Looking back at our 2025 Literacy Symposia
The 2025 event featured insights into leadership, coaching, the science of learning, and classroom practice.
The symposium opened with Dr Kymyona Burk sharing the journey of Mississippi's literacy transformation, highlighting the implementation of policy and the leadership that drove system-wide change. Dr Daryl Michel followed with a focus on coaching, exploring its role in helping teachers implement and sustain quality literacy practices. Natalie Wexler connected literacy instruction to the science of learning, showing how understanding cognitive processes strengthens practice and improves outcomes. Finally, Dr Lorraine Hammond shared practical, classroom-focused strategies rooted in explicit instruction, equipping teachers with tools to apply research-based approaches.
Alongside these keynotes, we offered a range of supporting workshops, giving educators, leaders, and specialists the chance to explore areas of interest in greater depth and apply their learning in meaningful ways.
This year’s Cultivating the Literacy Landscape Symposium brought together four outstanding keynote speakers who challenged, provoked, and inspired us to think deeply about what it takes to lift literacy outcomes across Aotearoa. In this recap, Carla McNeil reflects on the two-day event.
Symposium Overview
Dr Kymyona Burk
Leading Literacy Change: Mississippi's Story and Shared Insight
Dr Kymyona Burk shared the remarkable journey of Mississippi's literacy transformation, highlighting the policies, practices, and leadership that drove significant gains in student outcomes. Attendees gained insight into the challenges, strategies implemented, and collective effort required to create lasting, system-wide change. Dr Burk's expertise offered invaluable lessons for leaders and educators committed to improving literacy achievement.
Dr Daryl Michel
Coaching: A Cornerstone of Quality Literacy Implementation
Dr Daryl Michel's keynote explored the essential role of coaching in effective literacy instruction. He discussed how high-quality, sustained coaching supports teachers in refining their practice and consistently applying evidence-based strategies. Attendees learned how coaching fosters collaborative professional growth that can lead to improved student outcomes, offering practical approaches to embed coaching into their literacy initiatives.
Natalie Wexler
Beyond the Science of Reading: Connecting Literacy Instruction to the Science of Learning
Natalie Wexler delved into the intersection of literacy instruction and cognitive science, emphasising the importance of building knowledge alongside reading skills. She explored how understanding the science of learning can strengthen literacy practices, offering strategies to narrow knowledge gaps and improve comprehension. This keynote challenged and inspired educators to align their teaching with research on how students best acquire and retain information.
Professor Lorraine Hammond PhD AM
Empowering Learning: The Science Behind Instruction That Works
Dr Lorraine Hammond explored the instructional practices that drive progress for more — and all — learners. Drawing from her extensive research and practical experience, she highlighted the impact of systematic, direct teaching methods, daily review, and high-quality feedback. Attendee will left with actionable strategies to implement evidence-based approaches in their classrooms, strengthening both engagement and learning outcomes.
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