Nikki Drury

Literacy Trainer

What I like most about my role within the Center is…

Every day I get to immerse myself in my favorite topic: Literacy!

What I believe in

I believe language is powerful, and when we give students the ability to use language, we empower them to shape the world with their words, learn more about themselves and others, and delight in the pleasures of great literature.

Previous work highlights

Before coming to the Center, I was a classroom teacher and literacy coach.

Favorite book

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Fun fact

At 10 years old I was the Texas state baton twirling champion.

Education

BS Interdisciplinary Studies, Sam Houston State University

M.Ed. Educational Leadership, Texas A&M

September 30, 2025 Linda Murphy, Associate Director of Literacy Programs

Igniting a Year of Learning: Building Momentum as a Literacy Coach

For literacy coaches, this is a powerful moment – the chance to move from introductions and early connections into purposeful collaboration that will carry the year forward.

August 26, 2025 Heather Rodman, Literacy Trainer

Spelling: Harnessing the Power of Word Knowledge

Becoming a strong speller requires much more than memorizing words. Good spelling is a result of good teaching.

August 1, 2025 Nikki Drury, Literacy Trainer

Reading to Learn While Learning to Read

Is it reading to learn or learning to read? In reality, these two processes develop together, not one after the other. As children are learning how print works, they are also learning from what they read. They are making sense of language.