Director: Literacy Leadership
Director: Summer Reading Clinic and Faculty Director-Metropolitan Chicago Tutoring Corps
About Me
About me:
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Dr. Margaret M. Policastro is a nationally recognized literacy educator, professor, scholar, and program leader whose career has focused on advancing literacy achievement, educator preparation, school improvement, and educational equity. For more than four decades, she has prepared reading specialists, literacy leaders, classroom teachers, and educational administrators while building innovative partnerships among universities, school districts, state agencies, and community organizations.
As Program Director of Roosevelt University's Literacy Leadership and Reading Specialist Programs, Dr. Policastro provides leadership in implementing the Illinois Professional Educator Standards (IPES), the Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards (CRTL), and the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan (ICLP). Her current work focuses on evidence-based literacy instruction, high-impact tutoring, literacy leadership, culturally responsive practices, and the preparation of literacy professionals who can transform outcomes for children and families.
Dr. Policastro is the Founder of Roosevelt University's Summer Reading Clinic, Faculty Director of the Metropolitan Chicago Tutoring Corps, author of multiple books on balanced literacy and formative assessment, recipient of numerous grants and contracts exceeding several million dollars, and a frequent keynote speaker at state, national, and international literacy conferences. Her scholarship and leadership have influenced literacy policy, teacher development, and school improvement efforts throughout Illinois and beyond.
Check out our High Impact Literacy Tutoring website
- Areas of Expertise
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Core Literacy and Education Expertise
- Literacy Education
- Reading Specialist Preparation
- Literacy Leadership Development
- Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction
- Balanced Literacy
- Formative Assessment
- Reading Intervention
- Literacy Achievement and Improvement
- Comprehensive Literacy Planning
- Literacy Policy and Advocacy
Teacher and Leader Preparation
- Educator Preparation Programs
- Reading Specialist Endorsement Programs
- Graduate Education in Literacy
- Professional Learning and Teacher Development
- Instructional Coaching
- School Leadership Development
- Administrator Preparation
- Clinical and Field-Based Teacher Education
School Improvement and Systems Change
- School Improvement Planning
- Educational Equity Initiatives
- Continuous Program Improvement
- Educational Leadership
- University-School Partnerships
- Strategic Educational Program Development
- Standards-Based Program Design
Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Practices
- Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading
- Equity-Focused Literacy Instruction
- Family and Community Engagement
- Diverse Learner Support
- Educational Access and Opportunity
Tutoring and Intervention
- High-Impact Tutoring
- Tutoring Program Design and Evaluation
- Literacy Clinics and Practicum Experiences
- Early Literacy Intervention
- Community-Based Literacy Initiatives
Curriculum, Assessment, and Standards
- Illinois Professional Educator Standards (IPES)
- Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards (CRTL)
- Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan (ICLP)
- Curriculum Alignment and Standards Integration
- Literacy Assessment Systems
- Data-Informed Instruction
Research, Scholarship, and Grants
- Literacy Research
- Educational Program Evaluation
- Grant Development and Management
- Research-Practice Partnerships
- Evidence-Based Educational Innovation
- Dissemination of Educational Research
Higher Education Leadership
- Academic Program Leadership
- Curriculum Development
- Faculty Mentorship
- Accreditation and Compliance
- Educational Partnerships
- University-Community Collaboration
Conference and Professional Learning Expertise
- Keynote Speaking
- Professional Development Design
- State and National Literacy Conferences
- Literacy Leadership Workshops
- Teacher Capacity Building
Signature Areas of Distinction
- Literacy Leadership
- Reading Specialist Preparation
- Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction
- High-Impact Tutoring
- Culturally Responsive Literacy Practices
- School Improvement Through Literacy
- Teacher and Administrator Development
- Illinois Literacy Policy and Standards Implementation
- University-School-Community Partnerships
- Educational Equity and Literacy Achievement
- Department of Education Literacy Leadership — College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences