Inside the Work with Nebraska’s Regional Literacy Coaches (RLCs)

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we sit down with Nebraska ESU regional literacy coaches (RLCs) Claudine Kennicutt (ESU 10) and Caryn Ziettlow (ESU 2) to explore the evolving work of Nebraska’s statewide literacy initiative. Together, they unpack the foundation of the Nebraska Literacy Project, including the role of high-quality instructional materials, the science of reading, and the intentional development of a statewide coaching system designed to support educators and leaders alike. Claudine and Caryn share insights from the first year of implementation—highlighting the roadshow approach to building leadership capacity, aligning with systems like Nebraska MTSS, and creating coherence across districts of all sizes. The conversation also dives into the power of coaching as a lever for meaningful instructional change and how a collaborative, statewide network is driving both educator growth and student outcomes. Looking ahead, the episode offers a hopeful vision for year two and beyond, as the team expands its reach, deepens coaching practices, and works toward sustainable, system-level impact. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in literacy, leadership, and building effective educational systems at scale.