Episode 1: Literacy as a catalyst for change, with Ray James (original) (raw)
In the Season 9 premiere of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Susan Lambert speaks with Ray James, Head of School at The Ansley School, about the transformative impact of literacy instruction. The Ansley School, which serves children experiencing homelessness, has made evidence-based literacy instruction a key piece of its efforts to foster profound educational and community change. Ray shares his journey and explores how a focus on literacy provides benefits that extend beyond the classroom to the broader community. This episode underscores the importance of foundational literacy skills and sets the stage for a new season dedicated to a literacy reboot.
Meet our guest(s):
Ray James is Head of School at The Ansley School in Atlanta, Georgia. Born and raised in north Louisiana, Ray is a critically conscious and outcomes-driven educational leader with nearly 15 years of experience in various roles, including substitute teacher, literacy teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. He holds degrees from Louisiana State University and is passionately committed to fostering educational equity and supporting the limitless potential of all children. Under his leadership, The Ansley School provides holistic education to children experiencing homelessness, emphasizing the transformative power of structured literacy. Outside of work, Ray enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and LSU Tigers.
Meet our host, Susan Lambert
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Susan Lambert is the Chief Academic Officer of Elementary Humanities at Amplify, and the host of Science of Reading: The Podcast. Throughout her career, she has focused on creating high-quality learning environments using evidence-based practices. Lambert is a mom of four, a grandma of four, a world traveler, and a collector of stories.
As the host of Science of Reading: The Podcast, Lambert explores the increasing body of scientific research around how reading is best taught. As a former classroom teacher, administrator, and curriculum developer, Lambert is dedicated to turning theory into best practices that educators can put right to use in the classroom, and to showcasing national models of reading instruction excellence.
Transcripts and additional resources
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“Ultimately, kids can thrive and grow in conditions that you may not ever have imagined. I want our school to prove nature's law is wrong.” —Ray James
“We aim to shift the standard. Good simply cannot be good enough for populations experiencing extreme trauma. Literacy is the key to unlocking imagination, creativity, and transformation.” —Ray James
“Education isn't just about academics—it's about creating a safe place and providing holistic, evidence-based literacy instruction that catalyzes real change.” —Ray James
“We’re not just doing school, but educating people. I think a lot of people do school, we’re trying to educate our community holistically.” —Ray James
“Our goal is not just to do school differently, but to prove that with the right support, students can achieve beyond expectations.” —Ray James
“If you don't get reading right in an elementary school, every piece of the school suffers.” —Ray James
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