Kymyona Burk, Ed.D.
@kymyona_burk
Mom, MS Literacy Leader, Senior Policy Fellow, National Early Literacy Champion📚@JacksonStateU Alum, ΔΣθ🔺🐘 All views expressed are my own 😊
What an honor to share the virtual "stage" with @NickKristof and to be interviewed by the phenomenal @MichelMcQMartin to discuss MS's progress to date. @ExcelinEd #earlyliteracymatters #literacyandjusticeforall
Once ranked last nationally in education, Mississippi has made huge strides over the past decade. “I think this is just the beginning,” says Kymyona Burk, senior policy fellow at ExcelinEd. @kymyona_burk @ExcelinEd @MichelMcQMartin
“There was ‘a lot of galvanizing energy just around the fact that more was possible.’” Thanks, @isalohgo for such an in-depth piece with perspectives from a variety of stakeholders. @BridgeMichigan @ExcelinEd bridgemi.com/talent-educati…
Want to work where your impact matters? ExcelinEd is hiring mission-driven professionals ready to transform education policy and outcomes for students. Join us: excelined.org/job-opportunit…
What a fantastic 2 days of learning from and with @ExcelinEd’s Early Literacy Network! State literacy leaders from 21 states & D.C. talked implementation efforts, oral language, organizational leadership, EPPs, coaching, dyslexia, & other topics. Thanks for joining us!
Great interview, @kymyona_burk! You always make Mississippi proud.
Senior Policy Fellow Kymyona Burk joined @NPR’s @1a podcast to discuss how #Mississippi & #Louisiana boosted literacy scores in just a few years—and what other states can learn from their success. Listen now ⤵️ npr.org/2025/05/20/125…
Such a great conversation!
It was a pleasure talking literacy policy on @1A with @ehanford @kymyona_burk. Listen here—> the1a.org/segments/the-s…
Senior Policy Fellow Kymyona Burk joined @NPR’s @1a podcast to discuss how #Mississippi & #Louisiana boosted literacy scores in just a few years—and what other states can learn from their success. Listen now ⤵️ npr.org/2025/05/20/125…
More states are banning three-cueing—and that’s a big win for early readers. 🎉📘 Evidence-based reading instruction, rooted in phonics, is gaining ground. It’s time all kids got what works. Read this insightful @educationweek article, including a quote from Dr. @kymyona_burk!…
📰PA Literacy Coalition Manager Rachael Garnick shares her PA Literacy Summit reflections and key takeaways in her latest piece, "Post-Summit Reflection: Turning Momentum into Action." Read the full article on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/pulse/post-sum…
Thank you @paliteracy for putting together an awesome event yesterday! I was honored to serve on a panel with @holliewood24 @kymyona_burk @DrNyshawana Amy Coleman! Together, we are going to get this done for Pennsylvania.
What a day! So energized after being at the @paliteracy Summit talking about the power of policy, the importance of implementation and lessons learned from other states. Thankful to my @ExcelinEd colleagues for being here and to our many partners for an amazing day!
"We have to be able to create the conditions for success" @kymyona_burk @ExcelinEd @paliteracy I've taken so much wisdom, resolve, and 🔥 from this amazing @paliteracy summit. Do you know your champions? We will help you find them (and convert them)! Parents - FIGHT FOR YOUR…
How fortunate we are to have Dr. Kymyona Burk as the closing keynote followed by an opportunity for Q& A at the PA Literacy Summit!! #paliteracy @kymyona_burk
Glad to have @KJWinEducation speaking at the @paliteracy Summit today! Re: our students: “Keep them safe and teach them how to read. Non-negotiables.” 🙌🏼 #paliteracy #untilALLkidscanread
Excited to be a part of the #PALiteracySummit today! What an amazing opportunity to share literacy implementation strategies that have been impactful across the country! #PALiteracy @paliteracy @ExcelinEd
More great learning w/ Dr. Tennette Smith, Deputy State Superintendent in the Office of Teaching and Learning at @MdPublicSchools, on her experience leading Mississippi’s #literacy initiative w/ @kymyona_burk and the work now being done to support literacy in MD.
📢 #PALiteracySummit Session Spotlight 📢 Join us for an engaging panel discussion on turning strong literacy policy into real classroom impact! Full Agenda at paliteracy.org/summit-agenda @holliewood24 @DrNyshawana @JasonOrtitay @kymyona_burk @maddiehanna
Congratulations, Mississippi and Louisiana! #AIMSymposium2025 opened today with kudos for the states with remarkable reading proficiency gains to show for their effort. @aimtolearn @kymyona_burk @Literacy_Wynns @cadebrumley
What makes literacy policies effective? Learn from states leading the way in reading achievement! Experts will share strategies, challenges, & policy impacts—plus how YOU can advocate for change. Join us at #PALiteracySummit! paliteracy.org/summit @AshleyDeMauro @kymyona_burk
📚 Early literacy has come a long way—but there’s still work to do. Dr. @kymyona_burk’s latest op-ed details two decades of progress and what’s needed to close the remaining gaps. shelbynews.com/raising-better…
{new} Over the last decade, the bottom has fallen out on reading achievement scores. Among low-performing students, 16 states saw declines of 20 points or more and two states — Delaware and Maryland — had declines of more than 30 (!) points.