Manhattanville University to Host Expert Panel on “The Changing Literacy Landscape in NYS”

PURCHASE, NY, November, 2025 - Manhattanville University School of Education’s Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy, will present an essential program for parents, educators, and administrators: "The Changing Literacy Landscape in NYS: What Parents and Educators Need to Know."

Part of the university’s Distinguished Lecturer Series, it will be held on November 13 from 5-7pm in the Reid Castle West Room and will provide critical insight into the evolving literacy policies and practices across New York State.

The conversation comes at a critical time as literacy instruction in New York State is undergoing significant transformation, guided by initiatives such as Governor Kathy Hochul’s Back to Basics Initiative, the Path Forward Initiative, the NYS Literacy Briefs, the work of the Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Task Force, and the findings of the Blue Ribbon Commission.

This panel will explore how literacy instruction is evolving, from teacher preparation programs to K-12 classrooms statewide, and unpack what these shifts mean for families, educators, and school communities. The University invites parents, current educators, administrators, and teachers in training to attend this vital discussion.

The event will be moderated by Tracy McCarthy and sponsored by The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy.

Meet the Expert Panelists

The program features an esteemed panel of experts bringing diverse perspectives on literacy research, policy, and practice:

• Dr. Sagrario Rudecindo-O’Neill: As the Assistant Curriculum and Student Support Superintendent for the Beacon City School District, Dr. Rudecindo-O’Neill brings extensive leadership experience as a former principal, assistant principal, and bilingual special education teacher in various school settings. She was the Steering Committee Chair of the Graduation Measures Blue Ribbon Commission for the New York State Education Department. Dr. Rudecindo-O'Neill also serves on several equity advisory committees and has presented her work on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Response to Intervention (RtI) at state and national conferences.

• Dr. Katie Pace-Miles: Dr. Miles is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Advanced Certificates in Reading Science at Brooklyn College, CUNY. She is a dedicated advocate for evidence-based literacy instruction, as demonstrated through her publications, including Reading Ready and Making Words Stick. Dr. Miles is the co-founder and principal investigator of CUNY Reading Fellows, which significantly improves preservice teacher training and offers free high-dosage tutoring to thousands of historically underserved NYC students annually. She is also the founder and president of The Reading Institute, which provides evidence-based tutoring programs and professional development to teachers nationwide.
• Ruth Genn: Ruth Genn is a co-founder and the Executive Director of Literacy Academy Collective, a NYC-based school support organization dedicated to building a network of public schools for students with dyslexia and other struggling readers. She brings over 20 years of leadership and innovation in the NYC education sector, having previously founded and served as the Executive Director of the New York office of Bottom Line, a college access and success program. Ruth also directed the first Data and College Readiness departments at New Visions for Public Schools and began her career as a New York City public school teacher through Teach for America.

About the Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy

The Rose Institute for Learning and Literacy was established at Manhattanville University in 2013 through an endowment from Sandra Priest Rose. The Institute’s mission is to ensure that as many students as possible have teachers who are trained in the most effective, research-backed literacy instructional methods. The Rose Institute offers graduate coursework, advanced certificates, and professional development opportunities in-district and through partner BOCES.

About Manhattanville University

Manhattanville University (formerly Manhattanville College) is a private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social responsibility. “U.S. News and World Report” ranks Manhattanville among the Top Performers of Social Mobility in Regional Universities North. The university has been recognized among the best colleges in The Princeton Review for close to 20 years. Located 30 miles from New York City on a 100-acre suburban campus in the heart of Westchester County, Manhattanville enables easy access to entertainment offerings, educational resources, and business opportunities for its diverse student body. The university serves more than 1,400 undergraduate students and nearly 1,000 graduate students from more than 44 countries and 33 states. Founded in 1841, the university offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education, nursing and health sciences, business, and creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from over 70 graduate and certificate programs. Extracurricular offerings include more than 45 clubs and activities and 23 NCAA Division III teams.