Literacy Mindset

In this episode of The Literacy Mindset Podcast, Jeff Pendleton sits down with Joanna Hall, principal of Bennett Elementary School in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. A lifelong community member and former special educator, Joanna shares how her school serves third through fifth graders with a mix of structured literacy, targeted small-group instruction, and a community-centered approach. She explains how her teachers use both core 90-minute literacy blocks and “WIN” (What I Need) time to give students personalized support, while helping students track their own progress to build ownership of learning. Joanna also opens up about professional development in a rural setting, the challenges of bringing the Science of Reading to an isolated community, and how her dedicated staff embrace new strategies with enthusiasm.

The conversation also highlights the role of community engagement and creativity in building a culture of literacy. From literacy nights and library programs to her now-famous “principal challenges” (involving everything from kissing pigs to eating worms), Joanna finds ways to make reading exciting and visible for students and families alike. She discusses balancing technology and traditional approaches, the impact of Oklahoma’s cell phone ban, and why she is reintroducing novel units to help students grapple with figurative language and complex storytelling. Looking ahead, Joanna shares her excitement about how technology can open up the world for her students, even in a small, rural corner of Oklahoma.

Key Moments

05:08 Student Self-Tracking with Colors

07:56 Professional Development Across Grade Levels

10:22 Community Engagement through School Events

14:31 Engaging Novel Study Initiative

18:54 Global Learning Opportunities for Kids

20:09 Overcoming Phonological Barriers

This episode captures both the challenges and the joys of leading literacy in a small-town school. Joanna Hall’s blend of humor, practicality, and deep care for her students shows how creative leadership and community support can make literacy come alive. Whether you’re an educator looking for strategies, an administrator thinking about culture, or simply someone who loves stories of rural innovation, you’ll walk away inspired—and maybe a little amused by the lengths one principal will go to celebrate student success.

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