Rita M. Bean is Professor Emerita, School of Education, University of Pittsburgh. She received her B.S. from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; her Master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining the University, she taught at the elementary level and also served as reading supervisor, K-12. She has published in many different journals and monographs on the topics of reading curriculum and instruction , diagnosis and remediation in reading, adult literacy, professional development, coaching, and preparation of reading specialists. Two recent books include: The Reading Specialist: Leadership for the Classroom, School, and Community 2nd edition (2009) and a co-edited text, Best Practices of Literacy Leaders: Keys to School Improvement (2011) that focuses on the importance of building school capacity by developing schools in which there is shared leadership and a culture of collaboration. She directed several research-based professional learning projects in elementary schools in Western Pennsylvania that influenced her work on professional development and on the importance of comprehensive, system-wide literacy programs in schools. She has also studied extensively the role of the reading specialist and literacy coach in improving student achievement for all students. Dr. Bean was Co-Director of the evaluation team for Reading First in Pennsylvania and one of the lead writers for the development of the PA Comprehensive Literacy Plan (2011). She served as a member of the Technical Assistance Team for the federal program, Striving Readers, an initiative funded by the US Department of Education. She also co-directed the development efforts for the International Literacy Association's Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals (2017). She and her colleague, A.S. Dagen, just completed editing the 2nd edition of Best Practices of Literacy leaders (2020). /p>