S6 E8: Love at the center of literacy with Dr. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson

<p>Dr. Nyshawana Francis-Thompson, Deputy Chief of Curriculum and Instruction in the School District of Philadelphia, has played an integral role leading and sustaining a transition to the Science of Reading in the Philadelphia public school district. But making such a change across a large district is difficult. In this episode, Dr. Francis-Thompson (who goes by Dr. Ny) talks with Susan about Philadelphia’s experience. She also talks about her own experience learning about the Science of Reading, and offers tips to other district-level leaders and wisdom about providing all students with the liberation that comes through reading and leading—all with love at the center.<br/><br/><b>Additional Resources:</b></p><ul><li>Dr. Ny’s <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/in/nyshawana-francis-thompson-ed-d-6ab94188/'>LinkedIn profile</a></li><li>Focused implementation: Doing less to do more with Dr. Doug Reeves—<a href='https://www.buzzsprout.com/612361/11416051'>Podcast episode</a></li><li>2021 <em>The Philadelphia Citizen</em> story: “<a href='https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/better-way-teach-reading/'>A Better Way to Teach Reading” </a></li><li>2021 <em>Chalkbeat Philadelphia</em> story: “<a href='https://philadelphia.chalkbeat.org/2021/8/5/22610462/32-of-philadelphia-third-graders-read-on-grade-level-freedom-schools-literacy-academy-is-a-solution'>Just 32% of Philadelphia third graders read on grade level. Freedom Schools Literacy Academy could be a model to change that</a>.”</li><li>A 2017 Accountability Review Council report on Philadelphia: “<a href='https://www.philasd.org/research/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2020/03/FinalARC_EarlyLiteracy_5_2017_Combined.pdf'>Promoting the Science of Reading Instruction in Philadelphia Public Elementary Schools: Early Implementation Lessons</a>”</li><li>Video of Dr. Ny speaking: “<a href='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT6GLa1lXaA&amp;t=62s'>Equity in Curriculum</a>”</li><li>Dr. Ny’s 2017 dissertation: “<a href='https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED577928'>Beyond the Pink Sand: Case Studies