Transformative Leadership in the Science of Reading: Empowering School Administrators

During the second session of Lexia’s annual Science of Reading Week, a panel of experts—including principals, higher-education professionals, and district leaders—focused on strategies for building administrators to champion transformative literacy practices. 

Central to the conversation was the importance of establishing a clear, schoolwide culture of reading. Panelists emphasized that strong leadership is about working side by side with teachers—often described as the “boots on the ground”—and providing consistent, targeted support through professional development, collaborative data analysis, and instructional modeling.

A recurring theme was the need to recognize and honor each educator’s entry point into the science of reading, providing differentiated guidance so all staff can confidently implement research-based methods. Panelists urged principals to prioritize effective data use, suggesting that different roles within a school require customized data sources. Administrators can look at outcome measures to guide resource allocation or teacher staffing, while classroom educators may need skill-specific data (like phonemic awareness) to group students for instruction.

Family and community engagement also featured prominently: By sharing progress data in a transparent, culturally responsive manner and offering practical home literacy activities, leaders can establish a unified approach to reading. Finally, participants stressed that true equity in literacy instruction emerges when administrators promote a respectful, asset-based culture where every student and family feels supported. The conversation closed with encouragement for principals to pick a single, achievable next step—such as forming an instructional leadership team—ensuring a purposeful start on the science of reading journey.