AGENDA
Time:
Session:
Room:
10:00 - 10:30
Arrival & Check-In
Second Floor Lobby
10:30 - 11:30
Main Ballroom
Opening
Welcome
Rachael Garnick, Coalition manager
Opening Remarks
Jake Seitz, 6th Grade Student, Panther Valley School District
Keynote Address
Kareem Weaver, Co-Founder & Executive Director, FULCRUM
11:30 - 12:20
Main Ballroom
Beyond the Classroom—The Broader Impact of the Literacy Crisis
Panel Discussion
The literacy crisis extends far beyond our schools, affecting incarceration rates, economic opportunity, workforce development, and overall community health. This session will explore how stakeholders across sectors are grappling with low literacy levels and why investing in literacy policy benefits society as a whole.
Moderator
Laura Boyce, Executive Director, Teach Plus PA
Panelists
Keenan Hudson, Host, Re-Entry Connect Podcast
Sherry Roland Washington, Chair of Education, NAACP PA
Luke Bernstein, President & CEO, PA Chamber of Business and Industry
Deon Butler, Former Tight End, NFL
Dr. Danielle Erkoboni MD, PolicyLab at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
12:20 - 1:10
Main Ballroom
Enjoy boxed meals, refreshments, and a range of interactive activities designed to connect, educate, and inspire. Visit interactive tables to engage with evidence-based literacy tools, speak with literacy experts, and learn more about literacy initiatives from across the state. Eat, learn, and mingle!
Lunch & Interactive Tables
1:10 - 1:20
Main Ballroom
Afternoon Remarks
Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Austin Davis will kick off the afternoon sessions with remarks on the critical role of literacy in shaping Pennsylvania’s future.
1:20 - 2:10
Breakout Sessions
Main Ballroom
Breakout #1: Mobilizing Advocates for Change
This action-oriented session will equip advocates with practical tools and strategies to influence policymakers, with a strong focus on the power of storytelling. This session will highlight why speaking up and sharing lived experiences is essential for advocacy, providing participants with techniques to amplify their voices. Attendees will leave with an Advocacy Toolkit to help them put these strategies into action.
Facilitator
Deon Butler, Former Tight End, NFL
York
Breakout #2: Supporting Educators: Implementing Evidence-Based Instruction in Schools and Districts
Learn essential strategies for implementing evidence-based literacy instruction in your school or district, focusing on the role of professional learning and High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) to drive systems change. Educators and leaders will gain insights into planning for successful implementation, creating supportive environments, and identifying practices to phase out for better literacy outcomes.
Moderator
Dr. Megan Gierka, Head of Implementation Strategy, AIM Institute
Panelists
Dr. Greg Milbrand, Assistant Superintendent, Cumberland Valley School District
Jodi Jackson, Principal, Middletown Area School District
Suzanne Hess, Kindergarten Teacher, Cumberland Valley School District
Michelle Trostle, TaC Consultant, Capital Area Intermediate Unit
Lebanon
Breakout #3: The Power of Policy: Lessons from Other States
Strong literacy policies can transform educational outcomes, but what makes them effective? This session will explore successful literacy policies from states leading the way in reading achievement. Experts will share insights on evidence-based strategies, implementation challenges, and the impact of policy decisions on student learning. Participants will gain actionable takeaways on how to advocate for and shape policies that support literacy success.
Moderator
Ashley DeMauro Mullins, Vice President, Advocacy, ExcelinEd
Panelists
Dr. Kymyona Burk, Senior Policy Fellow at ExcelinEd, Senior Visiting Fellow at the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, and former Mississippi State Literacy Lead
Susan Ward Schmidt, Teacher, Advocate, & Literacy Policy Expert, Michigan
Dr. Tenette Smith, State Superintendent, Office of Teaching and Learning, Maryland State Department of Education
2:10 - 3:00
Main Ballroom
Bridging the Gap Between Policy & Practice
Panel Discussion
Explore the critical steps to bridging the gap between literacy policy and classroom practice. This discussion will bring together diverse perspectives to examine how science-based literacy instruction can be effectively implemented, what policymakers need to understand about educators’ challenges, and scalable models for improving literacy in under-resourced communities.
Moderator
Maddie Hanna, K-12 Education Reporter, Philadelphia Inquirer
Panelists
Dr. Kymyona Burk, Senior Policy Fellow at ExcelinEd, Senior Visiting Fellow at the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, and former Mississippi State Literacy Lead
Representative Jason Ortitay, PA State Representative
Hollie Woodard, Parent Advocate and PA Teacher of the Year Finalist
Dr. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson, Chief of Curriculum and Instruction, The School District of Philadelphia
Amy Coleman, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Bristol Township School District
3:00 - 3:30
Main Ballroom
Closing Remarks
Call to Action: A Blueprint for Pennsylvania’s Literacy Future
Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition Manager Rachael Garnick will outline the coalition’s plan for the year ahead, introducing immediate actions attendees can take to support literacy reform. Attendees will also complete a brief summit survey and be invited to join the next coalition call on Zoom.
Closing Q&A with Dr. Kymyona Burk
Dr. Kymyona Burk, Senior Policy Fellow at ExcelinEd, Senior Visiting Fellow at the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, and former Mississippi State Literacy Lead will engage with the audience in a closing Q&A session, offering insights and reflections to conclude this impactful day of learning.