The Teacher’s Roadmap to Curriculum Advocacy: How Educators Can Drive Literacy Change From the Classroom Up

When it comes to improving literacy outcomes, teachers are often the very first people to recognize when something isn’t working. They see the missed foundational skills, the stalled growth, the students who need instruction delivered in a different way. And although teachers may not hold the purchasing power for new curricula, their insight is one of the most influential forces in shaping schoolwide change.

That’s what makes teacher advocacy so powerful: one classroom’s evidence can influence an entire community.

Educator Celeste Myers experienced this firsthand. After years of teaching students from kindergarten through high school, she began identifying patterns—gaps in foundational reading skills that were hindering students' progress. Instead of waiting for direction, she began her own research, reviewed different programs, and built a plan to address the needs she saw daily.

Her journey is a roadmap any teacher can follow.

Step 1: Spot the Need

Advocacy starts with awareness.

Teachers are uniquely positioned to see when students require something different from the current curriculum. You may be noticing:

• students struggling with phonological skills past early grades
• students unable to decode grade-level text
• widening gaps between proficient and struggling readers
• students who demonstrate effort but not growth

These aren’t signs of student failure—they’re signals that instruction or curriculum may need reinforcement, structure, or a better evidence-based foundation.  Recognizing these patterns is the beginning of teacher agency. It means paying attention, identifying root causes, and asking: What could help my students thrive?

Celeste put it simply: “Hard is just a state of mind.” Spotting a need isn’t the hard part—acting on it can be, and that’s where teacher leadership begins.

Step 2: Evaluate Solutions Through an Evidence-Based Lens

Once you’ve identified a need, the next step is evaluating potential literacy solutions. But “evidence-based” has become a buzzword. Teachers need clarity around what truly matters:

• Is the curriculum aligned to the science of reading?
• Does it offer systematic, structured instruction?
• Are skills introduced in a sequenced, research-backed way?
• Is there meaningful progress monitoring?
• Is the program supported by real student outcomes—not marketing claims?

These questions help teachers cut through noise and focus on solutions with proven impact.

This is exactly what Celeste did. After researching multiple programs, she created a short list of options that aligned with the science of reading and matched the real gaps she observed in her classroom. She didn’t guess—she grounded her evaluation in evidence.

Step 3: Start Small, Pilot With Purpose

Piloting doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, the most effective pilots are small, focused, and intentional. Consider starting with:

• a single class
• a targeted group of students
• a set amount of time (e.g., 4–6 weeks)
• a defined instructional routine or platform
• clear goals based on identified skills gaps

During the pilot, track student engagement, monitor progress, and document the instructional practices that yield the strongest results.

Celeste approached her pilot with this same level of clarity—establishing routines, gathering data daily, and staying grounded in student needs. The purpose of a pilot isn’t to find perfection; it’s to test what works and document the results.

Step 4: Let Your Data Tell the Story

Data is the heart of effective teacher advocacy. It transforms observations into evidence. And critically, it makes the case for you. Let your data do the talking! That mindset is the foundation of successful change.

Effective pilot data can include:

• pre- and post-assessment comparisons
• skill-based growth indicators
• time-on-task and progress metrics
• anecdotal notes about student breakthroughs
• shifts in confidence, independence, or engagement

One powerful student story can be just as compelling as a bar graph. For example, one of Celeste’s students began the year able to identify only sight words. With a structured, research-aligned intervention, that student advanced to reading at a second-grade level—proof of what the right tools can do.

When teachers document growth with clarity and consistency, data becomes a persuasive narrative that administrators can’t ignore.

Step 5: Advocate Confidently and Collaboratively

Presenting your case doesn’t have to feel intimidating. Think of it as inviting leadership into the success you’re witnessing. You might share:

• the gap you observed
• the program or instructional approach you piloted
• the data you collected
• what students gained
• how the approach aligns with school or district goals
• what broader implementation could support

Advocacy is not about demanding change—it’s about illuminating possibilities.

When teachers walk in with data, intention, and student-centered insight, administrators see the value immediately. Celeste’s efforts led to broader program adoption across multiple classrooms and schools—all because she paired her expertise with transparent results.

Your Classroom Can Influence an Entire School

Teacher advocacy is one of the most transformative forces in literacy improvement. And it starts with small, intentional steps: recognizing a need, evaluating evidence-based solutions, piloting with purpose, collecting meaningful data, and sharing that data with confidence.

Teachers don’t need a new title to be curriculum leaders. They already are. When educators combine insight with evidence, they spark changes that elevate instruction, empower colleagues, and—most importantly—unlock student potential.

Watch educator Celeste Myers to learn how, after years teaching K–12, she identified patterns in foundational reading skill gaps, researched programs, and built a plan to address the needs she saw daily—along with practical strategies you can apply right away.