Literacy Talks

Stacy Hurst is an assistant professor of Teacher Education at Southern Utah University, where she teaches courses in literacy and early childhood education. She also serves as one of six members of the Science of Reading Faculty for the state of Utah.

Stacy holds degrees in Sociology and Elementary Education, as well as a master’s degree in Education. Over her twenty-plus years as an educator, she has been a first-grade teacher, ELL teacher, literacy coach, and reading specialist. Her extensive experience includes coordinating and providing interventions for struggling readers and training teachers in structured approaches to literacy instruction.

Stacy is the Chief Academic Advisor for Reading Horizons, co-author of a foundational literacy program, and a founding member of the Utah Literacy Coalition. She is passionate about literacy and believes that learning to read well is a civil right.

Donell Pons has a husband and two children with dyslexia. She is a dyslexia presenter, consultant, and reading tutor. Donell received the Teacher of Tomorrow award after completing a dual MED and MAT in teaching and learning from Westminster College. She was part of the task force that wrote the Utah Dyslexia Handbook. Donell also has a special education certification, has taught secondary language arts, and has worked at a charter school that supports students on the autism spectrum.

In 2016, Donell implemented a complete literacy program at a public charter school, the American International School of Utah, where they trained every K–5 educator and paraeducator in the same Structured Literacy reading program. She has numerous articles published in Language Magazine, The Learning Counsel, ASCD SmartBrief, and Landmark Academy Newsletter regarding dyslexia, reading instruction, and appropriate accommodations. She also hosted a two-part webinar series about understanding and supporting those with dyslexia.

Donell currently teaches adults in the workplace who would like to improve their reading skills and serves on the board of the Joseph James Morelli Scholarship Foundation, a scholarship program for students with dyslexia.