Harvey Hubbell Show n Tell Podcast

In Part 1 of this conversation, Harvey is joined by Susie van der Vorst, a Fellow of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators, a distinction held by fewer than 200 professionals worldwide. With more than 25 years of experience, Susie trained under the legendary Diana King at The Kildonan School and Camp Dunnabeck, and today serves as the Director of Camp Spring Creek. She shares...

This short episode highlights the new updates to the Hopeville Advocacy Toolkit, designed to make literacy advocacy clearer, easier to share, and more actionable in your community. Harvey walks through the improved features, updated resources, and enhanced guidance to help parents, educators, and education leaders engage in meaningful conversations about reading instruction. Whether you're new to...

In Part 2 of Harvey’s conversation with Jake Sussman, we go deeper into how students with learning differences can develop confidence, agency, and pride in who they are. Jake shares how Superpower Mentors supports young people in navigating school, self-advocacy, and emotional resilience — not by “fixing” them, but by helping them understand and unlock their strengths. This episode explores the mi...

In Part 1 of this conversation, Harvey speaks with Jake Sussman, founder of Superpower Mentors, an organization dedicated to empowering neurodiverse students by helping them understand and embrace their learning differences. Jake shares his own personal journey through school, the challenges he faced, and how discovering his strengths reshaped his identity and purpose. We explore the power of ment...

In this episode, Harvey speaks with Dr. Teerath Grewal, educator, advocate, and member of The Reading League community, who works to ensure that literacy instruction is both evidence-based and equitable. Dr. Grewal brings deep insight into supporting students, families, and schools as they navigate dyslexia, intervention, and the systemic barriers that often stand in the way of effective reading i...

Harvey is joined by Donna Hejtmanek, former educator and founder of the influential Facebook community “Science of Reading—What I Should Have Learned in College.” With tens of thousands of teachers actively seeking clarity and support, Donna has become a leading voice in helping educators unlearn outdated methods and adopt practices that actually work. In this conversation, Donna shares her journe...

In this episode, Harvey sits down with Sharon Dunn, M.Ed., a former principal who led dramatic reading gains in a high-poverty elementary school through evidence-based instruction and committed leadership. Sharon’s school improvement journey gained national attention — featured by DIBELS (Acadience), the 95 Percent Group, and highlighted at major state and national conferences. Now serving as an M...

Harvey is joined by Dr. Liz Brooke, Chief Learning Officer at Lexia, to discuss how research-driven literacy solutions can support both teachers and students. Liz shares insights from her career as a speech-language pathologist, researcher, and leader developing tools grounded in the science of reading. Together, they explore what it takes to bridge research and classroom practice, how to support...

Recorded live at The Reading League Conference in Syracuse, NY, Harvey sits down in person with Jessica Silverski to talk about what it feels like to be part of a national movement for evidence-based literacy. Jessica shares her experiences supporting schools and educators, the importance of collaboration, and the excitement surrounding the growing momentum for structured literacy. This conversati...

This short episode features testimonials from educators, parents, and advocates who responded to Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars. These reflections highlight the emotional and professional impact of the film — from classroom transformation to renewed hope in literacy reform. It’s a snapshot of how the movement is growing, one voice and one community at a time.  

In this episode, Harvey talks with Laura Stewart, Chief Academic Officer at 95 Percent Group, an organization known for helping schools implement evidence-based reading instruction with clarity and coherence. Laura shares insights from her work supporting districts across the country — what it takes to shift practice, how to build teacher confidence, and why alignment matters when improving litera...

Harvey sits down with Margie Gillis, veteran educator, researcher, and founder of Literacy How. For decades, Margie has worked alongside schools and teachers to translate the science of reading into effective classroom practice. In this conversation, she shares practical insight on what great instruction looks like, how to support teachers through change, and why literacy is a matter of both knowl...

In this episode, we share highlights from a live panel discussion at the International Dyslexia Association Conference in Columbus, Ohio, recorded after a screening of Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars. Educators, specialists, and advocates reflect on the film, discuss the realities schools are facing, and share strategies for improving literacy outcomes for all students. This conversation ca...

Harvey is joined by Ben Powers, Head of The Southport School and founder of the Southport CoLAB, a global literacy hub dedicated to advancing evidence-based reading practices. Ben shares how Southport became a model for structured literacy and student-centered support, and how the CoLAB works to bring research directly into classrooms and teacher training. This conversation explores leadership, in...

Harvey speaks with Emily Hanford, the investigative journalist behind the groundbreaking series “Sold a Story,” which revealed how widely-used methods of teaching reading were not aligned with the science of how children actually learn. Emily discusses the reporting process, the public response, and the complex forces that allowed ineffective instructional practices to spread for decades. This con...

In this episode, Harvey talks with Elise Lovejoy, founder of Express Readers, a classroom literacy program and decodable book series designed to help beginning readers build skills with confidence and joy. Elise shares how Express Readers grew from classroom needs, why decodable text matters, and how thoughtful instructional design can support students who are just learning to read. We also explor...

Harvey sits down with Cherie Dorreen, an education advocate devoted to supporting students and families—especially those navigating disabilities and literacy challenges. Drawing from her corporate strategic background and her own experience as a parent of two neurodiverse children, Cherie brings a compassionate, solution-driven approach to the IEP and 504 process. She works to ensure that families...

In this episode, Harvey is joined by Dr. Maria Murray, founder and CEO of The Reading League, a national organization dedicated to advancing evidence-based reading instruction. Maria shares the story behind The Reading League’s creation, the growth of the movement, and the ongoing work to support educators, schools, and states in aligning practice with the science of reading. We also get a glimpse...

This short episode features a sneak peek screening of Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars in Los Angeles, followed by highlights from the panel discussion that took place afterward. Educators and advocates share their reflections on the film, the current state of literacy in schools, and what meaningful change requires. It’s a snapshot of a growing movement — one grounded in community, collabor...

In this episode, Harvey talks with Leslie Zoroya of the Los Angeles County Office of Education, where she leads efforts to strengthen literacy instruction at scale. Leslie brings deep experience supporting districts through curriculum shifts, professional learning, and implementation of evidence-based reading practices. Together, we explore what it takes to move entire systems — not just individua...

In this brief but powerful episode, we share a clip from a live panel discussion in Los Angeles, where educators gathered to watch Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars. The conversation highlights frontline perspectives on literacy, the challenges students face, and the urgent need for research-based instruction in schools. These educators speak directly to what’s working, what isn’t, and what g...

Harvey is joined by Donna Hejtmanek, former educator and founder of the influential Facebook community “Science of Reading—What I Should Have Learned in College.” With tens of thousands of teachers actively seeking clarity and support, Donna has become a leading voice in helping educators unlearn outdated methods and adopt practices that actually work. In this conversation, Donna shares her journe...

In this episode, Harvey sits down with Sharon Dunn, M.Ed., a former principal who led dramatic reading gains in a high-poverty elementary school through evidence-based instruction and committed leadership. Sharon’s school improvement journey gained national attention — featured by DIBELS (Acadience), the 95 Percent Group, and highlighted at major state and national conferences. Now serving as an M...

In our very first episode, Harvey Hubbell and Aimee break down the Advocacy Toolkit developed alongside the film Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars. We explore how parents, educators, and community leaders can use this toolkit to spark meaningful change in their own districts. This podcast is designed to be evergreen — a space where we talk with educators, researchers, and influencers about th...

Episode 58 of Harvey Hubbell's Show 'n Tell features part one of our conversation with Scott Roderick.