Science of Reading Star Award Finalist Vote: Amplifying Your District Award (District Leader)

1. Read the spotlights of our finalists for Amplifying Your District Award below:

Mara Shinn Smith — Senior Program Specialist, Reading & Language Arts, Los Angeles County Office of Education, California
A rising star and literacy leader, Mara started the Get Reading Right (GRR) initiative to build a community of like-minded practitioners focused on the Science of Reading. Through free professional development, bootcamps, and webinars, she uses her classroom expertise to empower teachers with only the best research and tools.

Alli Rice — Elementary ELA Lead, Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, Kansas
Driven by the low literacy rates in her school district, Alli was determined to increase equity across her district. She dug into Science of Reading research and has effectively led the shift to Amplify CKLA through various events and knowledge building for all teachers under her care.

Brittney Bills — Curriculum Coordinator, Grand Island Public Schools, Nebraska
Brittney’s passion for reading development shone through her commitment to early literacy. Under her four-year plan, her district has adopted Amplify CKLA, pursued professional development, and fully embraced the Science of Reading.

Matt Warford — Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Aldine Independent School District, Texas
While setting the stage for a district Science of Reading transformation, Matt has built an understanding of the Science of Reading among teachers, campus leaders, and administrators. Working on big picture improvements and detailed results are well within Matt’s wheelhouse as he shares his district’s progress with other districts to reach as many students as possible.

Stephanie Finn — District Literacy Coach, West Genesee Central School District, New York
Spending countless hours helping teachers understand their students' data, she has guided her district to discover Science of Reading materials and tools, leading to the implementation of Amplify CKLA. As a founding member of The Reading League, she is well versed in reading research and the transition of research to practice.

2. Please select your preferred candidate who should win the grand prize.
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