Kymyona Burk, Ed. D.
Visiting Senior Fellow, Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz

Burk is a widely recognized educational leader who brings a demonstrated history of building teacher capacity and improving student literacy outcomes across a career in teaching, coaching and state-level administration spanning more than 25 years. She joined the Science of Reading Center as Visiting Senior Fellow in 2024.  

Burk's professional accomplishments in education and reading policy are numerous. She previously served as the State Literacy Director (K-12) in the Mississippi Department of Education, where she led implementation of a vision for effective literacy programming, instruction and assessment. The subsequent improvement in educational and literacy outcomes for students during this time period has come to be known as the “Mississippi Miracle.” 

More recently, Burk is serving as a senior policy fellow at the Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd), where she works to support U.S. states pursuing a comprehensive approach to K-3 reading policy.

In her role as Visiting Senior Fellow at the Science of Reading Center at SUNY New Paltz, Burk leads strategic planning and implementation for the Center’s ongoing expansion as a professional learning support resource for PreK-12 educators across the United States. She works to establish new connections, expand the Center’s network of experts and leaders, and increase the Center’s capacity to provide webinars and other implementation resources for literacy professionals. She also advises on opportunities to deliver Science of Reading Center services in new regions and for new populations.