Leading for Literacy: What Every School Leader Needs to Know
What every school leader needs to know about systemic literacy improvement including effective assessment, teaching, coaching, school culture and leadership.
This 4-day institute equips school principals, district administrators, and professional learning leaders to lead, support, and sustain evidence-based literacy instruction in grades K–6. Participants will develop a clear vision for literacy and identify actionable strategies to build collaborative teams and a professional learning culture that accelerates student literacy growth.
- District & School Leadership
- Literacy Coaches/Teacher Leaders
- Leadership & Coaching
- Graduate Credit Participants, please see “Graduate Credit Option” tab for pricing information
- Literacy Collaborative Affiliation Discount available
Establish core values and beliefs about literacy teaching and learning that will be the foundation for your visionary leadership.
Learn how to develop a vibrant school culture that supports teamwork and continuous professional learning to get swift improvement in student outcomes. With a strong foundation in comprehensive evidence-based literacy assessment and instruction, you will be able to support instructional coherence for every child in every classroom, at every grade level.
In addition, you will learn how to promote shared ownership of data on student outcomes and address systemic structures that limit the learning of some students in the educational system.
Specifically, you will learn the essential elements of a variety of evidence-based instructional practices:
- Explicit and systematic phonics, spelling, and word study
- Knowledge-building and comprehension through interactive read-aloud text sets
- Building foundational skills and fluency through shared and performance reading
- Differentiating small group instruction to accelerate student learning
- Teaching encoding and decoding through interactive/shared writing
You will use observation tools focused on instructional practices to observe, discuss, and support specific elements of high-quality teaching. You will analyze and identify areas of strength and need in school interventions using principles of effective intervention. Through classroom video analysis, you will strengthen your use of precise language to support reflective teaching and examine how instructional decisions impact student learning.
You will receive a variety of professional texts and materials that are included in the cost of registration.
You’ll earn 24 professional development hours upon completion of this training, or you may register for 3 graduate credits. Please see the “Graduate Credit Options” tab for more information.
Cynthia Downend, Associate Director, Literacy Programs
Cynthia Downend has worked at the Center for Literacy Teaching and Instructional Leadership for over 15 years, serving in the roles of a trainer at the Center and Associate Director of Primary Literacy Programs before currently serving as the Director of the Center.
Cynthia has worked with many school districts across the United States to train and develop district level literacy staff developers, literacy coaches, classroom teachers, literacy interventionists and school administrators on a variety of topics related to improving literacy instruction.
Prior to her work at Lesley University, Cynthia held positions as a literacy coach, Reading Recovery teacher, and classroom teacher for over 20 years working in a variety of school settings including urban, suburban, and international schools.
Linda Murphy, Associate Director, Literacy Programs
Linda has worked in school districts in New York in a variety of roles and settings. Prior to her joining the center at Lesley University, Linda held positions as a principal of an intermediate school, a Director of English Language Arts, Social Studies and Reading, a district trainer for Literacy Collaborative Intermediate, a Reading Recovery Teacher Leader and a classroom teacher. Linda holds licenses in Elementary Education and School District Administration.
Wendy Vaulton, Associate Director of Reading Recovery and Early Interventions
Wendy Vaulton is the Associate Director for Reading Recovery and Early Interventions at Lesley University’s Center for Literacy Teaching and Instructional Leadership. Wendy serves as the Center’s Reading Recovery trainer, supporting teacher leaders in five states. She has experience as an educational researcher, professional developer, and teacher of Reading Recovery. Wendy’s recent research interests include the capacity of improvement science to support systematic, data-informed decision-making for all levels of educational improvement.
Required Materials (mailed to you as part of registration)
- Leading for Literacy: What Every School Leader Needs to Know
- The Comprehensive Phonics, Spelling, and Word Study Guide
- The Literacy Continuum
- The Literacy Quick Guide
Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies
Non-Credit Participants
You have until one week before the first day of this offering to cancel your registration. The cancellation deadline is Monday, July 20, 2026. There is a $50 cancellation fee. If you request a cancellation after the deadline, you will not be issued a refund. Substitution requests are acceptable. Please email centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu if you have a cancellation or substitution request.
Graduate Credit Participants
Registration Deadline
The registration portal closes at 5pm ET on July 24, 2026. If you register within the week before the start of this training, you may experience delays in receiving the required professional texts included with your registration and you may incur additional fees for expedited shipping.
Requirements for Participation
After the training, non-credit participants will receive a certificate of attendance for your participation. To receive a complete certificate, participation during the specified times is required. Additional work may be assigned to meet the clock hours.
In-Person or Virtual Attendance
After the training, non-credit participants will receive a certificate of attendance for your participation. To receive a complete certificate, participation during the specified times is required. Additional work may be assigned to meet the clock hours.
Graduate Credit Option
With additional assignments, this institute can be taken for 3 graduate credit hours. During the registration process, you will have the option to register as a Graduate Credit attendee and you will only be charged the graduate credit fee listed below.
When your registration is complete, contact centerliteracyteaching@lesley.edu to finish the required secondary registration process for grad credits through Lesley University.
Course Number: EEDUC 6036-34
PRICING:
- $2,730 ($875*/credit + $35*/credit comprehensive fee) *subject to change
On-Site Professional Development
We can deliver this training to your school/district. This option can be delivered virtually or in-person for a group within your school/district. For detailed costs, complete our online form to request this training for your school/district and we will contact you.
Interested in professional learning at your school or district? Schedule a meeting with one of our faculty trainers
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