Like all educators, MEA member David Pelc didn’t stop learning once he started teaching. Several years ago, the mid-career Romulus elementary teacher began a journey of transformation in the way he taught children to read.

That expertise got Pelc invited to join a panel discussion at an all-day Literacy Summit at the Michigan Science Center in Detroit, part of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s push to make literacy a top priority of her last year in office.

“We teachers lose sleep over kids not making progress,” Pelc said. “The most frustrating feeling is not knowing how to help struggling readers.”

His experiences have taught him how policymakers and school leaders should approach implementation of new laws in Michigan aimed at improving reading instruction and literacy outcomes.

Educators need consistency, resources, support and respect, Pelc told state leaders at the summit.

“Everyone needs to get involved; it’s going to take a collective effort, but it gives me great hope for Michigan because this is what we’re doing today.”

Read more on how educators are preparing for changes and what they need to be successful in helping students become strong and joyful readers.

[info_list position=”top” style=”circle with_bg” font_size_icon=”50″][info_list_item list_title=”Main story: Educators prepare for literacy changes” icon_type=”custom” icon_img=”id^26973|url^https://mea.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^Untitled design|description^null” info_list_link_apply=”icon” info_list_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmea.org%2Feducators-prepare-for-literacy-changes%2F|||”][/info_list_item][info_list_item list_title=”What’s new in literacy, dyslexia laws” icon_type=”custom” icon_img=”id^26973|url^https://mea.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^Untitled design|description^null” info_list_link_apply=”icon” info_list_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmea.org%2Fwhats-new-in-literacy-dyslexia-laws%2F|||”][/info_list_item][info_list_item list_title=”Literacy leader cultivates joy” icon_type=”custom” icon_img=”id^26973|url^https://mea.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^Untitled design|description^null” info_list_link_apply=”icon” info_list_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmea.org%2Fliteracy-leader-cultivates-joy%2F|||”][/info_list_item][info_list_item list_title=”Summit highlights literacy shifts” icon_type=”custom” icon_img=”id^26973|url^https://mea.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^Untitled design|description^null” info_list_link_apply=”icon” info_list_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmea.org%2Fsummit-highlights-literacy-shifts%2F|||”][/info_list_item][info_list_item list_title=”A case study in Waterford: LETRS” icon_type=”custom” icon_img=”id^26973|url^https://mea.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^Untitled design|description^null” info_list_link_apply=”icon” info_list_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmea.org%2Fa-case-study-in-waterford%2F|||”][/info_list_item][info_list_item list_title=”Libraries and literacy go hand-in-hand” icon_type=”custom” icon_img=”id^26973|url^https://mea.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Untitled-design.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^Untitled design|description^null” info_list_link_apply=”icon” info_list_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmea.org%2Flibraries-and-literacy-go-hand-in-hand%2F|||”][/info_list_item][/info_list]

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Call to Action: Urge Lawmakers to Consider Flexibility, Compensation with LETRS Training