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PD for All: Creating Lasting Literacy Change Across Diverse School Communities
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.
View all episodes
By 3P Learning
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.