Becoming a change agent: how Cincinnati Public Schools transformed literacy with Read&Write
What’s this webinar about?
Julie Bassett, an Enrichment Teacher and former Assistive Technology Intervention Specialist at Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), saw both a challenge and an opportunity. With more than 36,000 students in the district, she needed a scalable literacy solution that could reach everyone. After seeing its impact in special education classes, she knew Read&Write could open doors for access, learning, and success for every student.
But change didn’t come easy. Funding barriers, resistance to adoption, and doubts about staff readiness in a district this size stood in the way. Julie stepped up as a change agent within CPS, building support across departments, showing how Read&Write connects to core curriculum, and proving its value through a successful pilot. As a result, CPS improved standardized test performance, strengthened reading comprehension, and helped more students reach grade-level reading.
With an introduction from Glenna Wright-Gallo, V.P. of Policy at Everway and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education, Julie shares the story of how CPS went from a small pilot to district-wide adoption and how you can spark change within your own district.
You’ll learn how to:
- Overcome resistance and build buy-in by linking tools to curriculum
- Create sustainable funding plans that show the ROI and impact for all learners, including EL students
- Support implementation with clear training, communication, and ongoing results
Leave with practical strategies and inspiration to become a change agent for literacy in your own district.
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Meet the speakers
Julie Bassett
Enrichment Teacher
Julie Bassett has been an educator for thirty years and has worked as an Intervention Specialist, General Education Teacher, Universal Design for Learning Coach, Cooperating Teacher, and Teacher Evaluator. Julie is currently working for Cincinnati Public Schools as an Enrichment Teacher. Additionally, Julie has presented at national conferences such as the Urban Collaborative, ATIA, and Closing the Gap. She spends her free time exploring the world with her family.
Glenna Wright-Gallo
VP of Policy, Everway
Glenna Wright Gallo is Vice President of Policy at Everway where she leads efforts to advance inclusive education, disability policy, and accessibility innovation. With over 25 years of experience including as U.S. Assistant Secretary for Special Education, she drives systemic change to empower individuals with disabilities worldwide.
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