Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to introduce myself through newspaper articles and interviews as I step into my new role as Director of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Office of Literacy. I’m grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received, but I also wanted to take a moment to introduce myself directly to you. 

Whether you’re an educator, parent, grandparent, librarian, community partner, policymaker, or simply someone who believes in the power of reading, thank you for being here. Your interest in literacy matters, and I’m excited to have you as part of this community. 

When people ask why I’ve dedicated my career to literacy, my answer always comes back to one thing: I’ve seen firsthand, in my own family, the doors literacy can open and the doors it can close. 

That belief started long before I became a teacher. As a kid growing up in Milwaukee, I would gather neighborhood children on my front porch with my Hooked on Phonics cassette tapes and teach them to read. I didn’t realize it then, but those afternoons planted the seed for a career that has taken me from the classroom, to school and district leadership, and eventually to consulting with school systems across the country to strengthen literacy instruction and educational improvement. Today, that journey has come full circle as I have the privilege of serving the state of Wisconsin. 

Throughout every role, one thing has remained true: literacy changes lives. 

It gives children confidence. It creates opportunities. It strengthens families and communities. It opens doors that might otherwise remain closed. 

As Director of the Office of Literacy, my commitment is simple. I want Wisconsin to be a place where every child has access to high-quality reading instruction and where every educator, family, and community has the support they need to help children become successful readers. 

That work belongs to all of us. 

Schools play an essential role, but so do families reading together at bedtime, librarians helping children discover a favorite book, community organizations providing tutoring, businesses investing in education, and neighbors who simply encourage a child to keep reading. 

Over the past several years, I've had the opportunity to learn from educators and literacy leaders both here in Wisconsin and across the country. Those experiences have reinforced something I believe deeply: lasting change happens when we listen, learn from one another, and stay focused on what is best for kids. 

One of my priorities is ensuring the Office of Literacy is a trusted, transparent, and responsive resource for everyone who cares about literacy in Wisconsin. That means listening, communicating clearly, celebrating great work happening across our state, and providing practical resources that help move this work forward. 

If you want to hear from us regularly, you can subscribe to the Office of Literacy email list. We'll share important updates, implementation guidance, helpful resources, stories from schools and communities across Wisconsin, and opportunities to stay connected with the work of the Office of Literacy. 

One of my commitments as Director is to ensure the Office of Literacy is accessible and responsive. If you'd like to connect with our team, ask a question, or share what's happening in your community, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at early.reading@dpi.wi.gov. 

We'd love to hear from you. 

Thank you for your commitment to Wisconsin's children and to the future that strong literacy skills make possible. I look forward to the work ahead and to staying connected with you along the way. 

Warmly, 

Kaylee Jackson
Director, Office of Literacy
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction