What Makes Literacy Implementation Work? Turning Evidence Into Student Growth

Presented by Wiley Blevins, Ed.D., Author, Educational Consultant, and Researcher; William P. Stropkaj, Ed.D., Superintendent, Keystone Oaks School District (PA); Shannon Varley, Ed.D., Assistant to the Superintendent for Student Achievement, Keystone Oaks School District (PA); Steven Ross, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Professor, and Director of the Center for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins School of Education; Michael A. Cook, Ph.D., Assistant Research Scientist, Center for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins School of Education; and Eleni C. Giorgos, Research Assistant, Center for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins School of Education Moderated by Nicole Stephen, Senior Director, Professional Learning and R&D, William H. Sadlier, Inc. This edWeb podcast is sponsored by Sadlier. The webinar recording can be accessed here. How can schools translate evidence-based literacy practices into meaningful gains for students? In this edWeb podcast, literacy expert and program author Dr. Wiley Blevins, district leaders, and independent researchers examine how one district strengthened foundational reading instruction through consistent implementation, targeted support, and evidence-based improvement. Dr. Blevins shares the research and instructional principles behind the program and discuss what effective implementation looks like in practice. District leaders describe the instructional routines, leadership decisions, and professional learning that supported implementation across their schools. They also explain how they used WIN (“What I Need”) blocks to provide targeted reading instruction based on assessment data and students’ identified skill needs. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University discuss how they independently examined the district’s implementation and student outcomes through classroom observations, educator feedback, and achievement data. They also address the broader role of evidence in education today, including why independent evaluation matters, how educators can interpret research findings responsibly, and how schools can use research alongside local data and professional expertise to inform instructional decisions. Together, the presenters connect instructional design, district implementation, research, and classroom practice. Listeners will leave with practical insights to strengthen implementation, provide responsive student support, and use evidence to guide continuous improvement. By the end of this edWeb podcast, listeners can: - Identify instructional conditions that support strong foundational literacy implementation - Describe how one district used WIN blocks and assessment data to target student needs - Explain the role of independent research in examining implementation and student achievement - Apply research findings and lessons from the district’s experience to their own literacy planning and instruction This edWeb podcast is designed for K-12 classroom teachers, reading specialists, instructional coaches, school leaders, and district administrators. Learn more **about viewing live edWeb presentations and on-demand recordings, earning CE certificates, and using accessibility features.**