Park City READS welcomes national literacy expert Nancy Redding for free community talk

Photo: Adam Winger

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City READS will welcome nationally recognized literacy expert Nancy Redding, M.Ed., for two events in October as part of the organization’s annual Raising a Reader community literacy series.

Redding will give a free public talk for parents and educators on October 9 at 6 p.m., followed by a professional development session for Park City School District Special Education staff on October 10. Registration is required for the public presentation at www.pcreads.org.

Her talk, Raising a Reader: Supporting Reading, Writing, and Spelling at Home, will explore the Science of Reading and how curricula grounded in this research-based approach help build stronger readers. A panel discussion featuring local educators from Park City School District, Park City Day School, and Weilenmann School of Discovery will follow the presentation.

Redding, a former educator in the Park City School District, has served as a literacy specialist at both the elementary and high school levels. She is recognized for her work in teacher training, supporting the Structured Literacy approach to reading instruction.

“This is the third year in a row we are bringing a national literacy expert to Park City through our Elevating Literacy Program,” said Elissa Aten, executive director of PC READS. “Learning to read is a fundamental part of a student’s education, and understanding how reading is best taught enables parents to support their child at home better. Additionally, the panel discussion will help parents understand the new reading curricula that local schools have implemented over the last few years.”

On October 10, Redding will meet with Special Education staff from the Park City School District for professional development and will receive a tour of the district’s facilities. The visit marks a homecoming of sorts—Redding began her education career in Park City at the Marsac School.

The Raising a Reader series, hosted annually by PC READS, offers free literacy-focused presentations that deepen community understanding of how students learn to read and how parents and educators can best support them.

PC READS is a local nonprofit organization advocating for the recognition and education of students with dyslexia. The organization promotes early identification of struggling readers, effective reading interventions, and appropriate classroom accommodations, while offering resources and support for families.