Working for more than 40 Years to ensure all students receive high-quality instruction based on the science of reading.
Linda shares her expertise in instructional practices based on the science of reading and her knowledge of what makes professional learning effective in engaging keynote presentations and workshops.
Linda consults with publishers, state departments of education, school districts, and schools to support effective reading instruction using high-quality English language arts materials.
The Reading League worked with a coalition of researchers and practitioners to craft a definition of the science of reading and clarify what it is, what it is not, and how all stakeholders can understand its potential to transform reading instruction. Download the eBook for free or purchase a hard copy.
Reid Lyon summarizes, in plain language, what we’ve learned so far about reading development. Read the maxims.
Linda has dedicated her career to teaching children to read, particularly those with word reading difficulties like dyslexia. While she worked for many years in the classroom directly with students, Linda eventually moved out of the classroom to become a principal, the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for a K–12 school district in California, and a Senior Policy Analyst with an emphasis on school-to-career, charter schools, and school reform. In these roles, she quickly realized that in order for students to become strong readers they need teachers who understand the science of reading, can identify which skills students struggle with, and can provide expert instruction to help students overcome reading difficulties.
In 1995, in response to California’s crisis in reading achievement that most significantly impacted students of color, Linda and former California Superintendent Bill Honig founded the Consortium on Reaching Excellence in Education (CORE). Their mission was to provide educators with the evidence-based research on the most effective ways to teach children to read and then, through workshops, coaching and mentoring, help them leverage instructional practices based in the science of reading to improve outcomes for all students. Today, CORE works with pre-K–12 districts and schools across the country to support excellent instruction in both reading and math. After serving as CORE’s president for 26 years, Linda stepped down from that role in December 2020 but continues to serve on CORE’s Advisory Board.
Linda is the co-author of the textbooks Teaching Reading Sourcebook, Assessing Reading: Multiple Measures and Vocabulary Handbook. The National Council on Teacher Quality 2020 Teacher Prep Review listed the Teaching Reading Sourcebook as one of 10 textbooks that comprehensively and rigorously cover the scientific basis and instructional elements of the five essential components of effective reading instruction. The report also found that it is used by more teacher prep programs than any of the other 10 textbooks.