In this episode of Leading Engaged Learning, host Miriam Williams sits down with Dr. Drew Eichelberger, Superintendent of Piedmont Public Schools in Oklahoma, to explore what it truly takes to redesign a district-wide literacy system that delivers results for every student.
Drawing on over 30 years of experience across classroom teaching, school leadership, and district administration, Drew shares a grounded and practical approach to literacy transformation, one that starts with the people closest to the work: teachers. From building true ownership (not just buy-in) to aligning systems from kindergarten through high school, he outlines how districts can move beyond isolated initiatives toward a cohesive, data-driven literacy strategy.
The conversation dives into Piedmont’s “Reading Success” model, which ensures every student is assessed, supported, and accelerated based on their specific needs—no matter their grade level. Drew also highlights the critical role of professional development, small-group instruction, and student engagement in creating sustainable change.
Key Moments
02:16 From Classroom to Superintendent
05:33 Ownership Over Buy-In
07:15 Extending Literacy Beyond Elementary
10:24 Data-Driven Student Grouping
11:52 Training Teachers in Science of Reading
14:37 Building a Culture Teachers Stay In
16:52 Small Group Instruction That Works
20:10 Choosing High-Interest Reading Materials
23:02 Teacher-Led Professional Development
25:20 Engaging Struggling Readers
28:14 Moving from Good to Great
31:08 Data as a Non-Negotiable
Why You’ll Love This Episode
This episode is a practical guide to building literacy systems that are both scalable and sustainable. Dr. Eichelberger makes it clear that improvement doesn’t come from top-down mandates—it comes from empowering teachers, using data with intention, and aligning instruction across all grade levels.
You’ll learn:
- Why ownership matters more than buy-in when driving instructional change
- How to design a system that supports literacy from kindergarten through high school
- A practical approach to using data to identify and close skill gaps
- Why small group instruction is critical at every level—not just elementary
- How to build a culture that attracts and retains strong teachers
- The role of professional development in turning good teaching into great teaching
- How student engagement and interest drive long-term reading success
- Dr. Eichelberger also reinforces a powerful idea: when you invest in teachers and build the right systems, literacy success becomes consistent—not dependent on chance.
Connect with Our Guest
Drew Eichelberger
Superintendent, Piedmont Public Schools
Connect with Us
About Leading Engaged Learning
Leading Engaged Learning is a podcast series for district leaders and education innovators focused on what it really takes to improve literacy outcomes by strengthening student engagement. Hosted by Miriam Williams and produced by 3P Learning Inc, each episode explores the real-world decisions, constraints, and tradeoffs behind building systems that help students become more confident readers.