Mindy Sjoblom sits down with Danae Reynolds, Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction at Palo Alto Unified School District, to explore how a high-performing district dug beneath its overall scores to confront unfinished learning and better support student groups who weren’t yet meeting grade-level expectations.

Danae shares how Palo Alto Unified built the Every Student Reads Initiative—grounded in structured literacy, explicit phonics instruction, and a districtwide commitment to training every K–3 teacher and principal. Together, they unpack how system alignment, strong core instruction, and a deeper understanding of multilingual learners reshaped early reading across schools. From rethinking decodables to building model classrooms, this is a clear look at how sustained adult learning drives lasting student growth.

Key Moments

00:04 Welcome to the OnYourMark Podcast

00:24 Introducing Danae Reynolds & Palo Alto Unified’s literacy focus

01:29 Danae’s journey from classroom teacher to district leader

03:17 Why strong averages masked gaps for specific student groups

04:37 Discovering Orton–Gillingham and early signs of improvement

07:14 Rethinking decodables and unlearning whole-language habits

09:56 Supporting multilingual learners with explicit phoneme instruction

13:34 Why decoding gaps—not comprehension alone—drive early struggles

16:37 Districtwide training: every K–3 teacher and every principal

22:24 Using student photos to humanize data and drive goal setting

31:05 Building model classrooms and cross-site learning structures

37:09 Naming dips in progress and planning the next phase of work

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you’re committed to early literacy and systemwide coherence, this conversation offers practical clarity and grounded insight. Danae shares candidly about confronting inequities hidden beneath strong averages and how evidence-based instruction helped create more consistent experiences for students across schools.

You’ll hear how shared language, predictable routines, and deep support for teachers shaped the district’s approach to early reading. Danae’s honesty about the learning required—both personally and systemwide—makes this a powerful listen for leaders focused on sustainable improvement.

Connect with Guest

LinkedIn: Danae Reynolds: https://www.linkedin.com

Website: https://www.pausd.org/

Follow Us

Mindy Sjoblom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-sjoblom
OnYourMark Website: https://www.onyourmarkeducation.org/
OnYourMark LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onyourmark-education

About OnYourMark Podcast

The OnYourMark Podcast is where Mindy Sjoblom talks with school system leaders shaping what’s possible for early readers. From high-impact tutoring to building trust with families, each episode dives into what it really takes to make early literacy work for every child.

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