Alaska DEED Virtual Write Now Conference

Joan Sedita is the founder of Keys to Literacy. She has been in the literacy field for over 45 years as a teacher, administrator, and literacy consultant. She is the author of The Writing Rope: A Framework for Explicit Writing Instruction in All Subjects, and the new book Essentials of Adolescent Literacy. Joan is also the lead author of Keys to Literacy’s courses, including The Key Comprehension Routine, The Key Vocabulary Routine, Keys to Beginning Reading, Keys to Content Writing, Keys to Early Writing, and Keys to Adolescent Literacy. Prior to starting Keys to Literacy in 2007,  Joan was the lead trainer in MA for Reading first, a LETRS author and trainer, and literacy consultant to school districts and state departments of education across the U.S. She received her M.Ed. in Reading from Harvard University and her B.A. from Boston College.

Dr. Karen Johannesen Brock has been an educator and educational consultant for more than three decades. She has assisted more than one hundred schools (K-12) and districts with implementing school improvement plans. Her work with schools and districts focuses on instructional coaching and design as well as professional learning plans, school-improvement plans, multi-lingual students, literacy.
Dr. Brock works with principals and leadership teams on school leadership and has worked at the state, school, and district levels.

Margarita Espino Calderón, PhD, is a professor emerita and senior research scientist at Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Her research and professional development focus on integrating language, reading comprehension, and content knowledge, as well as coaching teachers with English learners. She served on the National Literacy Panel for English Learners (2006 & 2008) and the Carnegie Panel for Adolescent English Learners (2007). Her research has been funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s IES and OELA, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the U.S. Department of Labor, and, in collaboration with Harvard and the Center for Applied Linguistics, by NICHD. She has authored over 100 publications and is a national and international speaker. She has been inducted into the Multilingual Education Hall of Fame.

Sonia Cabell, Ph.D., is an associate professor of reading education in the School of Teacher Education and the Florida Center for Reading Research at Florida State University. Before receiving her Ph.D. at the University of Virginia, she worked as a second grade teacher and literacy coach. Dr. Cabell’s research focuses on early literacy instruction, with a particular interest in the prevention of reading difficulties. She has authored over 70 publications, including research articles, books, book chapters, and early childhood language and literacy curricula. She has served as Principal Investigator or co-Principal Investigator on federally funded research projects totaling approximately $10 million dollars. Dr. Cabell has been an advisor or consultant for a variety of national organizations and state departments of education.

Shauna serves as Vice President and Senior Director of Professional Development at Keys to Literacy and is an integral member of the senior management team. With over 20 years of experience, Shauna has dedicated her career to advancing literacy achievement for all students. Her journey began as a classroom teacher and literacy interventionist, where she developed a deep commitment to fostering student success.

Since joining Keys to Literacy in 2007, Shauna has played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s professional development offerings and initiatives. She has held a variety of key positions, including national trainer, relationship manager for strategic accounts, contributing editor, and a principal contributor to the development of several professional development programs. In her current leadership role, Shauna oversees a team of national consultants who deliver professional development services to schools, districts, and state education departments nationwide. Additionally, Shauna directs and manages the Certified Facilitator program, guiding educators and education leaders through the implementation of Keys to Literacy’s hybrid online learning model.

As a frequent speaker at state and national literacy conferences, Shauna shares her expertise and passion for literacy, delivering engaging content that inspires and empowers educators to elevate classroom instruction and improve student outcomes. She is also a contributing content creator for Reading Universe, an online, step-by-step professional development pathway for teachers, paraprofessionals, and reading coaches to learn more about evidence-based reading instruction — and then translate it into classroom practice that will complement any curriculum.

Shauna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Master of Science in Language and Literacy Instruction.

Pam Kastner, Ed.D., is an educational consultant and the former state lead for literacy in Pennsylvania at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) Harrisburg.

During her tenure as state lead Dr. Kastner and the PaTTAN Literacy team provided the literacy training, technical assistance, coaching, and consultation for the school research sites for Pennsylvania’s Dyslexia pilot, extension, and expansion.

Dr. Kastner along with the PaTTAN literacy team lead state-wide literacy initiatives which included professional learning in the science of reading and structured literacy; onsite training, coaching, and consultation; a virtual literacy resource hub; and an international literacy conference.

Currently, Dr. Kastner is honored to serve as an adjunct professor at Mount Saint Joseph University in the Reading Science Program where she teaches in the Masters’ and Doctoral Program and was honored as the Adjunct Professor of the Year in 2023.

Dr. Kastner has presented widely across the United States and Internationally. She partners with State Departments of Education and school districts throughout the nation to provide on-site technical assistance, consultation and coaching.

Dr. Kastner serves on the Pennsylvania Higher Education Task Force and has the honor of serving as the President of The Reading League Pennsylvania, The Reading League Journal’s Practitioner Editorial Board, and is a member of The Science of Reading: A Defining Movement coalition. 

As an assistant professor at Marietta College, Michelle Elia prepares pre-service teachers to teach reading and writing using evidence-based practices. A special education teacher at heart, Michelle has worked in multiple roles at the school, regional, and state levels, teaching children in pre-kindergarten through high school. Michelle is a nationally recognized literacy professional development provider, training educators in literacy instruction and assessment within an MTSS framework. She serves as a school board member of her local district and president of The Reading League – Ohio. A lifelong learner, Elia is a doctoral candidate in Reading Science at Mount St. Joseph University. Michelle is passionate about explicit instruction and applying the science of teaching, reading, and writing to the classroom, especially for struggling adolescent students. When she is not talking about literacy, her favorite job is being a mom to her three not-so-small children.

Lisa holds the position of Vice President, Senior Director of Relationship Management and is a member of the senior management team. Beginning in 2011 with Keys to Literacy, Lisa spent eight years as a trainer and three years as Senior Director of Account Management. An experienced educator with a passion for literacy and learning, she began teaching in 1995 at the Landmark School, a school renowned for the work they do with children and adolescents with language-based learning disabilities. Throughout her career in education, Lisa enjoyed being a classroom teacher, a special educator, and a reading specialist in both urban and suburban schools. As a Keys trainer, she was passionate about her work with students, teachers, and administrators from schools across the United States. In her current role, Lisa appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with district and school leadership to customize professional development plans that bring consistent literacy routines to students across all grade levels and subject areas. Lisa is a frequent presenter at literacy conferences.

Ms. Montgomery has been recognized by the International Dyslexia Association, ARC, and ExcelEd for her outstanding leadership in the area of literacy. She is a national speaker in the area of leadership and literacy, specifically on the systems and structures that should be implemented in schools to increase literacy outcomes for students. She serves as an expert and advisor on several literacy panels for states and school districts. Pati is the lead author for the book, It’s Possible, A Leadership Plan for Implementing Quality Reading Instruction and Ensuring Literacy for All, as well as the lead author for A Principal’s Primer for Raising Reading Achievement, a Lexia LETRS for Administrators module (First Edition). She is currently in the position of Senior Education Officer at Keys to Literacy and founded Schools Cubed, a literacy leadership coaching firm that is now part of Keys to Literacy.

Carla is the Director of Instructional Design at ReadingUniverse.org, where she turns the latest research on reading and writing into practical tools teachers can use every day. With over 25 years of experience as an educator, Carla, like many teachers, realized that she wasn’t taught how to actually teach a child to read. Once she gained that crucial knowledge and applied it in the classroom, it transformed her teaching. To share what she learned, she co-founded Reading is Essential for All People (REAP), which has trained over 1,900 educators. Now at Reading Universe, Carla is committed to helping teachers understand not just what to teach, but why it matters and how to do it well—drawing from her own journey of learning and practice. This mission is deeply personal to her—and always will be.

Dr. Cheryl Lundy Swift has been a dedicated and innovative educator for over 25 years. She currently serves as Learning Without Tears’ Professional Learning Director, where she leads the curation of professional learning experiences for teachers and school leaders worldwide. Cheryl is also the host of the Literacy Matters: Empowered Conversations podcast, where she interviews renowned literacy researchers, authors, and practitioners to explore today’s early literacy landscape and share practical solutions for school leaders, teachers, and families.

Throughout her career, Cheryl has served in leadership and executive roles across public schools, post-secondary institutions, and education organizations. She is a sought-after keynote speaker and conference presenter, delivering engaging sessions at national and regional education conferences. Cheryl is also a certified specialist in the Danielson Framework for Teaching, supporting schools and educators in strengthening instructional practice and professional growth.

An award-winning educational leader, curriculum developer, motivational speaker, and facilitator, Cheryl’s unique mix of wit, grit, and passion “edutains,” inspires, and equips educators and families to help students reach their fullest potential. Cheryl has received numerous awards and commendations, including Investor Bank’s Educator of the Year Award. She also serves her community through leadership on several boards and is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.