New endowed professorship aims to transform literacy education in Idaho

"There was so much stigma associated with not being able to read," Flachbart said. "The students would rather act out than read aloud."

At nearly the same time, Carolyn Cort realized that her elementary students' reading skills were not developing in her Boise classroom. Despite her best efforts, the literacy teaching methods she learned in college were not helping her students learn to read successfully.

"I realized I didn't really know how to teach kids to read," Cort said.

For decades, it was thought students learned to read naturally by absorbing content in children's literature, mostly by reading aloud in class. Both Flachbart and Cort saw first-hand this wasn't the case, and their students were left facing the academic and emotional fallout of not being able to achieve fluency, falling farther behind as they progressed through school.

As research on language processing disorders became more widely accepted along with data supporting new teaching methods, both Flachbart and Cort's dedication to helping students inspired them to learn all they could about reading science, including how often-misunderstood language processing disorders like dyslexia can affect students' ability to read and write.

"Contrary to common belief, dyslexia isn't about seeing letters backward," Flachbart said. "The challenge lies in processing the sounds that make up language. Students with dyslexia benefit from systematic reading instruction - the same evidence-based practices that improve literacy for all children."

Dedicated to literacy

Passionate about implementing effective early instruction, Flachbart embarked on a decades-long career in literacy advocacy, including as a certified dyslexia specialist and as chief executive officer of the Neuhaus Education Center, a national organization dedicated to evidence-based literacy education.

After moving to Idaho, Flachbart continued her career with the Idaho Department of Education and furthered her own research by completing a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction at Boise State in 2009.

After completing a master in literacy degree from Boise State in 1999, Cort transitioned from elementary classrooms to teaching literacy courses part time at Boise State in 2002. In the following years, Cort also served as a reading interventionist in K-12 schools.

In 2022, legislation was signed by Idaho Governor Brad Little requiring dyslexia screening for all students in the state's K-3 classrooms. Cort and a team of literacy experts from Boise State acted quickly, providing professional development aimed at training pre-service and in-service teachers to effectively screen students for dyslexia and provide research-based intervention.

Despite discoveries made through research over the course of Cort and Flachbart's careers, Cort says there remains a persistent research-to-practice gap in how reading is taught in schools. Along with Flachbart, Cort is determined to bridge this gap and improve literacy for all Idaho students.

An endowed professorship

Flachbart and Cort's paths converged through a shared vision to ensure that every child in Idaho has access to effective, evidence-based reading instruction from well-prepared and supported educators.

Cort was the first recipient of a fellowship in 2024 Flachbart funded that enabled her to pursue a graduate certificate in dyslexia from the University of Florida. Now, through a gift to Boise State in 2026, Flachbart created the Endowed Professorship in Dyslexia in the College of Education and Public Service.

Awarded to Cort, the endowed professorship facilitates a partnership combining Flachbart's experience in literacy advocacy with Cort's expertise in teacher preparation, reading intervention and research. It is the first endowed position in education at Boise State.

The Boise State Literacy Lab pairs teacher education students with area children for literacy tutoring on campus. As part of Cort's focus on outreach, she launched the Boise State Literacy Corps program this fall to recruit teacher education students to provide tutoring on-site in local schools.

Together they are working to strengthen Idaho's approach to literacy and dyslexia education, with a continued focus on early identification, teacher training and improved support for struggling readers.

The position allows Cort to focus on expanding partnerships with Idaho schools, participate in statewide literacy initiatives, help write policy, develop tutoring services with Boise State students and more.

"Literacy work is critical because approximately one in five children need additional support," Cort said. "We now have positive momentum in the state, and I feel fortunate to collaborate with (Flachbart) on our shared commitment to improving outcomes."

With the endowment, Flachbart believes Cort's contributions will help realize her vision to create a statewide network of dyslexia specialists who can support teachers and students in every Idaho elementary school.

A lesson Flachbart has carried throughout her career - from teaching teenagers who hid their reading difficulties, to leading national literacy initiatives - is that literacy support at the earliest possible moment can change lives.

"When children receive the right instruction early, it changes the trajectory of everything that comes after," Flachbart said.

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