Welcome to the Right to Read Initiative Podcast. In today’s episode, host Dr. Kathryn Garforth sits down with Dr. Antonio Fierro—a renowned educational linguist with a remarkable backstory. Growing up along the U.S.–Mexico border in a Spanish-speaking, high-poverty neighborhood, Antonio’s first literacy was in Spanish. His journey took unexpected turns, from mastering both Spanish and English as a child, to working in federal law enforcement, and ultimately to a career in education and literacy research.

In this thought-provoking conversation, Antonio shares how his lived experiences shaped his understanding of language development, bilingualism, and the challenges faced by English learners. He reflects on the importance of respecting and maintaining home languages, the science of reading, his firsthand encounters with the school-to-prison pipeline, and his transition from law enforcement to the classroom. Along the way, he offers insights drawn from his research and work mentoring educators on how students can be empowered through intentional, explicit instruction—regardless of their linguistic background.

Tune in to hear an inspiring personal story and gain a deeper understanding of the connections between language, literacy, and opportunity.