New England Science of Reading School Leadership Summit with Natalie Wexler and Carol Tolman

Natalie Wexler is an education writer and the author of The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—and How to Fix It (2019). She is also the co-author, with Judith C. Hochman, of The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades (2017) and a senior contributor to Forbes. Her articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and other publications. Before turning to education, Wexler worked as a freelance writer and essayist on a variety of topics, and as a lawyer and legal historian. She lives in Washington, D.C.

Carol Tolman, Ed.D., is a national and international literacy consultant at the state, district, and school levels. As a special educator with over 25 years of public school experience, she spent 12 of those years designing and implementing an innovative, exemplary program for academically challenged high school students in Keene, NH. Along with Dr. Louisa Moats, Dr. Tolman is the co-author of LETRS, 3 rd ed. (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), revolutionary professional development aimed at providing educators with the knowledge necessary to improve literacy rates for all students. Beyond LETRS, Carol is the published author of numerous chapters and articles centering on the knowledge necessary to educate teachers, administrators, and parents as they support children in their journey to becoming proficient readers and writers. As a mother, teacher, presenter, and author, Carol’s life passion centers on her family and on enabling access to high-quality instruction for every child. She is honored to present information in her home state with the goal of transforming literacy rates throughout New Hampshire and beyond.