In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Jamie Cook, Literacy Officer at the Nebraska Department of Education, joins the pod to explore the future of literacy in Nebraska and the exciting opportunities ahead with the Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant.

Jamie shares her journey as a teacher, coach, and principal, and how those experiences ground her leadership in this new role. Together, we unpack why third grade is such a pivotal moment for reading, the role of the science of reading in shaping high-quality instruction, and how Nebraska’s literacy journey builds on years of strong statewide work.

Listeners will learn:

• Why the CLSD grant is a powerful accelerant for Nebraska’s literacy efforts.
• How high-quality instructional materials and curriculum-based professional learning empower teachers.
• The importance of coaching, family engagement, and alignment across districts and ESUs.
• Nebraska’s measurable goals for literacy and the collective responsibility it will take to achieve them.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, coach, administrator, or policymaker, this conversation highlights the thoughtful, research-based approach Nebraska is taking to ensure every child becomes a confident and capable reader.

To learn more about this literacy effort in Nebraska, visit https://www.education.ne.gov/clsd-2/