Chandler Unified School District Impact Forum
Thank you for participating in the Impact Forum on December 12th and 13th! During these two days, we will focus on early literacy by working through The What, The How, and The Now.
What to expect
Researchers and practitioners have defined effective pathways to reading success and still, combining the science of early reading with the art of implementing change remains a challenge. Chandler Unified School District is partnering with current thought leaders, academics, and Amplify facilitators to immerse participants in reading research and improvement science, supporting your district in developing practical, actionable solutions focused on helping young learners become successful readers. Your school team will have the opportunity to work hands-on with our experts and leave the experience with two specific, targeted commitments to a behavior or system change (a “change idea”), which they can implement to improve reading performance.
Speaker bios
Dr. Elfrieda “Freddy” Hiebert (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1979) is the President and CEO of TextProject, a non-profit aimed at providing open-access resources for instruction of beginning and struggling readers. Freddy has had a long career as a literacy educator and is also a research associate at the University of California. Her research, which addresses how fluency, vocabulary, and knowledge can be fostered through appropriate texts, has been published in numerous scholarly journals and books. Hiebert’s contributions to research and practice have been recognized through awards such as the Oscar Causey Award for Outstanding Contributions to Reading Research (Literacy Research Association, 2015), Research to Practice award (American Educational Research Association, 2013), William S. Gray Citation of Merit Award for Outstanding Contributions to Reading Research (International Reading Association, 2008), and membership in the Reading Hall of Fame (2008).
Dillon Hauptfuhrer is the Associate Director of Curriculum Development for the Teach Like a Champion Team. Dillon brings eight years of leading and teaching to her role creating curriculum for the Teach Like A Champion team. Prior to joining the team, Dillon served as a Principal in Residence and Academic Dean at Achievement First in Brooklyn and she worked with YES Prep in Houston for six years as both a teacher, Content Specialist, and Dean of Students. Dillon is a graduate of the University of Virginia and received her M. Ed from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.
Jen Rugani is the Associate Director of Curriculum and School Support for the Teach Like a Champion Team. As a former principal of Uncommon Schools’ Leadership Prep Canarsie Elementary Academy, member of the inaugural cohort of Teach Like a Champion Fellows, and elementary school teacher, Jen Rugani brings 9 years of leading and teaching to her work creating curriculum and supporting schools. Jen is a graduate of Harvard University and has a Master’s degree from Relay Graduate School of Education, where she also completed the National Principal’s Academy Fellowship.