Oklahoma Edition :Rebuilding Literacy, SEL, and Instructional Equity in Rural Oklahoma with Dr Bobbi Gillham

In this episode of Literacy Mindset, host Jeff Pendleton talks with Dr. Bobbi Gillham, principal of Pansy Kidd Middle School in Poteau Public Schools, Oklahoma. Dr. Gillham brings 27 years of experience and a multifaceted career across elementary, curriculum leadership, and now middle school leadership. Her passion for literacy, data-driven instruction, and trauma-informed strategies shines through in this insightful conversation.

Dr. Gillham shares how her district has evolved from a whole-language focus to reintroducing phonics and phonological instruction as part of Oklahoma’s larger embrace of the Science of Reading. She highlights how building-wide literacy interventions, data analysis, and targeted reading supports are helping to close gaps, especially for English learners, students with IEPs, and those from low-income backgrounds.

Whether you're a principal, teacher, or education advocate, this episode delivers practical insights into foundational literacy, social-emotional learning, and site-level leadership in action.

Key Moments:

01:01 Dr. Bobbi Gillham’s 27-year journey in education

02:11 Launching intervention programs and a love of data

03:49 Curriculum leadership and teacher training impact

05:42 Transitioning back to the site level to start a new 5–6 middle school

06:07 Moving away from whole language to explicit phonics instruction

07:12 The power of consistent, foundational skill instruction across classrooms

10:04 How 5th and 6th-grade students receive reading intervention

12:14 Supporting English learners and students with IEPs

14:22 Curriculum collaboration with district support

17:09 Creating a distinct school culture and strong SEL programs

19:56 Concerns about leadership, funding, and teacher retention

20:58 The bright side: statewide collaboration and momentum in education

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

• 
  Literacy Leadership in Action – Hear how foundational literacy is supported even beyond the early grades.
• Data-Informed Decisions – Learn how one school leader uses data to improve interventions and instruction.
• Trauma-Informed SEL – See how social-emotional support is embedded in school culture.
• Serving Diverse Learners – Discover how Poteau supports EL, IEP, and high-poverty student populations.
• Educational Optimism – Dr. Gillham’s reflections on the future of Oklahoma schools offer hope and direction.

Connect with Poteau Public Schools:

• Website: https://www.poteau.k12.ok.us/
  
  

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• Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-pendleton-2a614b26/
• Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindplayeducation
• Company Website: https://mindplay.com/

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