The Reading Recovery Council of North America is thrilled to celebrate this year’s recipient of the Excellence in Literacy Leadership Award, Dr. Shannon Baker. This award honors an individual for their partnership and commitment to building a continuum of success for Reading Recovery.

Dr. Shannon Baker’s unwavering passion for literacy and commitment to educational excellence has profoundly impacted students and teachers in San Diego County. Baker, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the San Diego County Office of Education, has dedicated her career to ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, can experience the transformative power of reading.

Baker’s journey into literacy and education began long before she became a teacher. As a child, she was an avid reader, but it wasn’t until her summers spent with migrant workers and their children that she experienced a true “aha” moment that shaped her future. Her father worked in agriculture, and she would join him at work each summer. It was there that she witnessed firsthand the power of books. Though they didn’t share a language, she and the other migrant children were entranced by sharing the stories and pictures. To Baker, it was transformative seeing how books could transcend language and create a genuine connection.

When she became a teacher, that was her mission – to help kids love reading.

Baker’s leadership truly shines through her work with Project CLEAR, a learning acceleration grant she wrote in collaboration with Cynthia Craft, Adria Klein, and Debra Rich. Project CLEAR trains Teacher Leaders at Mary’s College Comprehensive Literacy Center, who in turn train local teachers to bring the Reading Recovery intervention into San Diego County schools, with “…the goal of expanding availability and access to literacy acceleration, prevention, and intervention for diverse students, including students who are English learners, students in dual language programs, and students with disabilities, including those with dyslexia and/or phonological processing issues.”

Reading Recovery provides an additional level of support for classroom instruction in first grade by providing more comprehensive assessments, individualized instruction, and immediate asset-based intervention. It also emphasizes increasing teachers’ knowledge and confidence through continuous professional development. Reading Recovery is the world’s most widely studied early intervention; peer-reviewed and published data show its effectiveness.

But the work doesn’t stop there. Baker is committed to bringing these opportunities to even more educators, especially in rural areas where access to high-quality professional development is often limited. Looking ahead, Project CLEAR plans to offer asynchronous training modules to ensure that any teacher in California—starting in 2025—can access these critical resources.

Reading Recovery shines with a data-driven approach. While showing a causal relationship between teacher professional development and student success is usually difficult, Reading Recovery carefully tracks data throughout the intervention. One nominee shared “Shannon recognizes that accurate data is crucial for assessing student progress and program effectiveness. With the help of the San Diego County Office of Education’s data evaluation team, Dr. Baker ensures that decisions are data-driven, which strengthens the program’s impact.”

“We have the data. We know kids are learning and they are becoming better readers… the evidence is right in front of you.”

The results are in from the most recent school year. While children receiving the Reading Recovery intervention started below the average first grader, they gained more than a year’s growth in 20 weeks.

In a time when reading instruction has become highly politicized, Baker remains steadfast in her belief that the focus should always be on what’s best for students. Her advocacy for inclusive, comprehensive literacy instruction is more important than ever, and her message is clear: “There shouldn’t be any limitations when it comes to kids.”

Baker’s passion, data-driven approach, and tireless advocacy for children make her a true leader in the field of literacy. Reading is a gateway to opportunity, connection, and transformation; we look forward to the continued ripple effects of this year’s Excellence in Literacy Leadership Award winner’s work in the years to come.

Dr. Shannon Baker will be honored during the Monday Keynote Session at LitCon.