Wiley Blevins, Ed.D., Bowling Green State University

Wiley Blevins is a literacy expert and early reading specialist. He taught elementary school in both the United States and South America. Wiley has written and edited many phonics and reading materials, and is the author of best-selling titles A Fresh Look at Phonics, Phonics from A to Z, and Teaching Phonics & Word Study in the Intermediate Grades. He lives in New York City.

Listen to Wiley Blevins discuss the teacher's role in a phonics lesson.

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Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes, San Diego State University

Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes, 2018 NABE Leadership Award winner, served as a member of the Expert Panel for the development of the California English Language Development (ELD) Standards and the Curriculum Framework and Evaluation Criteria Committee for the California State Department of Education. A national consultant, her area of expertise is biliteracy, with a focus on academic language and the organization of instruction for explicit teaching of Spanish-to-English cross-linguistic transfer.

Listen to Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes discuss the importance of parallel English and Spanish curriculums.

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Adria Klein, Ph.D., University of New Mexico

Dr. Adria Klein is the director of a center focused on early literacy intervention at Saint Mary's College of California and serves as a reviewer for the professional journal The Reading Teacher. A former president of the California Reading Association, she also served on the International Literacy Association's Board of Directors.

Listen to Adria Klein share examples of transfer.

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Patty McGee, M.Ed., Montclair State University

Patty McGee is a prolific writer, consultant, and presenter that has served on several committees for the New Jersey Department of Education. Patty received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education at Loyola University in Maryland and her M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership through Montclair State University. Patty has also studied literacy and literacy coaching through Teachers College Reading and Writing Project and Iona College. She presents at national conferences such as ILA, NCTE, ASCD, and Learning Forward, and she is the author of the best-selling book Feedback That Moves Writers Forward.

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Linda Hoyt, M.A., Lewis & Clark College

Linda Hoyt has had a rich array of experiences in education, ranging from classroom teaching to working as a reading specialist, curriculum developer, Title I teacher, staff developer, and Title I District Coordinator. She is the author of twenty-four professional books, six video programs, and instructional resources.

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Debbie Whitt Jarzombek, M.Ed., Trinity University

Debbie Whitt Jarzombek is an educational consultant, literacy professional development specialist, and curriculum development leader in the state of Texas. Her administrative and teaching career in public schools spans thirty years and includes roles as curriculum director, literacy coordinator, principal supervisor, elementary principal, Reading Recovery teacher, middle school reading teacher, elementary classroom teacher, ESL teacher, college education department instructor, and former board member of Texas ASCD.

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René Boyer, Ed.D., Washington University

Dr. René Boyer is a Professor Emeritus of Music Education at the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music. She is known nationally and internationally for her work in multicultural and urban music education and is a composer, educator, and author of best-selling professional books for classroom teachers and music specialists.

Peter Afflerbach, Ph.D., University at Albany, SUNY

Dr. Peter Afflerbach is Professor of Reading in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership at the University of Maryland. Dr. Afflerbach's research includes focus on reading comprehension strategies and processes, especially related to new literacies, the verbal reporting methodology, reading in Internet and hypertext environments, mindfulness, and reading assessment.

Listen to Peter Afflerbach talk about formative assessment.

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Jeff Zwiers, Ed.D., Stanford University

Dr. Jeff Zwiers is a senior researcher at Stanford University. He supports the Understanding Language Initiative and collaborates with teachers, instructional coaches, and school systems to improve the education of academic English Learners. He co-directs the Academic Language Development Network, which focuses on accelerating students' literacy, language, cognition, and conversation skills.

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Michael Priestley, M.A., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Michael Priestley, a professional writer and editor, has been directly involved in designing and developing state and national assessments. He was formerly the Director of Technical Services at National Evaluation Systems, Inc., and has worked with educational publishers and state education departments from New York, Florida, Texas, California, and Hawaii.