EdCircuit Staff 
Table of Contents
WHAT: Four days of no-cost webinars for school and district leaders, preK-12 teachers, librarians, and education technology leaders interested in the science of reading.
WHEN: Monday, March 25 – Thursday, March 28; 12 PM – 1PM ET
REGISTER: https://home.edweb.net/lexia_sor
Boston – March 7, 2024 – When schools and districts connect science of reading knowledge with instruction, they can realize exponential power for change. Lexia’s “Science of Reading Week 2024” event will help educators address that connection from every perspective — from students, to teachers, school administration and district-wide leadership. The four-day edWebinar series will feature literacy experts and practitioners, including special guest LeVar Burton.
The 2024 Science of Reading Week will be hosted and moderated by Cassandra Wheeler, Lexia’s Director of LETRS State Success. Each one-hour edWebinar will take place via Zoom at noon ET each day.
Monday, March 25
An interview with LeVar Burton: Literacy is a civil right
The event’s keynote will feature a live Q&A session with actor, director, and educator Burton. He has taught multiple generations of children about the joys of reading through his work on award-winning television show “Reading Rainbow.” Burton is also an advocate for equitable, evidence-based literacy instruction and was the executive producer of the 2023 documentary “The Right to Read.” Burton will sit down with Lexia’s Chief Learning Officer, Dr. Liz Brooke, for a discussion on the national literacy crisis, progress in evidence-based literacy instruction, and equitable access to that instruction for all students.
Tuesday, March 26
School administrators: Your leadership role in science of reading-based instruction
This virtual panel discussion will feature Rich Zigarovich, principal of Lordstown Elementary School in Ohio, Paula White, executive director of JerseyCAN and Dr. Erin Hamilton, state solutions manager for Lexia’s National Strategy Team.
The panel will discuss the challenges, benefits, and long-term systemic impact of implementing a science of reading-based literacy curriculum and share firsthand experience in empowering a school-wide ecosystem of educators—principals, coaches, and interventionists—with a shared vision of science of reading-based instruction.
Wednesday, March 27
District administrators: Create an ecosystem for the science of reading
Ebone N. Johnson, the supervisor of literacy and library services at Columbus City Schools in Ohio, joins Kerri Larkin, senior education advisor at Lexia and Micki Ray, chief academic officer in the Office of Teaching & Learning at the Kentucky Department of Education for a candid discussion to break down the “why” and the “how” of science of reading-based instruction for leaders at the district level.
Thursday, March 28
Teachers: Be the ultimate expert in the science of reading
Kari Kurto, The Reading League’s national science of reading project director, Jessica Farmer, literacy advocate and content creator @farmerlovesphonics, and Julie Harris, Lexia’s director of literacy and language curriculum, will examine how teachers can build their expertise in structured literacy instruction and become advocates for the science of reading in their schools and classrooms.
Topics of conversation will range from identifying professional development and training opportunities, to how teachers can navigate ideas on social media– ensuring they’re evidence-based. The panel will also discuss how to bring awareness about areas for improvement in existing literacy programs or curriculum to decision-makers and allow for a shared vision of science of reading-based instruction in the classroom and beyond.
There is no cost to attend these webinars, but registration is required. For more information, please go to https://home.edweb.net/lexia_sor.
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