Meet the Researchers: A Conversation with Dr. Megan-Brette Hamilton and Dr. Jasmine Rogers

Thursday, May 16, 2024 | 6:30 p.m.

$0 | Friedman Family Auditorium

Did You Know…

There are over a hundred ways to speak English correctly! While many educators understand that children may come to school speaking different languages, fewer understand that children come to school speaking the same language differently.

As the U.S. population is ever-diversifying, it’s increasingly important that teachers connect to and examine the linguistic skills their students bring to the classroom, while developing an understanding of how and why some varieties of English have been more stigmatized than others. Join us for the third installment of Meet the Researcher, featuring Dr. Megan-Brette Hamilton and Dr. Jasmine Rogers in conversation, as they explore how teachers can create inclusive and effective learning environments for Black-Language speakers in ways that build solid foundational literacy skills. The program will conclude with a Q&A.

Megan-Brette Hamilton, PhD, CCC-SLP, is Chief Staff Officer for Multicultural Affairs and a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP) at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) where she oversees ASHA’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, ASHA Professional Development, and the Continuing Education and Convention and Meetings teams. Dr. Hamilton was previously an SLP in New York City K–12 schools, an academic professor, and qualitative researcher. She has published, presented, trained and consulted on topics of African American English, and culture-centric linguistically responsive practices for teaching and assessing literacy skills and effective communication across a variety of audiences. Dr. Hamilton sits on the advisory boards for the Maryland Initiative for Literacy Equity (MILE) and the National AI Institute for Exceptional Education. Dr. Hamilton is also former host and producer of the Honeybee Connection podcast by MB, and owner of www.meganbrettehamilton.com.

Dr. Jasmine Rogers is Manager and Coach with the In Schools Program at the DC Reading Clinic where she facilitates Professional Development on structured literacy best practices, and coaches teachers as they apply their learning to their small-group instructional practice. Dr. Rogers taught elementary grades in both public and public charter schools in Washington, D.C., in various teaching roles, including kindergarten, reading specialist, self-contained, and resource special education. As an Early Literacy Intervention Scholar at American University, her research focuses on the intersection of Black Language and best practices for structured literacy instruction, while helping educators develop linguistically and culturally responsive teaching practices in teaching foundational literacy skills. Dr. Rogers also works as an Adjunct Instructor of a Foundations of Reading course to preservice teachers in the Teacher Education Master’s Program at American University.

This event is part of the “Meet the Researcher” series co-presented by Planet Word in partnership with The Reading League—DC, designed to empower educators, academics, and interested adults with knowledge, inspiration, and evidenced-based insights to help end the literacy crisis in America, one student at a time.

For questions or concerns regarding accessibility needs, please contact [email protected].

Pre-reading: An Informed Lens on African American English

Pre-listening: Showing Up As Your Full Self