Laurel Fischer will serve as Northwest Regional Education Service District's next program administrator overseeing the statewide Oregon Response to Instruction and Intervention (ORTII) project and the agency's regional early literacy supports team.

"Laurel is one of the most driven and thoughtful educators I have had the privilege to work with," says Ryan Blasquez, director of instructional services at NWRESD.

"She is an equity-centered thinker at every turn, and she has the unique ability to foster community for the sake of kids. Laurel holds high standards for herself, stays positive during challenging times, and brings out the best in others."

Laurel brings 18 years of experience in elementary education and literacy leadership to the role. She currently serves as the early literacy supports team lead at NWRESD, where she helps school districts strengthen their literacy instruction by teaching educators about how kids actually learn how to read -- known as the science of reading -- and then helps them set up and assess their progress using high-quality data tracking.

Her team mentors educators and administrators in a variety of settings, including by providing individualized coaching and mentoring, hosting conferences and offering multipart workshops throughout the school year. 

In addition to her regional leadership, Laurel has partnered with Eastern Oregon University to develop and pilot evidence-based literacy practices across the state. She is also a member of the department’s equity leadership team and has led several special projects centered on evidence-aligned instruction. Prior to joining NWRESD, Laurel served as a dean of students, classroom teacher, and special educator in the Tigard-Tualatin School District.

Laurel Fischer, currently a professional learning coach at NWRESD who will serve as the next program administrator overseeing the statewide Oregon Response to Instruction and Intervention (ORTII) project and the agency's regional early literacy supports team, demonstrates how to conduct a vowel-intensive exercise in a small group. The activity helps students learn how to identify vowel sounds. Laurel helps school districts embark on the slow and often challenging work of changing their literacy practices. “Getting more kids reading proficiently is not going to be a quick fix,” Laurel says. “This is not easy or fast work, but we can see incremental gains starting to take hold.” 

Laurel holds a principal’s license from Portland State University and a master’s degree in teaching and learning from the University of Oregon. A dedicated advocate for student success, she believes literacy is a fundamental right and is committed to ensuring all students have access to high-quality instruction.

"I am really excited to see how Laurel uses her deep knowledge of the science of reading, evidence-based teaching practices and system change to improve student experiences in our region and our state," says Ryan Blasquez.

Her first day in the position will be July 1. 

Read more about some of Laurel's work: 

• Becoming a Great Reader Doesn’t Happen By Accident
• When Do Kids Start Learning to Read? It’s Not Kindergarten.
• New Early Literacy Data Highlights Progress and Opportunities for Northwest Oregon Schools
• Far Too Many Students Lag in Reading: Here’s What We’re Doing About It