Angela I. Preston, Ph.D.

Dr. Angela Preston’s career progressed from teaching explicit and systematic literacy instruction to students with disabilities to assisting with shifting instructional literacy practices to align with the science of reading (SOR) in districts, schools, classrooms, preschools, and community-based programs. As an adjunct instructor and educational consultant, she contributed to the development of teachers by providing training on foundational literacy skills and evidence-based practices in literacy.  

At the Office of Early Learning at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), Angela worked as an early literacy consultant supporting districts implementing instructional practices aligned with SOR and trained North Carolina teachers in Lexia Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) as an NCDPI local LETRS facilitator. The Lexia LETRS suite comprises comprehensive professional resources designed to provide early childhood and elementary educators and administrators with deep knowledge to be literacy and language experts in the science of reading.

As a literacy coach on the Data Collaborative team at Read Charlotte, Angela provided consultative support to community-based program leaders and coached educators and staff to use explicit instruction to teach foundational literacy skills. While working as an implementation specialist at the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) at UNC Chapel Hill, her role on the State Implementation and Scaling-up of Evidence-based Practices (SISEP) grant included using implementation science to support state, regional, district, and school teams implementing state-led initiatives for students. Angela started her career as a special educator in the NC public school system. 

Angela earned a Ph.D. and M.Ed. in special education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and B.S. in special education at Appalachian State University. She remains focused on supporting preservice teacher and educator development and improving literacy outcomes for students.