VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.loraincountyesc.org/Literacy.aspx
LITERACY SPECIALISTS: Erica Kaufmann and Jennifer Martinez
LITERACY SPECIALIST & SUPERVISOR: Olivia Weisman
LISTED ALPHABETICALLY BY EVENT TITLE
SELF-PACED COURSE - GOOGLE CLASSROOM
REGISTER AND COMPLETE AT YOUR CONVENIENCE BY DEC 18, 2026.
Target Audience: All Educators or K-12 Teachers and Administrators
Join The Literacy Mixtape: A Podcast Study on the Science of Reading
Listen. Reflect. Remix your practice.
Dive into the Five Big Ideas of Literacy through powerful podcast episodes from Sold a Story, Melissa & Lori Love Literacy, and Science of Reading: The Podcast. This 5-session virtual study is designed for educators who want to deepen their understanding of reading instruction grounded in research.
Participants will:
Listen to a curated podcast episode (your “track”)
Complete Knowledge and Reflection Checks based on the podcast episodes that will deepen connections between research and practice by exploring key ideas from the podcasts and thinking about what they look like in real classrooms.
Each Track also contains Bonus Tracks that are designed to deepen understanding and expand participant knowledge
Whether you’re new to the Science of Reading or ready to level up your literacy practice, this mixtape will challenge, inspire, and energize your teaching.
This course requires Google Classroom in order to participate.
Facilitators: Jennifer Martinez and Olivia Weisman
Contact Hrs: 15
Event Fee: $95 per person
Grad Credit: $195 - 1 hour Ashland credit (info will be shared when registered)
Registration Assistance: Debbie Shannon - shannon@esclc.org or 440.324.5777 x1112
A 5-Session Virtual Book Study Series:
DATE SERIES: NOV 23 | DEC 14 | JAN 11 | FEB 1 | FEB 22
(must attend all dates)
Target Audience: Educators, Parents, Counselors, School Administrators, Social Workers, Wellness Coordinators, School Psychologists, and Community Partners
Join us for a 5-session virtual book study exploring Jonathan Haidt’s powerful and timely book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. This cross-disciplinary series brings together the expertise of ESC literacy and wellness teams along with guest appearances from other experts from the ESC to foster meaningful dialogue and actionable insights for educators, families, and school leaders.
Through guided discussions and collaborative reflection, participants will:
Examine the cultural and technological shifts impacting youth mental health
Explore the effects of screen time, social media, and declining independent play
Consider practical, developmentally appropriate strategies to support children and adolescents
Reflect on the roles of literacy, family engagement, digital wellness, and social emotional, physical, and mental well-being in shaping healthier childhoods
Exploring the connection of technology on student learning and development
Each one-hour Zoom session will focus on specific chapters and themes from the book, with time for discussion, shared perspectives, and application to both home and school contexts.
Participants are responsible for purchasing the book.
Date: Nov. 23, 2026
Location: Online via Google Classroom
Facilitators: Brooke Sherman, M.Ed., LPCC-S and Olivia Weisman, M.Ed., CALT
Event Fee: $50 - LC District Members* | $100 - Non-Members
*Member Districts: Amherst, Avon, Avon Lake, Clearview, Columbia, Elyria, Firelands, JVS, Keystone, Lorain, Midview, North Ridgeville, Oberlin, Sheffield-Sheffield Lake, Wellington
Ashland Grad Credit Optional: 1 hour - $195 (details given on Nov 23)
Registration Assistance: Debbie Shannon, shannon@esclc.org or 440.324.5777 x1112
APR 23, 2026
Target Audience: Parents, Community Members, Educators, Prospective Educators
Join us for an eye-opening simulation experience that invites all community members—families, educators, caregivers, and anyone passionate about literacy—to step into the shoes of a person with dyslexia. Through interactive activities, participants will experience the real-life challenges faced by individuals who struggle with reading and language processing.
This event is designed to:
Increase awareness of the frustrations and obstacles encountered daily by those with dyslexia.
Foster empathy and deeper understanding within our community.
Inspire supportive, informed action in homes, schools, and beyond.
By participating in this simulation, you’ll connect to the why behind key state initiatives, including:
Ohio’s Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement
Ohio Dyslexia Laws (House Bill 436)
The Ohio Dyslexia Guidebook
Science of Reading Training (House Bill 33)
Whether you're a parent, neighbor, school volunteer, or advocate, this experience offers meaningful insight into the world of those who navigate reading struggles every day—and highlights the shared role we all play in creating inclusive, supportive environments for learners of all ages.
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Location: ESC of Lorain County
Facilitators: Erica Kaufmann, Jennifer Martinez, and Olivia Weisman
Event Fee: $10 per person (cash at the door or credit card online)
Registration Assistance: Debbie Shannon - shannon@esclc.org or 440.324.5777 x1112
Prerequisite: Participants have independently purchased LETRS Online Course and Print Participant Book for Units 1-4 from Lexia (previously Voyager Sopris) at 800.547.6747.
A cohort of educators will embark on an in-depth professional development in the Science of Reading to support all learners. Participating in this cohort will increase their knowledge of tools used to assess and teach language and literacy skills to every student. This learning supports any curriculum as it is intended to bridge educators' deep understanding of literacy with strategies that are evidence-based to support learning.
UNIT 1 - 9/17/26 - REGISTRATION LINK
TOPIC: The Challenge of Learning to Read
UNIT 2 - 11/5/26 - REGISTRATION LINK
TOPIC: The Speech Sounds of English
UNIT 3 - 1/21/27 - REGISTRATION LINK
TOPIC: Teaching Beginning Phonics, Word Recognition, and Spelling
UNIT 4 - 3/4/27 - REGISTRATION LINK
TOPIC: Advanced Decoding, Spelling, and Word Recognition
Target Audience: Literacy Educators and Administrators (primarily K-3)
Location: ESC of Lorain County
Time: 8:30am - 3:30pm
Facilitator: Olivia Weisman, M.Ed, CALT
Event Fee: PER UNIT - $140 (10 person minimum; cost will decrease if we have more than 10 participants)
Registration Assistance: Debbie Shannon - shannon@esclc.org or 440.324.5777 x1112
Prerequisite: Participants have completed Units 1-4 of LETRS
Participants have independently purchased LETRS Online Course and Print Participant Book for Units 5-8 from Lexia (previously Voyager Sopris) at 800.547.6747.
A cohort of educators will embark on an in-depth professional development in the Science of Reading to support all learners. Participating in this cohort will increase their knowledge of tools used to assess and teach language and literacy skills to every student. This learning supports any curriculum as it is intended to bridge educators' deep understanding of literacy with strategies that are evidence-based to support learning.
UNIT 5 - 9/15/26 - REGISTRATION LINK
TOPIC: The Mighty Word: Oral Language and Vocabulary
UNIT 6 - 11/10/26 - REGISTRATION LINK
TOPIC: Digging for Meaning: Understanding Reading Comprehension
UNIT 7 - 1/26/27 - REGISTRATION LINK
TOPIC: Text-Driven Comprehension Instruction
UNIT 8 - 3/16/27 - REGISTRATION LINK
TOPIC: The Reading-Writing Connection
Target Audience: Literacy Educators and Administrators (primarily K-3)
Location: ESC of Lorain County
Time: 8:30am - 3:30pm
Facilitator: Olivia Weisman, M.Ed, CALT
Event Fee: PER UNIT - $140 (10 person minimum; cost will decrease if we have more than 10 participants)
Registration Assistance: Debbie Shannon - shannon@esclc.org or 440.324.5777 x1112
DATES:
(please register for each date you plan to attend by clicking the date link)
Target Audience: Literacy Coaches and Instructional Coaches
This is an opportunity for literacy coaches to share ideas with one another around the planning and implementation of the coaching process for your school/district, to share evidence-based strategies, and to gain ideas or support from one another. These times will also be used to update you on guidance from Ohio’s Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement, Ohio’s Dyslexia Guidebook, and any other relevant updates in law related to or in support of literacy.
Literacy Coaches Lounge will meet every other month in person.
Time: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Location: ESC of Lorain County
Facilitators: Erica Kaufmann, Jennifer Martinez, and Olivia Weisman
Event Fee: (per date) $50 - LC District Members* | $100 - Non-Members
*Member Districts: Amherst, Avon, Avon Lake, Clearview, Columbia, Elyria, Firelands, Keystone, Lorain, Midview, North Ridgeville, Oberlin, Sheffield-Sheffield Lake, Wellington
Registration Assistance: Debbie Shannon - shannon@esclc.org or 440.324.5777 x1112
NETWORK DATES:
2026: AUG 28 | SEPT 25 | NOV 13 | DEC 18
2027: JAN 22 | FEB 26 | APR 9 | MAY 14
(Registration and payment are required for each date you plan to attend by clicking the date link)
Target Audience: Educators who hold a Structured Literacy certification and/or serve as the facilitator of the district's multidisciplinary team analyzing data in relation to Ohio Dyslexia Guidebook.
Erica Kaufmann, C-SLDI, Jennifer Martinez, C-SLDI, and Olivia Weisman, CALT, will facilitate this network opportunity for individuals certified in structured literacy and/or district multidisciplinary team members. The network will allow participants from neighboring districts to gain ideas from one another to support the MTSS process as well as implementation of HB 436 and Ohio’s Dyslexia Guidebook. Participants will also hear relevant updates on law related to or in support of literacy.
Topics of each network include discussions around the following include but are not limited to:
Universal Screening Data Analysis Plans
Documentation of Interventions
Checking in on Interventions and EMIS
Planning for Mid-Year Benchmarks and Kdg. Screening
Screening of Transfer Students
Statewide Literacy Initiative Updates
Time: 8:00 - 11:00 am
Location: ESC of Lorain County
Facilitator: Olivia Weisman
Event Fee: Per date attended - $25 - LC District Members* | $50 - Non-Members
*Member Districts: Amherst, Avon, Avon Lake, Clearview, Columbia, Elyria, Firelands, JVS, Keystone, Lorain, Midview, North Ridgeville, Oberlin, Sheffield-Sheffield Lake, Wellington
Registration Assistance: Debbie Shannon - shannon@esclc.org or 440.324.5777 x1112