Trust, Alignment, and Action: A Systems Approach to Literacy Professional Learning

This insightful panel discussion showcases how two district leaders—Micki Ray Marinelli from the Kentucky Department of Education and Maura Donahue from Andover Public Schools in Massachusetts—are transforming their educational systems through Structured Literacy and evidence-based professional learning. 

Facilitated by Lexia® Senior Education Advisor Kerri Larkin, the conversation centers on the power of trust, alignment, and sustained action in implementing the science of reading. Both leaders describe how professional learning, particularly through Lexia® LETRS® Professional Learning, became a catalyst for real instructional change across roles—from classroom teachers and coaches to building administrators and state leaders.

Marinelli shares Kentucky’s systemic approach, supported by legislation like the Read to Succeed Act, which helped launch statewide cohorts of LETRS training, including targeted supports for principals and a growing network of early literacy coaches. Donahue describes Andover’s ground-up movement, where early-adopter teachers drove demand for LETRS and created momentum that spread districtwide. Both districts emphasized leadership involvement, logistical planning, and the role of community in overcoming challenges and sustaining momentum.

Ultimately, the webinar reinforces that transformational literacy work requires both urgency and long-term investment. Lexia’s science of reading-aligned solutions—including LETRS and its broader professional learning ecosystem—offer the tools, support, and community needed to build a lasting culture of literacy and learning.