For the third consecutive year, Cicero District 99 was proud to host the Leading in Literacy Symposium alongside our incredible partners at Amplify Education — a free, powerhouse event dedicated to advancing literacy through the Science of Reading.

This wasn't just a conference. It was a movement. Superintendents, Principals, Curriculum Directors, and Reading Experts from Illinois and beyond, came together to explore evidence-based practices, elevate instruction, and commit to stronger futures for our students.

We had the honor of learning from some of the brightest minds in literacy today:

🎙️ Dr. Daniel Willingham – Nationally renowned cognitive psychologist and best-selling author of "Why Don't Students Like School", shared insights on how the brain really learns.

🎙️ Dr. Kristen McQuillan – Chief Program Officer at StandardsWork, with decades of expertise in navigating large-scale instructional shifts.

🎙️ Dr. Sonia Cabell – Leading early literacy researcher with over 70 publications and nearly $10 million in funded studies aimed at preventing reading difficulties.

🎙️ Dr. Melissa Orkin – Literacy expert and co-director of Crafting Minds, and whose upcoming book "The Structured Literacy Playbook" is already making waves.

Hosting this event means something. It says Cicero District 99 is leading. It says we believe literacy changes lives. And it gives us the unique opportunity to pour this professional learning directly into our own team — investing in our educators so they can better invest in our students.

This was more than professional development. It was inspiration. It was a call to action. It was the future of literacy — right here in our district.

We care about our kids, we care about education, and we believe reading is power!