On Leading Engaged Learning, host Miriam Williams sits down with Beatriz Maldonado, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning at Berwyn South School District 100, to explore how districts can successfully shift from balanced literacy to a science of reading approach.
With nearly two decades of experience in the district and a background as a bilingual and ELL educator, Beatriz shares how District 100 rebuilt its literacy system by first investing in adult learning. From training leaders and teachers in the science of reading to protecting Tier 1 instruction, redesigning schedules, and using instructional coaches to support implementation, this conversation highlights how systems-level planning can drive meaningful literacy improvement for multilingual learners and all students.
Key Moments
05:14 Moving Beyond Balanced Literacy
07:00 Building Adult Knowledge First
09:23 Starting with Foundational Systems
11:12 Misconceptions About Science of Reading
13:00 Instructional Coaches Driving Implementation
16:17 Protecting Tier 1 Instruction
17:20 WIN Blocks for Student Support
20:00 Preparing Leaders for Instructional Change
23:00 Walkthroughs for Curriculum Fidelity
25:40 Supporting Math and Literacy Needs
27:59 Keeping Creativity in Structured Literacy
32:17 Purposeful Technology Use
35:00 Auditing Digital Tools
Why You’ll Love This Episode
This episode offers a practical look at what it takes to make a major literacy shift stick. Beatriz makes it clear that successful implementation starts long before a new curriculum is adopted—it begins with building the knowledge and capacity of the adults who will lead and teach it.
You’ll learn:
Why adult learning must come before curriculum implementation
How science of reading training helped leaders and teachers build shared understanding
Why Tier 1 instruction must be protected before expanding Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports
How WIN blocks help students receive targeted support without lowering expectations
The role instructional coaches play in building confidence and consistency
How leaders can use walkthroughs and data literacy to support implementation
Why structured literacy does not have to eliminate creativity or engagement
How purposeful technology can support multilingual learners and fluency practice
Beatriz also reinforces a powerful idea: what we do for one student, we must do for all. Equity, access, and high-quality instruction are not optional—they are the foundation of meaningful literacy improvement.
Connect with Our Guest
Beatriz Maldonado
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning, Berwyn South School District 100
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beatriz-maldonado-310
Webiste: https://www.bsd100.org/
Connect with Us
3P Learning Inc
Website: https://www.3plearning.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3p-learning
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.