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Live Webinar | Science of Reading 3.0 Webinar Series

Widening the lens on literacy

Critical conversations with leading literacy experts

Leading Literacy Transformation 

This exciting 3-part series, hosted by Laura Stewart, Chief Academic Officer at 95 Percent Group hosted  some of the nation’s most influential, knowledgeable literacy experts for conversations grounded in topics from our new science of reading eBook, Science of Reading 3.0: Widening the lens on literacy. 

Gain  firsthand insights and practical takeaways from  researchers, practitioners, advocates, and system-level leaders whose work is at the forefront of connecting these critical and overlapping disciplines: the science of reading,  the  science  and art of teaching, the science of learning,  implementation  science, and leadership.  

Packed with actionable guidance, this  series invites all who care about cultivating  a future generation of literate citizens--educators,  literacy leaders, and the broader  educational  community--to deepen their knowledge, strengthen their systems and practices, and ensure that all means  all  children in every classroom. 

Download your FREE digital copy of Science of Reading 3.0

Download Here

 


 

 

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Science of Reading Webinar Series 

Session 1 |  Now available on demand

Leading the Shift: A conversation with Terrie Noland, PhD and Danielle Thompson, PhD  

The webinar series kicked off with Terrie Noland, PhD, and Nell Thompson, PhD, in conversation with Laura Stewart about what it means to lead into the next iteration of the science of reading. Together, they’ll explore how we move from building knowledge to transforming practices and systems, and what it truly looks like to center language as the foundation for literacy. 

Key highlights: 

  • Introducing  Science of Reading 3.0: Widening the lens on literacy 
  • Taking a closer look at how putting language at the center of literacy changes both our instructional and systems perspectives 
  • Learning more about the essential role of leadership in transformational, systems-level change 

These literacy leaders also shared how they embody “all means all” in their work with districts nationwide, offering inspiration and practical insights for leaders navigating real implementation challenges. 

 

Session 2 | Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 6:30 PM CT  

Syntax as the Comprehension Engine: A conversation with Julie Van Dyke, PhD 

In Science of Reading 3.0, language is recognized as the foundation upon which all literacy skills are built.  While phonology’s connection to decoding is well understood, we’re just beginning to fully grasp the role of syntax, the engine that drives reading comprehension. 

It stands to reason that we should more deeply examine how specific oral language components affect the development of written literacy skills—in this case how syntactic processing is the driving force through which our brains comprehend language! 

Key highlights: 

  • What is syntax, and why is it a powerful predictor of reading comprehension? 
  • Three compelling reasons syntactic instruction cannot be ignored or left to chance 
  • Practical, easy-to-implement instructional moves for building syntactic awareness 
  • Ways to support all learners through explicit syntactic scaffolds 

Join Julie Van Dyke, leading researcher and expert in language processing, as she unpacks how syntax is central to understanding text, how the brain uses syntactic information, and what educators can do to strengthen syntactic knowledge in the classroom.

   

Session 3 | Thursday, June 4, 2026   | 6:30 PM CT

On Literacy as Freedom: A conversation with Ameer Baraka, Dyslexia Advocate   

Ameer Baraka is an Emmy-nominated actor, author, and dyslexia advocate who transformed his life from incarceration to inspiration. Join us as we cap off this school year’s final installment of our Science of Reading 3.0 Webinar Series, sharing Ameer’s incredible life story and his powerful message of hope. You don’t want to miss this special event.  

Highlights include: 

  • Ameer’s personal journey, from being undiagnosed as dyslexic to learning to read at age  23, and why he considers literacy as freedom.
  • Why early screening and interventions are crucial for preventing the very real potential “pipeline” from illiteracy to incarceration. 
  • The non-negotiables that all educational leaders must mandate to support teachers in teaching all students, including those with dyslexia. 
  • The dispositions of a teacher who provides a safe and supportive environment in which all students, including those with diverse learning needs, can thrive.   

Meet your Webinar Facilitators

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Laura Stewart

Chief Academic Officer, 95 Percent Group

Laura Stewart is an educator and organizational leader. She has served as a teacher, administrator, adjunct professor, and director of numerous professional development initiatives nationwide.   
   
Before joining 95 Percent Group, Laura served as the Chief Innovation Officer at The Reading League and the Chief Academic Officer for Professional Development at Highlights for Children. She presents nationally and internationally and is a published author. Laura’s passion is empowering educators to positively impact ALL students and ultimately change the course of literacy achievement in this country.

Terrie Noland

Terrie Noland, PhD, CALT

Literacy Leader

Terrie Noland, PhD, CALT, is an education leader dedicated to unlocking the potential of learners of all ages. A former educator, school leader, and nonprofit executive; she is a dynamic keynote speaker and certified Maxwell Leadership coach. She holds a doctorate in Literacy and Educational Leadership and is known for her contagious energy and heartfelt storytelling.  Dr. Noland believes great leaders cultivate success in others and strives to ignite motivation and purpose wherever she goes. When not mentoring emerging leaders or expanding her knowledge, she shares her vision of a world transformed by literacy and leadership.  

Danielle-Thompson

Danielle "Nell" Thompson, PhD, CCC-SLP

Literacy Leader and founder of The Transformative Reading Teacher Group   

Danielle “Nell” Thompson, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a nationally recognized literacy leader, leadership coach, and founder of The Transformative Reading Teacher Group and The Big Sky Literacy Summit.  

A Speech Language Pathologist turned systems-change leader; she has served children and educators from Alaska to Mississippi, always guided by her belief that language is the foundation of learning, leadership, and human connection.

A former national LETRS trainer with a doctorate in literacy studies, Dr. Thompson is also a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach and High-Performance Coach. As the volunteer president of The Reading League Montana, she leads with contagious energy and systems-level clarity, helping educators and leaders re-think, unlearn, and elevate their practices. Through her work, Dr. Nell inspires schools—and the people within them—to thrive, build culture, and unlock every learner’s potential. 

Julie-VanDyke

Julie Van Dyke, PhD   

Associate Research Professor at the Institute for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut   

Dr. Van Dyke holds a joint appointment as an Associate Research Professor at the Institute for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut; Clinical Assistant Professor at the Yale Child Study Center; and Research Scientist at the Yale-UConn Haskins Global Literacy Hub.  

She is also the Inventor and Chief Scientist at Cascade Reading, a reading technology that provides in-the moment visual scaffolding for reading comprehension.

Previously, Dr. Van Dyke served as a Senior Scientist at Haskins Laboratories for 22 years, where she investigated the cognitive and neural basis of syntactic processing. Her deep dedication to improving reading outcomes for all children is fueled daily by her experience as the parent of a child with Dyslexia, Developmental Language Disability, Dyscalculia, ADHD, and Autism 

Ameer-Baraka

Ameer Baraka

 Actor, dyslexia advocate, author of Undiagnosed: The Ugly Side of Dyslexia   

Ameer Baraka is an Emmy-nominated actor, author, and dyslexia advocate who transformed his life from incarceration to inspiration. Born in New Orleans and diagnosed with dyslexia in prison, he overcame illiteracy and discovered the power of education. He currently stars as Jeremiah on BET’s ZATIMA and has appeared in American Horror Story: Coven, Tales of the Walking Dead, and more.  

Author of Undiagnosed: The Ugly Side of Dyslexia, Ameer is a national voice for awareness, speaking at Harvard, testifying before the U.S. Senate, and mentoring at-risk youth. His work continues to prove that with support and determination, anyone can rewrite their story.