In a time where we see our students’ math and reading scores lower than past years and achievement gaps increasing, schools and districts are implementing programs that are significantly moving the needle. Under the MN Read Act, when a district purchases new literacy curriculum, or literacy intervention or supplementary materials, the curriculum or materials must be evidence-based. Now is the perfect time to understand what to look for in technology programs, what the research is telling us about closing achievement gaps, and what successful implementation models look like based on research. Join us as we highlight districts making tremendous gains in achievement, how to vet programs that will have impact in your district, and what we’re seeing across the nation in implementations that meet individual student needs, close learning gaps, and increase instructional time in the classroom for teachers.
All information sessions are recorded and posted to the Informational Session webpage. CEUs are not provided.
Presenters Sarah Miles: Sarah has over 16 years of experience serving students and teachers as an educator and administrator specializing in K-12 improvement, curriculum, and assessment. The focus and impact of her work has been leading teams in building systems and cultures that rapidly increase student achievement. Currently, Sarah serves as a National Advocacy Director for Edmentum, supporting high-population districts, community-based organizations, and states in meeting the needs and expanding opportunities for all students and educators.
Jayne Lammers: Jayne began her education career as a middle and high school literacy teacher and found a passion for supporting teachers in meeting the needs of striving readers. She earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction at Arizona State University and spent 15 years in higher education, preparing teachers for the challenges of today’s classrooms. Her research explored the intersection of students’ interests and technology’s affordances, aiming to make literacy instruction more meaningful and impactful. Now, as the Director of Learning Design, Dr. Lammers helps ensure that Edmentum's products designed to accelerate learning leverage research-based best practices and consider the realities of teachers’ work and students’ needs.
Amy Dray: Amy serves as Director of Efficacy Research at Edmentum. She has over twenty years of experience working in education at both academic and for-profit organizations. As a quantitative research scientist, Amy uses rigorous methods to assess the effect of school and community-based interventions. She has partnered with districts to study best practices for struggling readers to achieve academic success; with universities to understand the transition of teachers shifting from preservice training to working in the classroom; and with teachers to consider how schools create a culture of learning and positive social climate. A former middle school math teacher, Amy received her doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.