Reading Revival
Charismatic Renewing of Literacy Starts Here
Growing up in the Southern Bible Belt, I was raised to attend church revivals. If you’ve ever experienced one, you already know their purpose: a time of renewal, passion, and coming together for something greater than ourselves. If you’re unfamiliar with Christian revivalism, think of it as a spark that reignites commitment and restores energy for the journey ahead.
This blog, Reading Revival, carries that same spirit - only here, the focus is literacy. Our children urgently need a revival of reading: a renewed commitment, a deeper understanding, and a shared passion for evidence-based practices that strengthen literacy for all learners.
Just as Christians gather for revivals to listen, reflect, and support one another, education stakeholders - teachers, leaders, families, and communities - must also gather. Together, we can create a reading revival: a movement that inspires, equips, and sustains a culture of literacy success - empowering students, strengthening families, and enhancing communities.
About Me.
I consider myself a seasoned elementary teacher who later stepped into the role of literacy teacher educator and consultant. Each of these experiences has shaped my perspective and deepened my commitment to literacy education. When I graduated with my undergraduate degree and prepared for my first classroom, I quickly realized how much I still had to learn to truly support my students’ reading. After completing my Master of Education in Reading/Literacy, I thought I finally had all the knowledge I needed, but it did not take long to see that my success and growth had only just begun. I wanted more. I sought out many research-based professional development opportunities. Even now, as I complete my Doctor of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with a Literacy Focus, I still view myself as a learner. Isn’t that the goal we should all share - lifelong learning? I look forward to connecting with you here so that I can continue learning with, and from, you.
I will always remain grateful to the veteran educators and professional mentors who have guided me throughout my journey, on both sides of the desk. With years of classroom experience teaching PK, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 8th grades, as well as teaching future educators in an Educator Preparation Program (EPP), I know firsthand the challenges teachers face. My time in P–12 schools and in higher education revealed the critical importance of equipping pre-service teachers and consistently supporting in-service teachers with evidence-based literacy knowledge and practices. Now, as a literacy education advocate and consultant, my focus is on strengthening both teacher quality and teacher preparation, because when teachers are better equipped & supported, students are better prepared to succeed.
That is the purpose of this blog: to let the blessings I have received flow through me to encourage, equip, and support others. If you share a passion for literacy, I invite you to keep coming back. The content here is grounded in research, always striving toward what works better, not just what works. If excellence is our mission, my goals are ongoing learning, reflecting, and refining. And that baseline for excellence? It should always be moving higher.
"Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it."
Albert Einstein
