Unified Literacy Coaching Project

Helping every student become a proficient reader by the end of third grade

Three Main Objectives

Landscape Analysis of Literacy Coaching

We will review current state and district coaching systems and practices to understand what is in place and what additional support literacy coaches and teachers need.

Georgia Literacy Coaching Competencies

We will develop Literacy Coach Competencies and use aligned knowledge, skills, and abilities to set a statewide standard for effective literacy coaching.

Georgia Literacy Coaching Competencies

We will design an evaluation system to help ensure state literacy coaches support teachers effectively and help improve student literacy knowledge and skills.

The Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy has launched a new project to help every student become a proficient reader by the end of third grade: the Unified Literacy Coaching Project.

In alignment with the Georgia Early Literacy Act, the state and school districts are investing in literacy coaches to help K-3 teachers understand and consistently apply structured literacy in their classrooms. The project’s goal is to ensure literacy coaches are able to provide teachers with the support they need to deliver effective literacy instruction.

The Deal Center, in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement and funded by the Georgia Council on Literacy, leads this work to build a unified and sustainable literacy coaching model across Georgia.

Competency Framework Timeline

Formed Standards Task Force
Sept. ‘25

Develop & Validate Competency Framework Oct. ‘25 - Jan. ‘26

Secure Feedback & Refine
Feb. - July 2026

Align PD & Credentialing
April ‘26 - Jan. ‘27

UCLP Team

  • Dr. Lindee Morgan

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    Sandra Dungan Deal Center

  • Stacey Lutz

    GEORGIA LITERACY COACH COORDINATOR
    Governor’s Office of Student Achievement

  • Dr. Paige Pullen

    SENIOR ADVISOR
    Sandra Dunagan Deal Center

  • Dr. Stephanie Snidarich

    IMPLEMENTATION SCIENTIST
    Sandra Dunagan Deal Center

  • Dr. Sharon Koon

    RESEARCH SCIENTIST
    Sandra Dunagan Deal Center

  • Kimberly Youmans

    PROJECT MANAGER
    Sandra Dunagan Deal Center

  • Claire Suggs

    QUALITATIVE & POLICY CONSULTANT
    Sandra Dunagan Deal Center

  • Amy Reddick

    GEORGIA LITERACY COACH
    Sandra Dunagan Deal Center

  • Kelly Chester

    GEORGIA LITERACY COACH
    Sandra Dunagan Deal Center

Literacy Coach Coordinating Committee

Stacey Lutz, Chair 
Literacy Coaching Coordinator
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement

Amy Denty 
Director of Literacy 
Georgia Department of Education

Nik Philmon 
State Structured Literacy Coach Coordinator 
Georgia Department of Education

Lindee Morgan 
Executive Director 
Sandra Dunagan Deal Center

Kathy Matthews 
Program Manager 
Growing Readers; RESA

Tim Cochran 
President, RESA Network
Executive Director, Pioneer RESA 

Juli Alligood 
Project Lead, Let’s Read Georgia 
Executive Director, Middle Georgia RESA

Competency Task Force

Amy Lingo  
Dean
Georgia Southern University College of Education 

Gary Bingham
Director, The Urban Child Study Center 
Georgia State University

Lindee Morgan 
Executive Director 
Sandra Dunagan Deal Center

Paige Pullen 
Senior Advisor 
Sandra Dunagan Deal Center

Michelle Palmer 
RESA Network Lead 
Let’s Read Georgia

Nik Philmon 
State Structured Literacy Coach Coordinator 
Georgia Department of Education

Julillian Davis 
District Curriculum & PD Strategist 
Kendezi School

Amy Denty 
Director of Literacy
Georgia Department of Education  

Shakia Bruce 
Growing Readers Specialist
Growing Readers; RESA Metro 

Laurie Allison 
Executive Director  
Let’s Read Georgia; RESA Northeast

Ann Marie Johnson 
Early Literacy Coordinator 
Growing Readers; RESA West

Stacey Lutz 
State Literacy Coaching Coordinator  
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement

Contact us.

For more information about this project, contact Project Manager Kimberly Youmans.

kimberly.youmans@gcsu.edu
(478) 445-8500