From Accountability to Impact: How Melissa Gude Is Strengthening Early Literacy in Little Rock School District

In today's episode, host Mindy Sjoblom sits down with Melissa Gude, Chief Academic Officer at Little Rock School District in Arkansas. Melissa shares how her path from a nontraditional start in education to district-level leadership shaped her belief in mission-driven work, strong instructional systems, and collective accountability for student outcomes. Mindy and Melissa discuss how Arkansas's LEARNS Act has changed the early literacy landscape, including new third-grade promotion requirements, individualized reading plans, and the statewide ATLAS assessment system. Melissa also explains how Little Rock improved third-grade literacy outcomes by investing in high-quality instructional materials, professional learning, high-impact tutoring, and outcomes-based contracting. Key Moments 00:52 Melissa Gude's journey into education leadership 07:40 How the LEARNS Act changed literacy in Arkansas 12:22 Third-grade accountability and reading success 16:11 Strengthening instruction with high-quality curriculum 18:46 Why outcomes-based contracting works 24:09 Building strong district and school partnerships 27:20 Terry Elementary's literacy success story 30:21 Improving attendance for tutoring success 34:15 Advice for districts implementing high-impact tutoring 38:51 Looking ahead to earlier literacy intervention Why You'll Love This Episode If you care about early literacy, district accountability, or making sure education investments lead to measurable student growth, this conversation offers a practical look at what it takes. Melissa speaks honestly about the opportunities and challenges created by new literacy legislation, the importance of selecting the right partners, and why successful tutoring requires more than purchasing a program. It takes clear expectations, shared ownership, strong school leadership, and consistent communication. Her reflections offer valuable lessons for any district leader working to improve literacy outcomes while making thoughtful and sustainable decisions about resources. Connect with Melissa Gude LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-gude-education  Little Rock School District: https://www.lrsd.org/  Follow Us: Mindy Sjoblom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-sjoblom  OnYourMarkWebsite: https://www.onyourmarkeducation.org/  OnYourMark LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onyourmark-education  About OnYourMark Podcast The OnYourMark Podcast is where host Mindy Sjoblom sits down with school system leaders shaping what's possible for early readers. From high-impact tutoring to building trust with families, each episode dives deep into what it really takes to make early literacy work for every child. 👉Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the OnYourMark Podcast for more conversations on literacy, leadership, and lasting change.