On Leading Engaged Learning, host Heather Provencher sits down with Amy Breiler, Director of Teaching & Learning for Literacy at Community Consolidated School District 21 (CCSD21), for a grounded conversation on what it takes to strengthen literacy outcomes in a district defined by extraordinary linguistic and programmatic diversity.

Amy reflects on 31 years in education and shares how CCSD21 is aligning to Illinois’ Comprehensive Literacy Plan, tightening coherence through learning walks and scope-and-sequence work, rebuilding trust after change, and investing in teacher knowledge as the real engine of sustainable literacy improvement. From data literacy to coaching culture, the message is clear: resources matter, but teacher expertise and professional learning systems matter more.

Key Moments

05:47 Diverse Bilingual Education Challenges

08:06 Focused Literacy Evaluation Initiative

13:04 Rebuilding Trust and Teacher Autonomy

16:25 Strengthening Early Literacy Instruction

18:08 Strategies Over Resources for Literacy

21:54 "Prioritizing Collaborative Instructional Practices"

24:47 "Data Literacy in Education"

28:26 "Universal Professional Development Framework"

32:34 Teacher Collaboration Fuels Professional Growth

36:12 "Leading with Focus on Students"

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This episode is packed with real-world district leadership lessons—especially if you’re leading literacy improvement across multiple programs, campuses, and languages.

You’ll hear:

• What learning walks reveal that dashboards can’t—and how to use them as a systems tool

• How coherence across teams supports vertical alignment, reduces confusion, and improves outcomes

• A candid look at change management: why “better systems” can still feel like lost autonomy

• A practical framework for diagnosing slow progress: teacher knowledge + implementation support

• How to build data literacy so teams use assessments to inform instruction, not chase numbers

• The strongest through-line: professional learning is the catalyst—and “PD for all” is the unmet need

Amy also brings urgency to a reality many districts share: students are reading less outside school, and literacy growth requires sustained practice. This conversation tackles engagement, constraints, and culture-building head-on.

Connect with Our Guest

Amy Breiler
Director of Teaching & Learning for Literacy at Community Consolidated School District 21

Website: https://ccsd21.org/ 

Connect with Us

3P Learning Inc
Website: https://www.3plearning.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3p-learning 

About Leading Engaged Learning

Leading Engaged Learning is a podcast series for district leaders and education innovators focused on what it really takes to improve literacy outcomes by strengthening student engagement. Hosted by Heather Provencher and produced by 3P Learning Inc, each episode explores the real-world decisions, constraints, and tradeoffs behind building systems that help students become more confident readers.

On Leading Engaged Learning: A 3P Learning Podcast, host Heather Provencher sits down with Rebecca Tompkins, Executive Director of Curriculum & Learning at Sycamore Community Schools, for a systems-level conversation on how districts can strengthen literacy outcomes by building coherence, stability, and sustainable engagement.

Rebecca shares how Sycamore Community Schools in Southwest Ohio has approached science of reading and structured literacy implementation with a focus on fidelity and professional autonomy, using a memorable jazz metaphor to explain how strong fundamentals create the conditions for instructional “improvisation.” The conversation dives into the practical realities of districtwide curriculum alignment, instructional coaching, managing resistance, and building speaking-and-listening skills through Socratic seminars starting as early as kindergarten.

Key Moments

03:30 "Jazz Metaphor for Literacy"

07:16 "District Embraces Science of Reading"

10:04 "Implementing Curriculum with Fidelity"

15:57 "Socratic Seminars in Early Education"

19:24 "Building Alignment and Collaboration"

21:03 "Building a Common Teaching Framework"

27:06 Understanding the Science of Reading

30:27 "Sustainable Engagement in Learning"

33:16 "Connect with Sycamore Schools"

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This episode is a practical playbook for district leaders trying to implement science of reading and structured literacy without burning out teachers or losing momentum after year one.

You’ll hear:

• A clear, memorable way to explain fidelity + autonomy (the jazz metaphor)

• How coherence across buildings reduces cognitive load for teachers and students

• Why instructional coaching is the bridge between training days and real classroom change

• A grounded approach to resistance: treat it as information, respond with support, stay steady

• A powerful definition of engagement that goes beyond novelty to persistence and confidence

• A standout classroom example: Socratic seminars beginning in kindergarten to build thinking, listening, and communication

If you’re aiming for sustainable literacy improvement, this conversation highlights what it takes to build a system that’s consistent, scalable, and supportive of real classrooms.

Connect with Our Guest

Rebecca Tompkins
Executive Director of Curriculum & Learning at Sycamore Community Schools

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-tompkins-b2121778
Website: https://www.sycamoreschools.org/ 

Connect with Us

3P Learning Inc
Website: https://www.3plearning.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3p-learning 

About Leading Engaged Learning

Leading Engaged Learning is a podcast series for district leaders and education innovators focused on what it really takes to improve literacy outcomes by strengthening student engagement. Hosted by Heather Provencher and produced by 3P Learning Inc, each episode explores the real-world decisions, constraints, and tradeoffs behind building systems that help students become more confident readers.