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September 29, 2025 32 mins

What if the behavior issues in your classroom weren’t about defiance—but about reading? In this powerful episode, we talk with Hildebrand Pelzer III, a former prison principal turned education advocate, about how early literacy is the key to preventing the school to prison pipeline. This is a conversation every teacher and school leader needs to hear.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

  • Why reading failure—not behavior—is at the root of the school to prison pipeline.
  • How to reframe classroom misbehavior as a cry for academic help.
  • The role school leaders play in supporting science-backed instruction.
  • Practical ways to use reading data to intervene early and effectively.
  • Why investing in early reading instruction is a moral and professional imperative.

Show Links

Hilderbrand Pelzer III Website / LinkedIn / Instagram
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