On this episode of On the Road to Literacy Success, Dr. Liz Ritz describes how school districts can implement Science of Reading-aligned practices in a way that is cohesive, clear, and coherent across classrooms, schools, and systems.

She shares practical insight into what it takes to move beyond awareness and into implementation: building shared language, supporting teachers, aligning instructional expectations, and creating the conditions for literacy practices to actually take root.

This conversation is for leaders, coaches, and educators who know the goal is not simply to talk about the Science of Reading. The goal is to bring it to life in classrooms so more students learn to read, write, think, and thrive.

It was an honor to have Dr. Ritz on the show.

To learn more about Educate's Tier 1 support and literacy implementation resources, visit goodhumanseducate.com.

NOTE: We apologize for the audio quality on Dr. Bain’s track and appreciate your understanding.

Season 2, Ep. 13: A Superintendent’s Message: Centering the Humanity of Our Work w/ Dr. Tim Lawless

In this meaningful conversation, Dr. Tim Lawless reflects on his journey through education and shares a powerful message for teachers, leaders, and school communities: the work is always about people. Together, we discuss what it looks like to lead with love, build trust over time, hire with heart, and create a school culture grounded in honesty, consistency, faith, humor, and human connection.

This episode offers practical insight for educators and leaders who want to strengthen relationships, communicate more effectively, and cultivate school systems where both adults and students can thrive.

Dr. Lawless reminds us that strong leadership is not only about systems and strategy. It is also about the way people feel seen, valued, supported, and inspired within the work.

Whether you are a superintendent, principal, teacher, coach, or district leader, this conversation will encourage you to keep the humanity of the work at the center. In this episode, we discuss:

--The role of love and trust in school leadership

--Hiring for heart, character, and relational capacity

--Building trust through honesty, consistency, and follow-through

--The importance of humor and human connection in schools

--Strategies for communication, relationship building, and positive culture

In Season 2, Episode 12 of On the Road to Literacy Success Podcast, Staci Bain sits down with Karen Wattenmaker of Edu-Partners to discuss the comprehensive language and literacy work required to build a literate society.

At GoodHumansEducate.com, we aim to support female entrepreneurs who are doing this important literacy work. In this episode, you will gain research insights, helpful instructional moves, and insightful systems advice to move your thinking forward.

Whether you are working to strengthen classroom practice or build stronger MTSS and Tier 1 systems for all students, this conversation will encourage and equip you.

To learn more, feel free to check out Staci Bain, Ed.D. at GoodHumansEducate.com or our good pal Karen at Edu-Partners.

In this conversation, Jan Hasbrouck shares practical, research-aligned insight on what strengthens literacy outcomes in real schools.

She explains why explicit instruction remains essential, why many systems are overloaded with assessment, and how leaders can support clearer, more effective literacy implementation. Jan also clarifies what reading fluency actually is—accuracy and automaticity that protect comprehension, not just speed.

This episode offers a grounded, doable lens for teachers and school leaders who want literacy instruction to be more cohesive, clear, and coherent.

Want to grab the book Jan Hasbrouck spoke about?

Grab it here: https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Fluenc...

Want to grab Staci Bain’s new book?

Grab it here: Empowered to Teach and Lead

In this episode of On The Road To Literacy Success, host Dr. Staci Bain sits down with children’s author Kristen Wilks to explore how storytelling helps build strong, motivated readers.

Kristen shares how her love of writing began early, and how she now creates stories that make kids belly-laugh, stay engaged, and feel genuinely connected to the characters. She unpacks what keeps young readers hooked—especially the blend of humor and action—and explains how books can nurture hope and resilience along the way.

The conversation also highlights how schools and author visits can help grow confident readers and inspire young writers. Whether you’re a teacher, school leader, parent, or literacy advocate, this episode is a reminder that literacy success is built—one story at a time.

Connect with Kristen: kristenjoywilks.com

Connect with Dr. Bain: GoodHumansEducate.com

In this cozy, practical conversation, Dr. Staci Bain sits down with speech-language pathologist and literacy advocate Arti Shah to unpack how language development fuels reading and writing success—from babies (0–3) to early elementary (K–2).

You’ll leave with doable ways to strengthen language at home and at school. Arti Shah is a speech-language pathologist (13+ years) who has worked across early intervention, community health, and schools. She also hosts the podcast Human Chapters, where she explores meaningful “chapters” of people’s lives with deep curiosity and connection.

▶️ To connect with Arti, watch/listen to Human Chapters on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@humanchapters

To collaborate with Staci Bain on K–12 Tier 1 systems, feel free to connect. Educate supports teachers and school leaders with practical, research-aligned tools to strengthen Tier 1 literacy instruction—so the work becomes cohesive, clear, and coherent in real classrooms.

Learn more: https://goodhumanseducate.com

If this episode helped you think differently, lead more confidently, or support kids more clearly—leave a Good Human review on YouTube. It helps other educators and families find the show.

🎙️ On the Road to Literacy Success Podcast

In this episode of On the Road to Literacy Success, host Staci Bain, Ed.D. sits down with Jennifer Throndsen, founder of Impactful Learning Designs and former Department of Education leader, for a grounded, practical conversation about what Tier 1 instruction actually needs to look like in real classrooms.

Together, they explore why strong literacy outcomes don’t come from initiatives alone—but from clear, cohesive systems that translate into daily instructional practice for teachers. Dr. Throndsen shares her personal journey into education, her passion for teaching, and her unwavering commitment to improving literacy outcomes for all students.

She also names several common instructional pitfalls she sees across schools and districts, including:

📌 The need for explicit, intentional instruction

📌 Increasing meaningful engagement with grade-level texts

📌 The danger of over-scaffolding, which can unintentionally limit student independence and cognitive growth

This episode is a must-listen for teachers, instructional coaches, principals, and district leaders who are serious about strengthening Tier 1 literacy in a way that is doable, effective, and sustainable.

👩‍🏫 About the Guest Dr. Jennifer Throndsen is the founder of Impactful Learning Designs and a former Department of Education leader. Her work centers on helping educators build instructional systems that improve outcomes while honoring the realities of classrooms and schools.

💛 About Good Humans Educate and Dr. Staci Bain Good Humans Educate supports teachers and school leaders with practical, research-aligned tools for Tier 1 literacy instruction. Staci Bain, Ed.D. is the author of Empowered to Teach and Lead: Whole-Group Literacy Instruction Made Easy—your go-to elementary school playbook for whole-group literacy that’s cohesive, clear, and coherent.

📘 Learn more at GoodHumansEducate.comExplore:Asynchronous Tier 1 Roadmap CoursesProprietary whole-group Tier 1 instructional frameworksVirtual and onsite professional learning designed to reduce overload and increase clarity

✨ If this conversation resonated with you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share this episode with a fellow educator committed to Tier 1 excellence.

📚 Education is liberation.

🦄 Whole-group is the work.

In this episode, Dr. Staci Bain speaks with Jenn and Mel from Teacher Lunch, who share their journey of creating TikToks that bring joy to teachers and celebrate the profession.

They discuss the importance of community, storytelling, and the role of read-alouds in fostering a love for literacy among students. The conversation highlights the significance of collaboration between teachers and librarians, the challenges faced in education, and the joy of making connections with students and fellow educators. You can connect with Jenn and Mel: [email protected].

They are also on IG and TikTok @ JennMel4.

Join them on YouTube as well ‪@jennmel4‬.

If you enjoy this podcast and this space, we invite you to SUBSCRIBE. If you're wanting to connect with Dr. Bain, please visit GoodHumansEducate.com.

Take-Aways:

Teacher Lunch started as a fun way to connect over lunch.

The joy of teaching is rooted in relationships with students.

Creating a safe space in the library is essential for students.

Community support among teachers enhances the teaching experience.

Storytelling is a powerful tool in education.

Read-alouds are crucial for developing a love for reading.

Motivating reluctant readers requires creativity and patience.

Teachers should encourage students to choose their own reading materials.

The partnership between teachers and librarians is vital for student success.

Celebrating achievements in education fosters a positive environment.

In Part 2 of this conversation, we go straight to the heart of what teachers and leaders are wrestling with in Tier 1 literacy: overwhelm, uncertainty, and the pressure to “get it right” for every student in the room.

We talk about the practical moves that help teachers feel more successful right away, from tightening daily Tier 1 routines to finding one small, repeatable win they can lean on when everything feels noisy. Then we zoom out to the school and system level and ask, “What actually gives us hope about the future of Tier 1 literacy?” You’ll hear how strong leadership, coherent support, and a shared Tier 1 vision are changing outcomes for students and renewing energy for teachers.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

How to support teachers who feel overwhelmed by Tier 1 routines

Simple shifts that build teacher confidence and classroom success fast

Hopeful Tier 1 literacy trends we are seeing in real schools

Specific ways leaders can protect, prioritize, and strengthen Tier 1 instruction

If you are a teacher, coach, or leader who wants Tier 1 to finally feel doable, aligned, and effective, this conversation is for you. Listen in, take what serves your team, and keep building the kind of literacy block that actually moves the needle for kids.

👉 When you’re ready for more Tier 1 support, head to GoodHumansEducate.com for asynchronous Tier 1 courses, virtual trainings, and ready-to-use classroom resources.

📘 And if you’re looking for a concrete Tier 1 roadmap you can put in place right away, check out Empowered to Teach and Lead: Whole-Group Literacy Instruction Made Easy—a K–5 playbook designed to help teachers and leaders slay whole-group instruction and finally make Tier 1 feel clear, coherent, and doable.

In this episode, Dr. Staci Bain sits down with the brilliant and deeply committed Vicki Ferrari to talk about what it really takes to make Tier 1 work in real classrooms.

Together, they dive into the clarity, coherence, and consistency teachers and leaders deserve, and why whole-group instruction remains the most powerful lever for literacy success.

Vicki brings her extensive experience as a school leader to unpack what Tier 1 looks like on the ground, how schools can strengthen alignment, and the practical moves that help teachers feel more confident and supported. From daily routines to instructional decision-making to building a culture of success, this conversation is equal parts energizing and actionable.

If you’re ready to strengthen Tier 1 for your students, empower your teachers, and bring more joy and success to whole-group instruction, this episode is your roadmap.

Slay on, good humans. 💛📘👊🏽

Sincerely, Staci Bain, Ed.D. Co-Founder of Educate America LLC™

GoodHumansEducate.com