How Mississippi Improved Literacy Instruction: Insights from Kimana Burke

Last updated: April 1, 2026

You’ve watched your bright, creative child come home from school with that look—the one where the spark that used to light up their eyes has dimmed just a little more. You’ve sat beside them at homework time, feeling your stomach clench as simple words become impossible mountains to climb, knowing they’re working ten times harder than their classmates just to keep up. That mixture of heartbreak and helplessness you feel isn’t weakness or overreaction—it’s your instincts telling you that something needs to change. And if you’ve spent late nights searching for answers while everyone else sleeps, wondering if you’re the only parent carrying this weight, I want you to know: you’re not alone, you’re not imagining it, and your fierce love for your child is exactly what they need most right now.

TL;DR

Mississippi passed a law in 2013 dedicated to education reform, specifically improving reading outcomes.
The state department of education built relationships with schools and districts through coaching and provided support to improve teacher knowledge on how to teach reading.
Kimana Burke, the state literacy director, targeted messaging to parents, educators, and communities to bring them on board with the initiative.

Improving Literacy Instruction: Lessons from Mississippi’s Success

Mississippi’s dramatic improvement in literacy instruction over the past decade is a testament to the power of targeted education reform. As Kimana Burke, the state’s former literacy director, notes, the key to success lies in building relationships with schools and providing coaching and support to teachers. By focusing on improving teacher knowledge on how to teach reading, Mississippi was able to make significant strides in literacy outcomes. This approach is supported by research, which shows that teacher quality is a critical factor in student learning outcomes. As Kimana emphasizes, “we needed to improve teacher knowledge on how to teach reading” in order to drive real change in the state’s literacy rates.

Mississippi's literacy instruction has seen a dramatic improvement thanks to a law passed in 2013, targeted messaging, and community engagement, offering valuable insights for other states and countries looking to improve their education systems. Tweet Now Follow Learning Success

The Importance of Public Relations and Messaging in Education Reform

Kimana Burke’s experience in leading the literacy reform effort in Mississippi highlights the importance of effective public relations and messaging in education reform. By targeting specific messages to parents, educators, and the broader community, Kimana was able to build support and understanding for the reform effort. This is a critical lesson for education leaders, who must often navigate complex political and social landscapes in order to drive change. As Kimana notes, “my first two years was public relations… we had to target messages to parents, we had to target specific messages to educators, right, to make sure that they all understood where we were headed.” By framing the reform effort in a clear and compelling way, Kimana was able to build a coalition of support that helped to drive real change in the state’s literacy rates.

Laura Lurns Learning Success Expert

Mississippi's dramatic improvement in literacy instruction, dubbed the "Mississippi Miracle," offers valuable insights for educators and parents. As Kimana Burke, the state's former literacy director, shares her expertise, it's clear that a comprehensive approach to reading instruction is key. By focusing on teacher knowledge, coaching, and relationships, Mississippi was able to build a strong foundation for literacy success. But what's equally important is how they brought families and parents on board. By targeting specific messages and engaging with communities, they were able to create a sense of ownership and understanding among parents. This is where our philosophy at Learning Success comes in – we believe that parents are the critical first step in solving learning struggles. By empowering parents with the right tools and knowledge, we can create a supportive environment that fosters neuroplasticity and builds a robust foundation for learning. As Kimana's experience shows, it's not just about the schools or the educators; it's about creating a collective effort that involves parents, educators, and the community. By working together, we can create a brighter future for our children and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.

Building Relationships and Trust with Schools and Communities

Kimana Burke’s approach to education reform emphasizes the importance of building relationships and trust with schools and communities. By working closely with school leaders and educators, Kimana was able to build a sense of ownership and investment in the reform effort. This is a critical factor in driving real change in education, as it allows for the development of tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of individual schools and communities. As Kimana notes, “we had to build relationships with schools and coaching was actually a really big part of that.” By taking a collaborative and supportive approach, Kimana was able to build trust and credibility with schools and communities, which helped to drive real change in the state’s literacy rates.

Key Takeaways:

Mississippi's Education Reform Law was passed in 2013, focusing on improving reading outcomes, and was a key factor in the state's dramatic improvement in literacy instruction.

Building Relationships and Providing Support was crucial in implementing the law, with the state department of education building relationships with schools and districts through coaching and providing support to improve teacher knowledge on how to teach reading.

Targeted Messaging and Community Engagement was essential in bringing parents, educators, and communities on board with the initiative, with Kimana Burke leading the effort to target messages to different groups and hosting parent nights to deliver the message.

Lessons for Other States and Countries

Mississippi’s success in improving literacy instruction offers valuable lessons for other states and countries. By focusing on improving teacher knowledge, building relationships with schools and communities, and targeting specific messages to key stakeholders, education leaders can drive real change in literacy outcomes. As Kimana Burke’s experience shows, this approach requires a sustained commitment to public relations and messaging, as well as a willingness to work collaboratively with schools and communities. By learning from Mississippi’s success, education leaders can develop effective strategies for improving literacy instruction and driving real change in student learning outcomes. For more information on how to improve literacy instruction, check out the Foundations of the Brain Bloom System and the Cognitive Micro-Skills framework.

Here’s what I believe with every fiber of my being: you don’t need anyone’s permission to help your own child. You don’t need to wait for school systems to finally notice what you’ve seen for years. You don’t need credentials or certification to be the most powerful teacher your child will ever have. The system may be designed to keep you waiting in the wings, feeling helpless while your child struggles—but that design can’t survive a parent who refuses to accept it. Your love, your instincts, and your daily presence are more powerful than any program, any label, or any expert assessment. And your child’s brain is capable of more growth than anyone who uses words like ‘can’t’ and ‘never’ would ever dare to imagine.