Uniting for Literacy: Where Do We Go From Here?

Join us on April 5 for a dynamic and engaging event dedicated to advancing literacy support for students. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or literacy advocate, this conference will provide practical tools, fresh insights, and valuable networking opportunities to help you take the next steps in fostering strong readers.

SPECIAL GUEST: Senator Katie Muth will be joining us to talk about how her $3 Million Structured Literacy and Science of Reading Program Grant has helped bring about change in 10 districts in Senate District 44.

Exciting News! We are adding a Capstone Presentation: No Apologies: Difference, Dignity, and the Future of Thinking from 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm fromDr. Tim Odegard, joined (via video) by Dr. Maryanne Wolf and in-person by Dr. Megan Gierka

Join us on Saturday to Register In-Person!

Why Attend?

• Inspiring Keynote: Nationally recognized literacy and child development expert Steve Dykstra will deliver an insightful keynote, offering strategies to create meaningful change in how we support young readers.
• Interactive Workshops: Participate in hands-on sessions that provide practical training and guidance for improving literacy outcomes.
• Collaborative Connections: Network with fellow parents, educators, and professionals who share a passion for literacy development.
• Actionable Resources: Walk away with effective strategies and tools that can be implemented immediately.

Who Should Join?

This conference is designed for parents, teachers, librarians, and anyone committed to helping children become confident, capable readers. Whether you’re looking for innovative teaching methods or ways to make reading a daily habit at home, you’ll find valuable takeaways to support students at every stage of their literacy journey.

Be part of this powerful movement to shape the future of literacy – Join us on Saturday to Register In-Person!

Jump to:

Keynote Information
Schedule
CEU & Certificate Information
Registration
Speaker Bio’s
Location

Keynote:

Dr. Steve Dykstra – The Developmental Needs of Children: What Matters Most and Where Reading Fits in the Equation

While reading is important there is a lot that matters as much or more. Understanding how the big pieces fit together and why they matter so much requires us to understand brains and what it means to “grow up” and become adults in the 21st century.  Development isn’t just about growth charts and milestones.  It’s about a lot more and understanding how it can go wrong makes us better at helping it go right.

Sessions:

Dr. Steve Dykstra – Dyslexia and its Entourage
Most kids with dyslexia have other stuff going on as well, like ADHD, anxiety, executive function issues, and a variety of strengths and weaknesses.  There are reasons why we see these patterns, some of which bring us back to brains and how they work, while are based in how dyslexia shapes the experiences of the children who live with it.  Dr. Dykstra will do his best to explain it so we can understand and think about it more effectively. Not everything that comes with dyslexia is dyslexia.  We’ll do our best to sort truth from myth, explain how diagnostic conventions play a part, and acknowledge there is a lot we don’t know. We’ll discuss how we got here, how we are still influenced by certain myths, and incase you’re interested, answer the question of how and where dyslexia is in the DSM 5, right down to the page number(s) and how it has evolved from past editions of the DSM.

Dr. Megan Gierka – Policy, Practice, and Progress in the Keystone State
This session explores Pennsylvania’s current efforts to improve reading education through policy and practice. With growing bipartisan support, the state is advancing universal screening, evidence-aligned curricula, and stronger teacher preparation into legal code. Participants will examine key legislative developments, compare local initiatives with evidence-aligned understandings, and discuss opportunities for advocacy. By the session’s end, attendees will have practical tools to support and influence reading policy improvements in their communities.

Dr. Kelly Ballard and Dr. Rick Sabousky – RTI and MTSS: The Same or Different?
Many individuals use the terms RT I (Response to Instruction) and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) interchangeably. The presenters will describe the differences and commonalities and how both of these systems support students.

Dr. Yvonne D’Uva Howard – From Words to Sentences: Interactive Strategies for Strengthening Language and Literacy Skills
This training explores the reciprocal relationship between language, speech, and literacy, focusing on vocabulary, syntax, and linguistic structures that impact reading and writing. It emphasizes the importance of supporting students with expressive and receptive language challenges, including those with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), and highlights the overlap between language difficulties and struggles with reading and written expression. Educators and caregivers will learn practical strategies to support students with language disorders through explicit instruction, sentence expansion, and guided narrative development. The session follows a gradual release model, incorporating direct teaching, interactive demonstrations, and small-group practice activities. By the end, participants will have hands-on tools to help students strengthen their receptive and expressive language skills, leading to improved literacy outcomes.

Aviva Coyne-Green and Beau Martin – A Séance with Sentences: Teaching Cross-Curricular Sentence-Level Writing
Writing is a critical integrated skill for learning and expression, and developing proficiency in writing requires an understanding of how sentences are constructed. During this one-hour session, we will lay the groundwork for the importance of sentence-level writing instruction. We will explore best teaching practices and how sentence-level writing skills build in a systematic and cumulative way. Finally, we will examine and apply different teaching strategies that could be implemented in your K-12 ELA, science, history, and math classes on Monday.

Kate Mayer and Pati Montgomery – The Power of the Principal
Forty-seven states have implemented legislation aimed at enhancing literacy outcomes. Thirty-five states have mandated specific methods for teaching children to read. Despite these efforts, reading scores in America remain unsatisfactory. In this session, we will explore how one district, with the support of a community based organization and PA state senator, is successfully improving literacy outcomes through an innovative approach that is not frequently considered.
SPECIAL GUEST: Senator Katie Muth will be joining us to talk about how her $3 Million Structured Literacy and Science of Reading Program Grant has helped bring about change in 10 districts in Senate District 44.

Candace Hall and Mandy Ubele – From Understanding to Implementation: Advancing Literacy in Pennsylvania
In this session, we will explore how we, as educators, can unite around a shared understanding of the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy to drive meaningful change in Pennsylvania. Together, we’ll examine these evidence-based approaches and what they aren’t while reflecting on where our state currently stands in its literacy journey. By the end of this session, we will have a clearer picture of Pennsylvania’s literacy landscape and a stronger sense of how we can work collectively to ensure that every student receives high-quality literacy instruction.

Shakela Strawberry – Two Sides of the Same Coin: What I Have Learned and How I Navigate Being an Advocate Mom Turned Special Educator (My System to THEE System)
This presentation highlights my unique journey from advocating as a parent of a neurodivergent sacrificing my work in my PhD program to becoming a Dyslexia specialist (to know how to teach and advocate for my child) to being recruited to work within the education system as a Special Educator and MTSS teacher. I’ll share key lessons learned, along with strategies that bridge the gap between families and schools. By blending personal experience with professional insights, I offer practical tools to support neurodivergent students and build the bridge between special education families and those in our school system (teachers and educators).  After all, we are all a part of the village! 

Hollie Woodard – Changing Your Why to How
This is a presentation designed to equip parents and educators with critical advocacy skills to drive dyslexia and literacy-related change at the classroom, district, state, and federal levels. Participants will explore Tony Wagner’s theories of innovation, cognitive dissonance, acute stress response, and diffusion of innovation theory while gaining practical strategies for effective advocacy. This session will also provide tools for building a strong personal brand to enhance advocacy initiatives, ensuring lasting impact in education policy and practice. 

Maria Vetter – Trends in Literacy Cases in the PA Dispute Resolution Process
Resolving special education disputes requires navigating a complex process that includes facilitation, mediation, due process hearings, and federal court litigation. This session will examine how each stage of dispute resolution impacts outcomes for students with dyslexia, highlighting the roles of facilitators, mediators, hearing officers, and judges in shaping educational services. Through case studies and expert insights, attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of best practices for advocacy, legal considerations, and strategies for achieving meaningful resolutions. Whether you are a parent, educator, attorney, or advocate, this session will provide essential guidance on effectively engaging in the dispute resolution process to support students with dyslexia.

Schedule:

Schedule subject to change

CEU’s and Certificates

Earn ACT 48, ALTA, CERI, IMSLEC, and Wilson CEU contact hours.

ACT 48 credits are sponsored by PennWest.

Please ensure all form submissions are completed by April 18 11:59pm to receive certificates and ACT 48 credits.
Certificates of attendance will be emailed to you between April 28-May 1.

Registration Information

Join us on Saturday to Register In-Person!

All registrations include continental breakfast and lunch. Dietary preferences will be collected during the registration process.

Scholarships are available – please fill out this form for consideration.

*Please email office@pbida.org to confirm your membership and to receive your discount code.

Registration Terms:

• Registrations cannot be transferred.
• Registrant understands their purchase is for an in-person conference with no virtual or recorded component.
• Pre-registration will close on April 2, 12:00PM.
• Cancellations prior to March 21 will result in a $15 processing fee.
• Cancellations after March 21 will forfeit any reimbursement.

Speakers:

Dr. Steve Dykstra is a psychologist from Milwaukee Wisconsin.  Soon to be retired from over 30 years of public service, he has developed a powerful interest in reading and literacy because of the powerful effect it has on the developmental outcomes of children.  While he has never taught children to read beyond the things nearly all parents do, he has advocated for dozens of children, served on several state panels and commissions, consulted to multiple states and organizations, spoken at numerous conferences, and moderated expert panels on a variety of reading topics. Besides his expertise on the social and emotional consequences of reading difficulty he is well regarded for his ability to explain complex, incomplete, and sometimes conflicting science, often by generating metaphors for which he is known.  He currently serves on the boards of two Wisconsin literacy groups in which he helped found. He loves to travel and is an avid photographer. Ask him to share his photos and you might be there a while.

Senator Katie Muth, first elected in 2018, is a dedicated advocate for Pennsylvanians, known for challenging corruption and fighting for transparency. Representing the 44th Senatorial District, she has led efforts for clean air and water, veterans’ rights, and student loan relief. As Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, she hosted 85 public hearings, amplifying community voices. A Penn State graduate with a master’s in health sciences, she previously worked in sports medicine and taught kinesiology. She also serves on the PSERS Board of Trustees, pushing for fiscal accountability. Senator Muth and her husband, Trevor, live in Chester County.

Dr. Megan Gierka, Ed.D., is a leading voice in literacy education and implementation science,
dedicated to ensuring evidence-aligned reading instruction reaches every classroom. As the
Head of Implementation Strategy at the AIM Institute for Learning & Research, she focuses on
transforming literacy research into scalable, sustainable solutions for educators, schools, and
policymakers. Megan has played a pivotal role in co-authoring professional learning courses with renowned
reading researchers and, alongside Dr. Linnea Ehri, co-developed the AIM Animated Alphabet,
a supplemental phonics curriculum. She has worked extensively with state education departments in Maryland, Mississippi, and North Dakota to design and implement structured literacy training, directly impacting thousands of educators and students. In Pennsylvania, Megan has been a vocal advocate for evidence-based reading instruction, testifying before the state legislature on key literacy policy initiatives, including Senate Bill 801 and House Bill 998. In 2023, Megan was appointed to the U.S. Department of Education’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Advisory Committee, providing strategic guidance and technical recommendations to the Secretary of Education. Before joining AIM, Megan spent over a decade in public education as a classroom teacher, Title I reading specialist, and instructional coach in Pennsylvania schools.

A graduate of Kent State University, Dr. Richard Sabousky taught in public schools, before moving into higher education at Clarion University. His tenure at Clarion lasted 28 years, the final 12 of which he was the chair of the Department of Special Education and Disability Policy Studies. He now continues to share his expertise as a Professor  of Education at Grove City College. Rick is past President of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children, current Vice-president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the   International Dyslexia Association and serves on the Board of Directors for the Venango Training and Development Center. Dr. Sabousky has also been involved at the state level with multiple work groups developing the most recent Special Education Guidelines as well as the new Literacy Guidelines.

Maria Vetter Maria is a founding partner of  Thrive Advocacy Group and a licensed attorney specializing in educational law. With extensive experience in the field, Maria has dedicated her career to supporting children and their educational needs. Prior to becoming an attorney, she worked as an education consultant and advocate, serving numerous families and children across various educational settings. Maria began her career in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and worked in the field of education in public, private, and specialized schools. Maria holds a B.S. in Education from The Pennsylvania State University and a Juris Doctor degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law. She has dedicated her life’s work to educating and advocating for children and families. In addition to her work in law and at Thrive, Maria serves on various professional boards and presents both locally and nationally, in the areas of education, law, and advocacy.

Candace Hall is a dedicated literacy leader with over 25 years of experience in education. She specializes in curriculum writing, literacy, and the Science of Reading. She is a board member of the Pennsylvania International Dyslexia Association and an active Keystone State Literacy Association member. Currently serving as a Literacy State and Regional Manager at Lexia Learning, she is passionate about supporting educators in ensuring that all students can become successful readers with the proper instruction.
Throughout her career, she has worked as a classroom teacher, interventionist, instructional coach, administrator, and reading specialist, primarily focusing on grades 5-12. She has also been an adjunct professor at Albright College, sharing her expertise with future educators. Beyond literacy, she has been a high school field hockey coach for over 16 years and is actively involved in various athletic committees. With a deep commitment to literacy and athletics, she strives to share her story and empower educators with the knowledge and tools to unlock every student’s potential.

Dr. Yvonne D’Uva Howard, PhD, MS CCC-SLP, is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program at Gwynedd Mercy University. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in language, literacy, executive skills, social-emotional development, and inclusion. Dr. D’Uva Howard is passionate about bridging theory and practice, helping educators and clinicians apply evidence-based approaches to improve student outcomes in language and literacy development.
Before joining GMercyU, Dr. D’Uva Howard maintained a private SLP practice and worked with rehabilitation agencies, early intervention programs, and K-12 schools in eastern Pennsylvania. She also serves as an integrated literacy facilitator for the AIM Institute of Learning and Research, where she trains educators in evidence-based reading and writing practices.
An accomplished speaker, Dr. D’Uva Howard is actively involved in organizations such as the PA Chapter of the International Dyslexia Association, Decoding Dyslexia PA, and the Eastern PA Parent Advisory Council of the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
She holds a PhD in Biomedicine from Salus at Drexel University, where her research focused on vocabulary learning in children with developmental language disorder. Dr. D’Uva Howard also holds an MS in Communication Science and Disorders, a BS from Lebanon Valley College, and a Structured Literacy Classroom Teacher certification.

Kate Mayer, Literacy Specialist at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI), brings over 20 years of experience as an educator and 10 as a literacy advocate to her work. A CERI Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist and Pennsylvania Certified Elementary Teacher, Kate co-founded Everyone Reads PA (ERPA) and The Reading League PA (TRLPA). At CAREI, she develops curriculum and trains educators in implementing effective literacy systems aligned with IDA Knowledge and Practice Standards. Her career began teaching elementary school in California, where she discovered her passion for ensuring all children have access to high-quality instruction.
Inspired by her journey as a mother of five, Kate is dedicated to bringing evidence-based literacy practices to families and educators. She has consulted for AIM Institute, NCTQ, and EarlyBird Education. Whether coaching teachers and administrators or guiding families, Mayer is focused on bridging the gap between research and practice to ensure all students reach their full potential as confident and capable readers with as little emotional impact as possible. Learn more about Kate’s work and ERPA’s initiatives at www.pareads.org. 

Dr. Kelly Ballard has over 20 years of experience in urban K-12 public schools serving as classroom teacher, curriculum writer, Supervisor of Instruction, and Director of Literacy. Additionally, she served as Head of Graduate Programs in Special Education at Bryn Athyn College where she created a Master of Science in Special Education, Literacy concentration program. She has participated in research collaborations investigating the impact of COVID-19 on teachers and students, as well as shifting trends in teachers’ pursuit of professional development specific to the Science of Reading. Kelly collaborated on the Pennsylvania Department of Education working group to address state legislation tied to ensuring structured literacy competencies are embedded both in teacher preparation programs and professional development requirements for new teacher induction and maintaining teacher certifications. Currently, she works for Keys to Literacy as a Senior Relationship Manager supporting Institutions of Higher Education teacher preparation programs and school district instructional leaders in ensuring preservice and inservice teachers acquire the knowledge and skills to effectively teach foundational and content literacy skills. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from William Paterson University, an M.S. in Elementary Education, Reading Specialist concentration from Saint Joseph’s University, and an Ed.D. in Teacher Leadership from Walden University.

Aviva Coyne-Green is an educator at AIM Academy. She currently serves as a Curriculum and Instructional Leader, where she supports the development and implementation of curriculum as well as faculty coaching. She is also a 5th grade teacher and Wilson Certified Instructor, a position she has held for 13 years. Additionally, she facilitates both the AIM Pathways to Proficient Reading and AIM Pathways to Proficient Writing courses through the AIM Institute for Learning and Research. Aviva is a graduate of Vanderbilt University. She holds undergraduate degrees in elementary and special education as well as a Master’s degree in public policy with a concentration in education policy.

Beau Martin is the Middle School Curricular and Instructional Leader and an ELA teacher at AIM Academy. He has worked at several schools and camps focused on teaching students with language-based reading differences. He has presented on varied topics from Values-Aligned Curriculum: Developing a Strategic Process for the Inclusion of Culturally Relevant Student Texts to One Size Does Not Fit All: Teaching and Learning Strategies for the Academically Diverse Classroom. He resides in Philadelphia with two turtles named Ru and Paul.

Mandy Ubele is a Manager of Educational Partnerships with Collaborative Classroom with over 15 years of experience in the education profession. She began her career as an elementary school teacher and taught for 10 years before becoming a literacy coach. Throughout her time as an educator, Mandy has remained diligent about advocating for students’ social and emotional growth as well as the academic needs of diverse learners. She is a board member of the Pennsylvania Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and an active member of her local school district’s literacy community.  Mandy is passionate about empowering educators to provide best practices of literacy instruction in order to grow all students in their confidence, abilities, and love of reading and writing.
Mandy obtained her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Delaware and completed her Elementary Education graduate work from West Chester University.
Mandy enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling in their RV with her husband, their energetic daughters, and their two dogs and two cats.

Pati Montgomery is the founder of Schools Cubed, a school consulting firm that specializes in collaborating with school and district leadership to increase reading and educational outcomes for all students. Schools Cubed’s focus is coaching and mentoring school and district leadership to implement evidence-based practices in literacy. Pati has served as a classroom teacher, elementary and middle school principal, district leader, and executive director of literacy for the state of Colorado, where she led the implementation of one of the first evidence-based literacy legislations in the country.
She has been recognized by the International Dyslexia Association, The Arc disability rights organization, and ExcelEd for her outstanding leadership in the area of literacy. She speaks nationally about leadership and literacy and specifically on the systems and structures that should be implemented in schools to increase literacy outcomes for students. She serves as an expert and advisor on several literacy panels for states and school districts. Pati was the lead author for the book A Principal’s Primer for Raising Reading Achievement, a Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) module for administrators.
Pati received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in special education from the University of Northern Colorado, and a specialized certificate in administration from the University of Denver.

Passionate about educational innovation and equity, Hollie Woodard, 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Finalist, NEA Teacher of Excellence, PETE&C Innovator of the Year, and author of Hacking Flex Teaching: 10 Solutions for Your Blended, Hybrid, or Distance Learning Classroom, is a special needs parent, English teacher, and Tech Coach from Pennsylvania’s Council Rock School District. As an equity advocate, she works to innovate public education by advocating for digital and literacy equity as a PSEA ACE, TEACH Plus PA Senior Fellow, a Keystone Technology Innovator Star, and seven-time KTI Lead Learner.

Shakela Strawberry has dedicated her career to advocacy, from supporting vulnerable populations on Public Assistance to teaching inner-city youth. Her advocacy journey became personal when one of her children was identified as Dyslexic, Dysgraphic, and ADHD. Despite her background as a PhD student, she found navigating her child’s diagnosis overwhelming. A pivotal moment came when a psychologist quietly advised her to “look up Dyslexia,” yet dismissed its importance on record. That moment ignited her commitment to ensuring her child — and others like them — receive the services they deserve.
Shakela’s search for suitable education options revealed a stark divide: private schools with high costs and limited diversity, or under-resourced institutions with greater student diversity but less representation among staff and administration. Determined to bridge these gaps, she earned her certification in Dyslexia and founded A.D.E. Audacity to Dare to Educate. The nonprofit’s mission is to embrace differences and close the equity gap in special education, one unique mind at a time.
Through this work, Shakela has spoken on Andrea Sander’s A Lawful Truth, presented at the National Black Literacy Conference, contributed to Councilman Anthony Phillips’ Parent/Guardian Engagement Taskforce, and led community workshops. Her goal is to raise awareness, destigmatize neurodiversity, and empower underrepresented families.