting to literacy initiatives.
Community Engagement: Insights into engaging families and communities to support literacy through effective partnerships and resources.
Curriculum Strategies: Tracie discusses methods for selecting high-quality materials and adapting to feedback for educational success.
Challenges and Successes: She shares experiences of overcoming obstacles and achieving success in literacy programs across Hillsborough County.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction of Tracie Bergman and her educational background.
04:09 Overview of the demographic and structural complexities of Hillsborough County Public Schools.
04:39 Steps taken to establish a foundational literacy framework in the district.
07:16 Challenges faced in standardizing literacy instruction across a large district.
09:33 Successes seen from new literacy initiatives and professional development.
17:40 Role of families in supporting literacy and strategies to enhance parental involvement.
24:01 Advice for district leaders on aligning practices with the science of reading.

Science of Reading Resources

Accelerate reading achievement with over 700+ decodables mapped to a rigorous phonics progression in English and Spanish: www.JustRightReader.com

Read our blog: The Science of Reading: What You Need to Know

Tiger's Return and the Status of the Framework Agreement