School-Based Teacher Assistant Instruction & Literacy Support

Teacher assistants are essential to daily classroom success — this hands-on, in-building PD gives new and veteran support staff the tools they need to confidently support students and teachers alike. Tailored to each school's specific needs, the session builds foundational literacy knowledge for PK-5 staff supporting early readers, paired with practical instructional strategies and feedback they can apply right away.

Event Details

Date- September 23, 2026

Time- 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM EST

Location- SIEC (1102 Tree Lane Drive, Jasper IN 47546)

Cost- SIEC Member $175 / Non-member $245

Includes- Workshop materials & catered lunch

Presenter: Marleigh Burris, Literacy Specialist, SIEC

Marleigh is a dedicated literacy advocate who began her career in West Michigan's highly successful Great Start Readiness Program before spending seven years teaching K-4 classrooms, delivering Science of Reading-based instruction and using high-quality assessment data to drive instructional decisions for diverse learners. For the past three years, she has served as a Training Support Specialist with the Indiana Literacy Cadre, leading professional learning across 15+ regional schools, facilitating Professional Learning Communities, coaching instructional coaches and administrators through data-driven decision-making, and building MTSS systems that turn research into sustainable classroom practice. A Western Michigan University alum, she also holds an Early Literacy Reading Endorsement and has deepened her expertise through extensive training in Structured Literacy, cognitive science, and the integration of AI-enabled tools into instruction. Beyond the classroom, she leads and teaches students in dance and color guard through marching band, building leadership capacity and genuine, collaborative relationships in service of student-centered instruction for all learners.