About me
Kelly Stone is RISE Literacy Lead with a focus in Adolescent Literacy for the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). With more than 20 years of experience in education, she has served as a secondary English teacher, K–12 literacy specialist, instructional coach, and statewide professional learning facilitator. In her current role, Kelly supports literacy efforts across Arkansas, supporting educators, literacy coaches, school leaders, and districts in implementing evidence-based literacy practices aligned with the Science of Reading. She has developed and delivered statewide professional learning focused on strategic reading, vocabulary development, morphology, comprehension, writing instruction, and data-informed literacy practices for grades 3–12. Kelly is a trained cognitive coach, TNTP coach, and Vice President of The Reading League Arkansas who is passionate about building educator capacity and improving outcomes for all students. Her work centers on helping schools create sustainable systems of literacy instruction that ensure every student can access and succeed with grade-level texts.Known for her practical approach, engaging presentation style, and commitment to educational excellence, Kelly collaborates with educators across the state to advance adolescent literacy and support meaningful student achievement.
