Dr. Carrie Hepburn sits down with Kyler Barnes, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Keokuk Community School District, to explore what happens when a district moves beyond programs and begins building a true system for literacy.

Kyler shares how Keokuk’s Comprehensive Literacy Plan is bringing teachers, leaders, coaches, interventionists, and the community together around a shared vision. They discuss job-embedded coaching, building internal capacity, using data to identify needs, and creating professional learning teachers can apply immediately with their students.

It’s a practical look at how literacy can become more than an initiative—it can become part of a district’s culture and identity.

When most educators hear the phrase Science of Reading, they picture elementary classrooms, phonics lessons, and beginning readers. But what if we've been thinking about it too narrowly?

In this episode of the Compass PD Podcast, Dr. Carrie Hepburn sits down with Dr. Natalie Fallert, former secondary English teacher and instructional leader, to explore what the Science of Reading really means for middle and high school classrooms. After spending the past year immersed in the research, Dr. Fallert shares the mindset shift that transformed her thinking—from believing literacy wasn't a secondary teacher's responsibility to recognizing that every content area plays a role in helping students access complex text.

Together, they unpack practical, research-based strategies that any secondary educator can implement without becoming a reading specialist. You'll hear why oral language, word recognition, morphology, background knowledge, fluency, and comprehension matter across disciplines, along with actionable ideas like rapid research, partner talk, and intentional reading routines that help students engage more deeply with rigorous content.

Whether you teach English, science, social studies, math, or career and technical education, this conversation will challenge assumptions, spark new thinking, and leave you with practical strategies you can use immediately to help every student become a more confident reader and learner.

Secondary Science of Reading blogs by Dr. Natalie Fallert

Not My Problem... Until It Was: A Secondary Teacher's Wake-Up Call on the Science of Reading Pt. 1

Making Sense of Word Recognition in Secondary Classrooms

Eyes on Print, Voices in Sync: Strengthening Oral Language and Fluency

Comprehension isn't a Strategy: It's Words and Knowledge

Print Awareness Didn't End in Elementary School: How Explicit Instruction in Text Structures Supports Comprehension

In this episode of the Compass PD Podcast, Dr. Carrie Hepburn is joined by Bob Whittenberg, Board of Education President for Spencer Community Schools, to explore a critical—and often overlooked—driver of lasting literacy success: the role of the school board.

Building on the momentum of Spencer Reads, this conversation moves beyond the classroom to examine how literacy becomes a community-wide commitment, not just a school initiative.

Together, they discuss:

•  Why literacy must be treated as mission-critical work
•  How boards can move from oversight to active learning and leadership
•  What it means to protect time, professional learning, and instructional focus
•  How long-term commitment—not short-term programs—changes outcomes for students and communities 

This episode offers a powerful reminder:
 When boards, schools, and communities align around literacy, the impact extends far beyond test scores—it shapes opportunity, independence, and the future of an entire community.

Too often, we place our hope in a new curriculum or resource to fix instructional challenges—only to find gaps, misalignment, and frustration months later.

In this episode of the Compass PD Podcast, Dr. Carrie Hepburn explores why no single resource is ever enough—and how a simple resource audit can shift your system from reactive to intentional.

You’ll learn:

• The predictable problems that arise when resources aren’t audited
• Why gaps, misalignment, and lost instructional time occur
• Practical steps for auditing your current materials
• What to look for to ensure alignment, coherence, and realistic implementation

This episode will help you move from “hoping it works” to having a clear plan—so your curriculum, instruction, and assessments actually work together to support student learning.

This episode builds on Episode 85, where we introduced the story behind a community-driven literacy movement.

In Episode 86, we go deeper into the how.

In Part 2 of our conversation, we continue with Brook Schueller and Amy Simpson from Spencer Community Schools to unpack the strategy behind building a true community literacy movement.

If Part 1 shared the story, Part 2 shares the strategy.

We explore:

• How districts can get started—without waiting for the “perfect” plan

• What it really takes to shift mindsets from “school initiative” to “community responsibility.”

• How to engage students and families in ways that feel authentic, not forced

• The reflective process that keeps the work evolving year after year

This episode is practical, honest, and hopeful. If your district has strong literacy goals but you’re wondering how to move beyond school walls and into your community, this conversation offers a starting point.

Lighting a literacy fire doesn’t happen by accident—it happens by design.

In Episode 85, we’re joined by Brook Schueller and Amy Simpson, members of a community committee working toward an ambitious goal: 85% of third graders reading at proficient levels.

This conversation explores how Spencer Community Schools recognized that literacy growth couldn’t live only inside classrooms. By building relationships, meeting families where they were, and continuously reflecting and evolving over five years, the community helped create a shared culture of reading.

This episode offers practical insight and inspiration for districts wondering how to move literacy from a school initiative to a true community effort—and how lighting a literacy fire beyond school walls can change what’s possible for students.

In this episode of the Compass PD Podcast, Dr. Carrie Hepburn is joined by Dr. Ted Huff, founder of Leading with Parents, to explore what it truly takes to unite schools, families, and communities in support of students. With parent engagement declining nationwide, Ted shares why authentic partnership—not just participation—is the key to improving attendance, strengthening achievement, and building trust. Through practical strategies, powerful insights, and decades of experience, Ted reminds us that when schools honor parent voice, tap into community strengths, and meet families where they are, everyone wins. This conversation offers hope, clarity, and actionable steps for districts ready to rebuild meaningful connections.

• Weston Kieschnick’s 10 Second Truth vlog: https://x.com/Wes_Kieschnick/status/1973094385941393639

Leading with Parents website:  www.leadingwithparents.org 

In this inspiring episode of the Compass PD Podcast, Dr. Stephanie Brenner sits down with Anne Evers and Rachel Wheatley from Churchill Center and School, a St. Louis institution renowned for its evidence-based approach to supporting students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.

Together, they explore how Churchill empowers both students and educators—through personalized instruction, 1:1 tutorials, small-group classes, and a culture grounded in research, relationships, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Anne and Rachel share the heart behind Churchill’s mission, how they train and retain expert teachers, and the systems that help students thrive academically and emotionally.

Listeners will hear powerful insights into Churchill’s Demystification Project, parent outreach programs, and educator partnerships that extend their impact far beyond their own campus. Whether you’re an administrator, classroom teacher, or literacy leader, this episode offers practical steps for creating dyslexia-aware classrooms that foster confidence, competence, and joy in learning.

Churchill Community Outreach

This is an episode from 2022, Dr. Carrie Hepburn and Dr. Stephanie Brenner were coaching administrators on developing a comprehensive approach to literacy in their buildings. Since this time, states have begun to create Comprehensive Literacy Plans that support the overall system at a stronger level. Be on the lookout for more podcasts on developing a Comprehensive Literacy System in the future. 

Dr. Carrie Hepburn and Dr. Stephanie Brenner talk about Comprehensive Literacy. They discuss the components within Comprehensive Literacy and the necessary instructional methods to ensure success.

3:20-What is Comprehensive Literacy?
5:05-What are intentional instructional methods?
8:00-Build phonics automoticity to decrease the cognitive load while students read and write
15:00-How to set teachers up for success to implement the Comprehensive Literacy Model
16:30-Knowledge helps analyze the data
18:00-Foundation of our education system is teacher knowledge
22:00-Common mistakes while analyzing reading screening data
27:00-Why we believe in Comprehensive Literacy

In this uplifting episode, Dr. Carrie Hepburn sits down with educator, consultant, and author Kim Schuelke to explore how somatic work can transform classroom culture and emotional well-being. From trauma-informed strategies to breathwork and sensory tools, Kimmy shares accessible practices any educator can use to support student regulation, reduce anxiety, and build a foundation for authentic learning. With vulnerable storytelling and actionable tips, this episode highlights how attending to students’ nervous systems isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.

Whether you’re new to somatic strategies or ready to delve deeper, this conversation will leave you feeling equipped, inspired, and ready to make a big impact with small steps.

The Tangle Book- https://www.amazon.com/Tangle-Turning-Feelings-Powerful-Lessons/dp/B0F5Y13XQP?scrlybrkr=2f4194ec 
sageandstorycollective.com
https://www.instagram.com/teachingkimmy/
https://www.youtube.com/@teachingkimmy
http://linkedin.com/in/kim-schuelke-bbb076178