About Us
Literacy is key to every person’s ability to live a choice-filled life. The Minnesota Literacy Coalition convenes a group of local leaders to work towards improved equity and excellence in literacy outcomes. We envision a future where every child experiences literacy success grounded in the science of reading.
Who We Are
Khulia Pringle
Khulia started her work in education as a Promise Fellow at a Charter school, and saw some amazing work by a Black woman, which she had never seen before. She went back to school to become a teacher, at the same time, her daughter was getting pushed out, and she couldn’t believe it. She was encouraged to say and do something about her situation, as she was learning and she was not alone. She gained confidence in her voice, and she has been fighting ever since. Khulia fights for education justice because she is sick and tired of just being sick and tired of watching her community, the Black community, not be able to shine as children, which leads to further oppression as adults.
Brandon Button
Brandon Button has worked in education for almost 20 years, and currently serves as the Director of Literacy and Humanities in Minneapolis Public Schools. Brandon’s career began in the classroom, where he taught grades 1, 4, 5, and 6, and later focused on 5th grade social studies and 8th grade English. His leadership journey continued as an assistant principal and dean, and before starting in MPS, he served as the Literacy Lead for Roseville Area Schools.
Driven by a mission to advance literacy through equitable practices, rigorous curriculum, and impactful professional development, Brandon believes in the power of collaboration and coaching to transform classrooms. As a proud Minneapolis resident, he’s eager to support the community he calls home and work toward ensuring that all students receive high-quality instruction in literacy and humanities.
When he’s not working to elevate educational outcomes, Brandon finds joy in running, traveling, coaching volleyball, and discovering new cuisines. A lifelong Vikings fan, he enjoyed cheering them on in Ireland this season. And while his professional passion lies in literacy, his favorite subject to teach? Math. His favorite book to teach is When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead—a story that beautifully blends mystery, time travel, and the magic of growing up.
Melissa Long
Melissa has over 20 years of experience working toward quality education for all kids as a teacher, instructional coach, school administrator, and within education nonprofit organizations. After five years of teaching, Melissa became a founding leader at DC Prep Edgewood Elementary School (a National Blue Ribbon school), where she served as the instructional coach and the assistant principal. Melissa also worked as a director of school support and as the managing director of partnership design at the Achievement Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every child has access to an excellent education.
Design Team
Participating Organizations
- Advancing Equity Coalition
- Achievement Network
- AMPACT (Americorps)
- Amplify
- Anwar Institute of Learning and Family Center
- Black Men Teach
- CAREI
- Centro Tyron Guzman
- Children’s Defense Fund
- Ciresi Walburn Foundation
- Decoding Dyslexia MN
- Diverse Reads
- DonorsChoose
- East Side Learning Center
- EdAllies
- Education Evolving
- Educators for Excellence
- Fluent Seeds
- Friends of the Children Twin Cities
- Generation Next
- Good Trouble
- Graves Foundation
- Great MN Schools
- Great Minds
- Greater MSP
- Groves Learning Organization
- Hennepin County Library
- Hmong Early Childhood Coalition
- Independent Consultants/Literacy Experts
- Instruction Partners
- International Dyslexia Association
- JAB Foundation
- Lavinia Group
- Lead the Way MN
- Legacy Family Center
- Lit
- Little Moments Count
- Manitou Foundation
- Minnesota Business Partnership
- Minnesota Department of Education
- Minneapolis Public Schools
- The Minneapolis Foundation
- MN Reading Corps
- MN Zej Zog
- MPS Academic Advocacy Group
- Mighty Doodle
- NAACP – Minneapolis
- National Parents Union
- Network for the Development of Children of African Descent (NdCAD)
- Northside Achievement Zone
- Phyllis Wheatley Community Center
- Parents in Community Action (PICA) Head Start
- Piers Partners Consulting
- Pillsbury United Communities
- Planting People Growing Justice
- Poul Haas
- Proserva
- Raíces Latinas
- Reading Partners (Minnesota)
- Reach Out and Read MN
- Reading Reimagined
- Rock ‘n’ Read Project
- Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood
- Saint Paul Public Schools
- Sanneh Foundation
- Sauer Family Foundation
- ServeMN
- SPS Commerce
- Start Reading Now
- STAND Up MN Parents United
- Teach for America Twin Cities
- The Reading Center
- The Reading League
- Think Small
- TNTP
- University of Minnesota
- University of St. Thomas
- Urban Ventures
- Voices for Racial Justice
- Way to Grow
- We Win Institute
- WEM Foundation
- WithInsight
- Your Vote, Your Future
…and still growing!
How We Work
The Minnesota Literacy Coalition is united around a common purpose to change literacy experiences and outcomes in our state. To do so:
Our VAlues
- We center students, families, educators, and communities.
- We honor students’ home languages as literacy assets.
- We anchor in the Science of Reading; as the knowledge base grows, we incorporate new evidence-based strategies.
- We acknowledge literacy is a complex topic, and inequitable literacy outcomes result from systemic inequities.
Our Efforts
- We identify and implement concrete, actionable efforts.
- We balance a long-term view with an orientation to immediate change.
Our Collaboration
- We build deep, trusting relationships.
- We share our successes and failures to accelerate our progress.
Our Structure
