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Who is Literacy and Math?

Thursday, November 7, 2024
A picture of 10 smiling people standing in front of a Schlitz Field sign
Just a few of the amazing human beings who make up the DPI's Literacy and Math Team.


Welcome to the newest ConnectEd recurring feature: Who Is...! The DPI has many different divisions and programs, and they're run by some of the most talented, compassionate people we know. (Ok, we might be a little biased here...) With such a wide variety of programs, services, and initiatives, we wanted to make it easier for you to know who we are and how we can help you with almost anything under the sun. 

Meet Literacy + Math


The Literacy and Mathematics team provides leadership and support for meaningful teaching and learning in the areas of English language arts, mathematics, literacy, language learning, early childhood, global education, and leadership development. In collaboration with stakeholders, the team engages in resource development, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and leadership in ways that promote equity and advance learning for all students.

You might know us already! Here are some of the programs we work on:

  • High Quality Instructional Materials And Professional Learning

  • Young Learners Tribal Language Revitalization

  • Global Educator of the Year

  • Global Scholars Program

  • Multilingual Learners

  • Seal of Biliteracy Program

  • Immigrant Children and Youth Grant

  • Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)

  • Collaborating with state and national mathematics speakers and researchers to build capacity in WI educators

  • Promoting Early Childhood Conference (PEC)

  • Kindergarten Sturdy Bridge

  • Early Literacy Implementation Zone

  • Promoting assets-based family early literacy

  • Supporting the implementation of 2023 Wisconsin Act 20(e.g., presentations, publications,communications)

  • Promoting high quality authentic texts through WISELearn OER grant-funded book study projects (i.e., Middle Grades Lit Study; Promoting Early Literacy Through Diverse Texts Project)

You might not know that we:

  • Advocate for mathematics learning and teaching that centers student thinking.
  • Supports school districts in educating students who are English learners (EL).
  • Award the Seal of Biliteracy to Wisconsin school districts committed to honoring, sustaining, developing, and recognizing students' multilingualism.
  • Promote and support practices that support early learners (ages 3-3rd grade).
  • Partner with the Department of Children and Families and Health Services.
  • Review and provide feedback on licensure portfolios and educator preparation program submissions
  • Review and provide feedback EPP’s Act 20 addendums and program reviews
  • Partner with literacy professionals and organizations (e.g., Greater Madison Writing Project, Professors of Literacy, Closing the Achievement Gap Consortium, WSRA)
  • Wrote a WISELearn OER grant to establish a community of practice that brings together professionals serving in the role of district reading specialists in Wisconsin school districts and CESAs, professors involved in reading specialist licensure programming, and literacy consultants from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) in order to deepen understanding of their roles and publish related supports
  • Serve on the Advisory Council for the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)
  • Support DPI’s WIFT project
  • Complete ESSA LEA reviews
  • Help to develop Wisconsin’s AI Policies

Our next big things are:

  • Comprehensive State Literacy Plan
  • Early Childhood Transitions (ages 3-3rd grade) Resources and Support

We love helping people through:

  • Connecting educators to other educators and programs that leverage their strengths.
  • Reflecting and understanding that our personal math identities impact our work with children.
  • Understanding the importance of using Developmentally Appropriate Practices so that young children and families have meaningful educational experiences.
  • Fostering culturally and linguistically sustaining, asset-based, individualized, and inclusive approaches to literacy instruction
  • Advancing literacy learning by recognizing and supporting comprehensive literacy, connecting with literacy professionals, families, and community members, building on assets, and sharing resources that meaningfully bridge research to practice.

Our team is amazing, and we want you to know that as people, we are:

Passionate
Caring
Collaborative
Dedicated
Knowledgeable
Experienced
Compassionate
Flexible
Forward Thinking.

Thank you to the Literacy and Math team for your amazing work, and your committment to all Wisconsin educators, staff, and students!

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