2 0 2 6 2 0 2 6
University of NORTH ALABAMA at the
Keynote KeynoteSPEAKERS
Day 1 - Opening General Session
Dr.AntonioFierro
Antonio A. Fierro is the author of El muro de sonidos y deletreo, a Spanish sound–spelling phonetics curriculum for young children, and co-author of Kid Lips, both published by the 95 Percent Group, where he currently serves as Literacy Expert in Residence Dr Fierro spent nearly two decades as part of the national LETRS cohort of literacy consultants led by Dr Louisa Moats He has spearheaded initiatives to advance evidence-based instruction for English learners, shaping education policy at both state and national levels. Drawing on this experience, he is also dedicated to working with higher education institutions to strengthen educator preparation programs, emphasizing the psychology of reading and equipping future teachers to meet the needs of all learners.
Dr. Fierro currently serves on the national board of The Reading League and the advisory board for the third edition of LETRS.
Laura Stewart is an educator and organizational leader She has served as a classroom teacher, building and district administrator, adjunct professor, and director of numerous professional development initiatives around the country. Before joining 95 Percent Group as the Chief Academic Officer, Laura was the Chief Innovation Officer with The Reading League and the CAO for Professional Development at Highlights for Children.
Laura presents widely and is a published author and contributing author of numerous publications. Laura hosted the podcast “Teaching, Reading, and Learning: The TRL Podcast.”
Her passion is empowering educators to positively impact ALL students so that they may flourish in literacy.
Featured FeaturedSPEAKERS
Dr.LaurenBrannan
Dr.TiffanyDavis
Dr.AletheaHampton
BonnieShort
y 1 - Luncheon | Panel Session
Dr. Brannan has worn many hats during her 19 years in education, including paraprofessional, first grade teacher, technology teacher, Associate Professor, education preparation program evaluator, and National LETRS professional learning facilitator. She is now serving as a Regional Literacy Specialist for the Alabama Reading Initiative, where she serves full support schools and educator preparation programs around the state
Dr. Davis believes every child can learn and be successful. With 24 years of educational experience as a change agent for all educators, she has experienced powerful results in literacy success. Dr. Davis has experience in literacy development and K-12 leadership. She served as a kindergarten teacher and as an ARI Literacy Coach, before transitioning to instructional leadership, where she spent 9 years as an Alabama principal. Dr. Davis is currently serving as an ALSDE Regional Literacy Leadership Specialist supporting Alabama Educator Preparation Programs and Alabama school districts and schools in literacy achievement
Dr. Alethea Hampton returned to the ALSDE as the administrator for educator preparation April 2023. She and her staff oversee the approval and accreditation process for Alabama’s 24 EPPs. Additionally, she supervises the Alabama Teacher Mentoring Program (ATMP) and Educator Assessment. Throughout her career, she has served as an advocate for justice and opportunity.
Bonnie Short began serving as the Director of the Alabama Reading Initiative in July of 2021 following her brief time as a Regional Literacy Leadership Specialist where she supported principals and central office personnel with implementing the Alabama Literacy Act Her previous work as a primary grade teacher, reading coach, school principal, and ARI regional greatly guides her state work Bonnie received her postgraduate degrees from Auburn University, the University of Alabama of Birmingham, and Troy University in addition to becoming a Nationally Certified teacher. As she navigates each role, she clings to two ultimate goals: (1) hang out with people who make you better and (2) leave things better than the way you found them.
Keynote KeynoteSPEAKER
Day 2 - Luncheon | General Session
Dr. Eric G. Mackey serves as the Alabama State Superintendent of Education, where he leads the state’s efforts to improve student outcomes through his strategic plan, Alabama Achieves His priorities include the Alabama Literacy Act, Alabama Numeracy Act, STEM education, Career Technical Education, and workforce development
Under Dr. Mackey’s leadership, Alabama has seen measurable progress across multiple education benchmarks. Between 2019 and 2024, Alabama ranked first in Math Recovery and third in Reading Recovery nationally. The state also posted the largest gain in 4th grade mathematics scores, rising to 32nd on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) its highest ranking ever
High school performance has also improved, with a 92% graduation rate and 88% College and Career Readiness Rate the highest in state history Alabama now ranks fifth in the nation in key areas such as Computer Science education, Financial Literacy, and the number of newly certified National Board Teachers (NBCTs). The state has also earned recognition as the topranked state for workforce development in the South-Central region.
Dr. Mackey holds leadership positions on more than 30 boards and commissions, including serving as Past President of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and an active member of the Hoover Institution’s Practitioner Council, Southern Regional Education Board, Education Commission of the States, Jobs for America’s Graduates, Alabama Public School and College Authority, Retirement Systems of Alabama, Interstate Military Children’s Compact Commission, and the Alabama Germany Partnership, among others.
Dr.EricMackey
at-a-glance
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2026
8:00 8:30 10:40 9:45
Registration and Light Breakfast
Location Guillot University Center, Performance Center
Opening General Session
Welcome & Keynote Introductions
Dr. Katie Kinney, Dean, Spencer College of Education and Human Sciences
University of North Alabama
Keynote | Choice Words: How Teacher Talk is Key to Developing Student Oracy
Dr. Antonio A. Fierro, Author and Literacy Expert in Residence
95 Percent Group
Laura Stewart, Chief Academic Officer
95 Percent Group
Session 1 (Choice of 3 Presentations)
Science of Reading Meets the Science of Learning Meets the Science of Teaching: Alignment Matters
Location Guillot University Center, Performance Center
An Exemplary Literacy Block
Location Guillot University Center, The Loft
Phonological Lexicon and Decoding Effects
Location Guillot University Center, Room 200
Session 2 (Choice of 3 Presentations)
Structured Literacy for Newcomers: Integrating Oracy, Foundational Skills, and Academic Language for Multilingual Learners
Location Guillot University Center, Performance Center
Modeling Methods of Multisensorial Techniques for Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education as Explicit Literacy Instruction with PreService Teachers
Location Guillot University Center, The Loft
A Collaborative Approach to Aligning Coursework with the Science of Reading
Location Guillot University, Room 200
11:30 1:00 2:00
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2026
Luncheon
Location Guillot University Center, Banquet Hall A/B IntroductionofPanel
Dr.LisaClayton,ProgramCoordinator,ElementaryandEarlyChildhoodEducation UniversityofNorthAlabama
PanelSession|EPPConnect:WeAreBetterTogether BonnieShort,Director AlabamaReadingInitiative
Dr.LaurenBrannan,RegionalLiteracySpecialist AlabamaReadingInitiative
Dr.TiffanyDavis,RegionalLiteracyLeadershipSpecialist AlabamaReadingInitiative
Dr.AletheaHampton,EducatorPreparationAdministrator AlabamaStateDepartmentofEducation
Dr.JasonFulmore,SeniorResearchAssociate PublicAffairsandResearchCouncilofAlabama
Dr.RachelCochran,SeniorResearchAssociate PublicAffairsandResearchCouncilofAlabama
Session 3 (Choice of 3 Presentations)
Crossing Borders, Building Confidence: Strengthening Preservice Teachers’ Self-Efficacy as Writers and Teachers of Writing Location Guillot University Center, Performance Center
Special Education Literacy-Focused Field Experiences Location Guillot University Center, The Loft
What's Next? Life After the Reading Rope Location Guillot University Center, Room 200
Session 4 (Choice of 3 Presentations)
Reconsidering Foundational Literacy: Evidence for a Speech-to-Print Framework
Location Guillot University Center, Performance Center
Stitching Stories into Standards: Using Children’s Literature in Literacy Instruction
Location Guillot University Center, The Loft
Designing Literacy Methods Coursework to Strengthen Foundational Skills Instruction
Location Guillot University Center, Room 200
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2026 8:15 8:30 11:00 12:40
Light Breakfast
Location Kilby Laboratory School
*General Session in the gymnasium followed by classroom visits
Day 2 General Session
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Bonnie Short, Director
Alabama Reading Initiative
“Launching a Legacy of Literacy” followed by a Kilby Laboratory School tour
Dr. Eric Kirkman, Director
Kilby Laboratory School
Dr. Angel Tomlinson, Reading Specialist-in-Residence and Adjunct Professor
Kilby Laboratory School
Luncheon
Location Guillot University Center, Banquet Hall A/B
Keynote Introduction
Dr. Katie Kinney, Dean, Spencer College of Education and Human Sciences University of North Alabama
Keynote | Alabama Achieves
Dr. Eric Mackey, Superintendent Alabama State Department of Education
Session 5 (Choice of 3 Presentations)
LivinginanAIworld-preparing:PreserviceTeacherstoEffectivelyand EthicallyTeachAIintheWritingClassroom
Location GuillotUniversityCenter,PerformanceCenter
BridgingtheGap:MultiplePathwaystoSupportingPreserviceTeachersin PreparingfortheFoundationsofReadingAssessment
Location GuillotUniversityCenter,Loft
FromScripttoSkill:Reader’sTheatreasaScienceofReadingToolforPreServiceEducators
Location GuillotUniversityCenter,Room200
you Thank you
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The Alabama Higher Education Science of Reading Symposium is proudly hosted annually by the Spencer College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of North Alabama.