A PODCAST WITH FRESH PERSPECTIVES ON LITERACY, LEARNING, AND TEACHING
About Literacy Talks Podcast
Keep in touch with Stacy, Donell, and Lindsay by emailing them your questions, comments, and thoughts about episode topics at literacytalks@readinghorizons.com
Meet Your Literacy Champions
Each episode mixes just the right blend of humor, hope, and humanity. It’s a conversation among friends, always mixed with practical literacy strategies, powerful tips, and a real passion for teachers and students alike.
Listen, laugh, and earn with Literacy Talks, brought to educators everywhere from Reading Horizons.

Stacy Hurst
Professor at Southern Utah University and Chief Academic Advisor at Reading Horizons

Stacy Hurst
CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF READING, SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY
Stacy Hurst has degrees in Sociology and Elementary Education and reading and has Advanced Reading and ESL Endorsements. In over twenty years as an educator, she has been a first-grade teacher, ELL teacher, literacy coach, reading specialist, and now a university professor. Her extensive experience includes teaching reading, coordinating interventions for struggling readers, coaching teachers, implementing blended learning, and training thousands of teachers on effective literacy instruction. Stacy is the Chief Academic Officer at Reading Horizons, is an Assistant Professor of Teacher Education at Southern Utah University, and is the co-author of Reading Horizons Discovery®.

Lindsay Kemeny
First Grade Teacher,
Speaker, and Author

Lindsay Kemeny
FIRST GRADE TEACHER
Lindsay Kemeny is a seasoned elementary-school teacher who is currently teaching first grade. After her son was diagnosed with dyslexia and depression, she began her deep dive into effective literacy instruction for all children. She is a CERI certified Structured Literacy Classroom Teacher and holds a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. In addition to being a classroom teacher, Lindsay has served as a teacher mentor and reading interventionist. She enjoys presenting locally and nationally, and co-hosting the Literacy Talks podcast. She is the author of the new book, 7 Mighty Moves: Research-Backed, Classroom-Tested Strategies to Ensure K-3 Reading Success. Her articles have appeared in The Reading League Journal, Dystinct Magazine, and IDA Perspectives. She lives in Utah with her husband and four children. You can follow her on Twitter @LindsayKemeny.

Donell Pons
Speaker, Author, and Recognized Expert in Literacy and Special Education

Donnell Pons
DYSLEXIA SPECIALIST
Donell Pons has a husband and two children with dyslexia. She is a dyslexia presenter, consultant, and reading tutor. Ms. Pons received the Teacher of Tomorrow award when she completed a dual MED and MAT in teaching and learning from Westminster College. She was a member of the task force that wrote the Utah Dyslexia Handbook. Ms. Pons also has a special education certification and has taught secondary Language Arts, and worked at a charter school focusing on supporting students on the Autism spectrum. In 2016, Ms. Pons implemented a complete literacy program at a public charter school, the American International School of Utah. Every educator and paraeducator k-5 was trained in the same Structured Literacy reading program. She has had numerous articles published in Language Magazine, The Learning Counsel, ASCD SmartBrief, and Landmark Academy Newsletter regarding blended learning, reading instruction, and appropriate accommodations. She has also produced a nationally recognized three-part webcast series for Reading Horizons on teaching reading and recognizing dyslexia. Ms. Pons is currently teaching adults in the workplace who would like to improve their reading skills.

LISTEN TO THE MOST RECENT EPISODE
A Mighty Moving Episode With Lindsay Kemeny
This installment of Literacy Talks features and celebrates the publication of our own Lindsay Kemeny’s new bestselling book, 7 Mighty Moves: Research-Backed, Classroom-Tested...
Keep the Momentum Going!
Subscribe to our Literacy Talks podcast digest and never miss an episode! We’ll send you summaries of every session, links for the resources discussed on each show (and some extra goodies) so that your learning never stops.
Community Zoom Chat
A Mighty Moving Episode With Lindsay Kemeny
This installment of Literacy Talks features and celebrates the publication of our own Lindsay Kemeny’s new bestselling book, 7 Mighty Moves: Research-Backed, Classroom-Tested...
The Story Gets Better With Special Guest Emily Hanford
In this episode of Literacy Talks, the trio excitedly welcomes Emily Hanford, the award-winning journalist and media producer whose work and Sold a Story podcast have changed the...
We’ll Level With You: Unpacking the Reading Level Research
In this episode of Literacy Talks, our trio of literacy experts unpacks all the information first introduced in Episode 3 of this season, featuring special guest Dr. Matt Burns....
On Levels: A Candid Conversation with Guest Dr. Matt Burns
Classroom teachers, families, reading coaches, and, most importantly, students have all experienced reading levels. In this compelling episode of Literacy Talks, special guest...
The Facts Matter: Data and Insights to Guide Your Back-to-School Approaches
How many times have you heard the phrase, “Get real”? This episode extends our back-to-school conversation and focuses on the data and real-time information that will help...
Welcome Back…to School!
Whether you’re teaching for the first time or a seasoned classroom educator, the words ‘back to school’ always signal excitement, energy, and new enthusiasm for the year ahead....
A Mighty Moving Episode With Lindsay Kemeny
This installment of Literacy Talks features and celebrates the publication of our own Lindsay Kemeny’s new bestselling book, 7 Mighty Moves: Research-Backed, Classroom-Tested...
The Story Gets Better With Special Guest Emily Hanford
In this episode of Literacy Talks, the trio excitedly welcomes Emily Hanford, the award-winning journalist and media producer whose work and Sold a Story podcast have changed the...
We’ll Level With You: Unpacking the Reading Level Research
In this episode of Literacy Talks, our trio of literacy experts unpacks all the information first introduced in Episode 3 of this season, featuring special guest Dr. Matt Burns....
On Levels: A Candid Conversation with Guest Dr. Matt Burns
Classroom teachers, families, reading coaches, and, most importantly, students have all experienced reading levels. In this compelling episode of Literacy Talks, special guest...
The Facts Matter: Data and Insights to Guide Your Back-to-School Approaches
How many times have you heard the phrase, “Get real”? This episode extends our back-to-school conversation and focuses on the data and real-time information that will help...
Welcome Back…to School!
Whether you’re teaching for the first time or a seasoned classroom educator, the words ‘back to school’ always signal excitement, energy, and new enthusiasm for the year ahead....
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