Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Hyland
Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Eight years ago, my youngest daughter stepped off the school bus, her face red and puffy and still in tears. Her words that day still echo in my mind: “I’m stupid, I’m dumb, and nobody likes me.” That was the day she realized she couldn’t read, and it shattered her self-esteem. For a once happy and outgoing child, this realization was devastating. It marked the beginning of a challenging journey—not just for her, but for our entire family.
From an early age, my daughter struggled with reading, but it wasn’t until that fateful day that the severity of her challenges became painfully clear. She had a strong support system at her school. An Assistant Principal, a diagnostician, and a Dyslexia Specialist quickly intervened. She was tested, diagnosed with dyslexia, and began receiving the necessary services.
However, it soon became evident that the lack of a proper remediation curriculum and the damage to her confidence was too great to overcome in her current environment. After much deliberation, we made the tough decision to enroll her in a school that specialized in learning differences. It wasn’t an easy choice, especially with our oldest child off to college at the same time, but we knew that every month she stayed in her current school, she was falling further behind.
The change was profound. In a matter of months her improvements were dramatic.
She returned to public school in sixth grade, and I was ready to pull her out again at the first sign of struggle. But she was more than up to the task. In the first nine weeks, she received the English STAR award from her Language Arts teacher. My daughter was not just surviving; she was thriving.
But as we celebrated her success, I couldn’t ignore the fact that many other children were still struggling. Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, affecting up to 20% of the population. It’s hereditary, meaning if someone in your family has it—diagnosed or not—you have a higher chance of having it too.
The day my daughter first felt the sting of being “different” was the day I became what my friends call an “Accidental Advocate.” With no teaching background and no prior knowledge of dyslexia, I threw myself into learning everything I could about the condition. I joined a district parent advisory group for dyslexia and started getting involved wherever I could. When a dear friend, who had started a Facebook support group for parents in our district, asked me to take over, I hesitated. But I knew deep down that I was meant to step into this role, even if I didn’t fully understand why at the time.
In 2021, my journey as an advocate took a significant turn. A group of moms who were also dyslexia advocates reached out to me through the Facebook page I managed, asking me to join their mission to change how Texas addresses dyslexia in schools. Our group became the Texas Dyslexia Coalition. We went to Austin that year to advocate for our bill. Although we weren’t successful initially, we didn’t give up. When the legislature reconvened in 2023, we returned with renewed determination.
My daughter, along with her fellow dyslexics, spent countless days in legislators’ offices, sharing their stories and advocating for change. My daughter even testified in front of both the House Public Education Committee and the Senate Education Committee. Despite her nerves, she spoke with courage and conviction. Watching our bill pass on the House and Senate floors was one of the proudest moments of our lives.
On June 10, 2024, House Bill 3928 became law—a victory for all dyslexic students in Texas.
But this journey taught me something even more profound: the root of many reading difficulties lies in how we teach children to read. Researchers believe that as many as 95% of kids can become proficient readers when provided with the right tools.
For my daughter, proper instruction from day one could have prevented much of her struggle. And for countless other children, it could mean the difference between thriving and falling behind. Over the years, I’ve attended numerous meetings, seminars, and workshops, learning from experts and organizations across the country. I’ve soaked up knowledge like a sponge, not just for my daughter, but for every child who struggles with reading. My passion is to ensure all children get proper reading instruction so that all children, including dyslexics, have an opportunity to read.
Our journey has spanned eight years, filled with highs and lows, tears and triumphs. I’ve gone from knowing nothing about dyslexia to becoming a passionate advocate for change. My hope is that by sharing our story, other families can avoid the hardships we faced and get the help they need in a timely manner.
Today, I don’t claim to be an expert, but I am a mother who is deeply committed to ensuring that every child in our district has the opportunity to become a proficient reader. Reading is the foundation of education and success in life. My ultimate goal is to create a district where every child can read, where no child is left behind, and where every parent knows they have a voice in their child’s education.
This is our story, but it’s also the story of so many families. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can ensure that every child has the chance to succeed.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not. When my daughter first realized she couldn’t read and the other kids could she was emotionally broken. It took us 3 years of lots of work to get her back to where she didn’t think she was stupid.
Part of that was that the school system was providing dyslexia services, but they weren’t providing them with fidelity (as the eduspeak says). That is to say she wasn’t getting services regularly enough or intensely enough to actually improve her reading. Instead she always stayed several levels behind.
This prompted us to look elsewhere for help. But that is expensive. We ultimately decided to put her at a private school that specialized in helping kids with learning disabilities of all kinds. We spent a lot of money to do this. But ultimately it was what she needed and she came out a great reader. Sadly, not all, or even many, families can afford this option.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Well I wear many hats! I am a mom, a travel planner, a full time volunteer, and an advocate. But I think you could say they are all firmly kid and family focused!
I love my travel planner job because I get to send families to Disney World and Disneyland! What could be more fun?
I love volunteering because I get to provide an opportunity for kids to have fun. All of those fun things your kids really enjoy doing, they can’t be done without someone working hard behind the scenes.
And what I am most proud of is my advocacy work. Alongside my daughter I spent countless hours advocating for change in how the state of Texas handles dyslexic students. She and I went to Austin so many times that a truancy notice was sent to our home! But ultimately, we made something happen. Something much bigger than us and something that will help others long after we are here to advocate.
Additionally I have advocated for improved English Language Arts curriculum for my district. I am so thrilled that we are going to be making a change to implement new curriculum that will give all kids a strong foundation to become amazing readers! This helps dyslexics also! They won’t need as much help to catch up to their peers.
What matters most to you? Why?
I feel like Literacy and Dyslexia Advocacy is my calling, my ministry. I am using the trials and tribulations that my family endured in the educational system to try make real, lasting change to improve ) the educational system for ALL KIDS going forward.
I know that my kids are way past the age where they will benefit from anything I am working so hard to change. But no child should have to hate themselves because the school failed to teach them to read. #UntilAllKidsCanRead
Image Credits
Jennifer Hyland
