Greenon Local Schools

Lisa Storm and Stephanie Sylvester Inspire a National Audience with Greenon’s Literacy Work and Dyslexia Support

Two educators from Greenon Local Schools, Lisa Storm and Stephanie Sylvester, traveled to Washington, D.C. this summer to represent their district and their state at the AFT TEACH 2025 Conference, hosted by the American Federation of Teachers.

The national conference brings together thousands of educators, union leaders, and education advocates from across the country to share strategies, celebrate successes, and inspire each other with innovative ideas to support student learners. For Lisa and Stephanie, it was not just a chance to attend, but to lead.

Lighting Up the Main Stage with Greenon’s Literacy Work

Lisa Storm, Vice-President of the Greenon Federation of Teachers, was invited to take the main stage and speak to the entire national convention. She shared Greenon’s work in strengthening literacy through family and community partnerships—highlighting a series of successful events last school year that brought literacy to life for students and families.

“If we want to strengthen literacy in our schools,” Lisa told the crowd, “we cannot do it alone. But here’s the good news—our greatest partners are already right beside us: engaged families and communities.”

She went on to describe how Greenon’s team brought AFT’s Encouraging and Developing Literacy at Home modules to life through hands-on events, culminating in a Literacy Carnival that reached over 50 families and distributed more than 500 books.

“What started as a call to action became a community-wide effort to make literacy relevant, joyful, and most of all, accessible,” she said. “When schools and families are united in that mission, kids win.”

Equipping Teachers to Support All Learners

In addition to the keynote moment, both Lisa and Stephanie, and a small team from around the country, led a powerful breakout session titled “Understanding Dyslexia: Strategies for Student Success in the Classroom.” The session focused on practical strategies for teachers to support students with dyslexia and included the debut of a new Facilitator Guide that the pair helped develop alongside fellow educators.

Their presentation was well-received by educators across the country, eager to take meaningful steps toward more inclusive literacy practices. “It was so rewarding to be part of a session that gave teachers tools they could use immediately,” Stephanie said. “We know how important early identification and support are for students with dyslexia—and it felt amazing to be part of a solution.”

A Motivational Experience

Upon returning home, both teachers reflected on the impact of the experience. “The whole conference was incredibly motivational,” Stephanie shared. “It reminded me of the power of being connected to educators beyond our district—people who care deeply about kids and are willing to take action.”

Lisa agreed, adding, “Standing in front of a national audience and sharing what we’ve built in Greenon was a moment I’ll never forget. We’ve shown it can be done—and now we’re encouraging others to do the same.”