{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"OnYourMark Podcast","title":"Reading to Coherence: How Kelly Elrod Is Rebuilding Literacy Systems in Anderson School District 5","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/a1e9bc10\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2420,"description":"In today’s episode, host Mindy Sjoblom sits down with Kelly Elrod, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Continuous Improvement in Anderson School District 5 (South Carolina).\n\nWith 35 years in education—spanning early childhood special education, literacy coaching, school turnaround leadership, and district-level roles—Kelly shares what it takes to rebuild coherent systems after COVID while protecting teachers from overload.\nMindy and Kelly dig into the shift from balanced literacy to the science of reading, why strong Tier 1 instruction matters most, and how Anderson 5 is strengthening support for students—especially in a district with high poverty and a highly transient student population. Kelly also explains how her team is approaching professional development with clarity, consistency, and a focus on the “why,” so teachers know exactly where they’re headed and how they’ll get there.\n\nKey Moments\n\n01:01 Kelly Elrod’s 35-year journey through early childhood, special education, and district leadership\n03:12 Leading turnaround work and building school culture from the ground up\n\n06:34 Why districts are striving for coherence after COVID\n08:58 Balanced literacy vs. science of reading: what was missing\n11:22 Why Anderson 5 is prioritizing 4K instruction\n14:10 Addressing foundational reading gaps in middle school\n17:05 Managing professional development during large-scale change\n20:48 Universal Design for Learning and strengthening Tier 1 instruction\n23:20 Change management: starting early and sharing the “why”\n26:52 Curriculum fidelity and supporting a highly transient student population\n30:30 Rethinking intervention through push-in models and MTSS\n35:22 A five-year vision for stronger systems and sustained student support\n37:05 What Kelly is reading and what’s next for instructional equity\n\nWhy You’ll Love This Episode\n\nIf you’re working to strengthen literacy outcomes and protect teacher capacity, this episode will resonate. Kelly offers practical,...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/5NydEFA_qXyiCW0KwnrKe3r-T7cwMW6JrfLozUoHRfY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hZjZm/YTE1ZjRlMjNkMDU4/MzI1MTBjZWJkOGU5/M2FiYS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}