Cohort 1
Megan Patterson
EDUCATION • M.S. in Education - Curriculum and Instruction Colorado State University Pueblo • B.S. in Elementary Education and Communication Arts/ Literature Specialty Bemidji State University
ENROLLED • Cohort 1
LOCATION • Lakeville, Minn.
Megan Reese Patterson is a passionate educator and literacy advocate currently teaching middle school English within the Lakeville Area Schools district. Over her 14-year career in education, Megan has dedicated herself to transforming classrooms into vibrant, print-rich environments where reading is celebrated as a gateway to lifelong learning. Her instructional expertise lies in seamlessly balancing required English standards with a commitment to cultivating reading fluency and providing structured, meaningful opportunities for sustained silent reading. Megan firmly believes that fostering a generation of lifelong readers requires a balanced approach: equipping students with strong foundational skills while protecting dedicated time for autonomous, independent text engagement. In her view, every student can and should read for pure enjoyment. Her work focuses on helping students move past the mechanics of decoding to experience true immersion and joy in literature. To bridge this gap, she designed and led a highly successful secondary-level sustained silent reading program she named B.A.R.F. (Become A Reading Fanatic), which significantly boosted student engagement and ownership over their reading time. Her commitment to advanced literacy practices is backed by a Master’s Certificate in K-12 Reading from Saint Mary’s University. Currently, Megan is expanding her impact as a member of the inaugural Cohort 1 in the Ed.D. in Language and Literacy program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She chose this doctoral path to deepen her understanding of literacy acquisition frameworks and to analyze how independent reading impacts long-term academic and emotional growth, aiming to use advanced research to advocate for systemic support of literacy in schools. Looking ahead, Megan aspires to transition into higher education as a professor, where she can inspire and mentor the next generation of educators. Through teacher preparation and advisory roles, she aims to build a lasting legacy of joyful, self-motivated readers by shaping the future of literacy instruction.
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Ed.D. in Language and Literacy
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