Blog Post
CORE Learning Announces Appointment of Dr. Dale Webster as New President
Webster's appointment marks a commitment to strategic growth for the organization that envisions a nation where all students experience grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful instruction.
CORE Learning, an organization dedicated to transforming literacy and math teaching and learning so that all students thrive, today announced Dr. Dale Webster’s appointment as President.
In his role, Dr. Webster oversees the organization’s daily operations and implements evidence-informed and research-grounded professional learning experiences for districts and schools nationwide. He has been the interim president of CORE Learning since May 2024 and previously served as the organization’s Senior Vice President for Literacy.
Dr. Webster brings more than 30 years of experience in teaching, professional learning, research, and education policy to the role. In 2012, Dr. Webster earned a Ph.D. in Learning, Cognition, and Development at the University of California-Irvine, where his research focused on vocabulary development for Multilingual Learners and the science of reading.
In addition to his many years with CORE Learning, he most recently served as a member of the SB 488 Panel that updated teacher preparation standards for reading instruction in California and has also served on the California State Literacy Plan Team and the California Curriculum Commission. He currently sits on the Editorial Board for the International Dyslexia Association’s (IDA) Perspectives in Language and Literacy. In addition, Dr. Webster has recently been nominated to serve on the IDA Board of Directors as the Senior Editor-in-Chief of IDA’s Editorial Boards.
“At CORE Learning, we work side by side with teachers and administrators to ensure that students are provided with high-quality, rigorous, evidence-informed instruction,” Dr. Webster said. “Educators everywhere have an extraordinarily tough job, and they and their students benefit from ongoing support. We’re here for them. In collaboration with our mission-driven team at CORE, I’m honored to help build educators’ knowledge and skills by leveraging a combination of technology-based and in-person professional learning offerings. This transformational approach to professional learning will enable educators to provide equitable educational experiences that meet the needs of every student, especially those historically underserved.”
Joining Dr. Webster on CORE’s new executive team are Maya Valencia Goodall, M.Ed, M.A. as Chief Strategy Officer and Kristie Shelley, M. Ed., as Chief Product Officer. Both Valencia Goodall and Shelley have over two decades of experience in literacy, educational publishing and educational technology. Prior to joining CORE, Valencia Goodall and Shelley developed products for Multilingual Learners at Lexia and co-founded Lingual Learning, a company acquired by Rosetta Stone.
“This trio of C-suite placements is a direct reflection of CORE’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of today’s educational needs—to being the best partner to districts and schools nationwide,” said Bernard Chandler, Chief of Staff for UnboundEd, CORE Learning’s parent organization. “The diverse expertise Dale, Maya, and Kristie offer will drive us forward in our collective vision at UnboundEd and CORE: to eliminate the predictability of student outcomes based on race, language, or socioeconomic status.”
CORE Learning collaborates with teachers, coaches, school leaders, and district leaders to provide professional learning and ongoing support for implementing high-quality curricula, rigorous and evidence-based instruction, and effective assessment practices. Since its inception in 1995, the organization has partnered with more than 152 districts across 25 States, impacting over 2.8 million students nationwide.
About CORE Learning
For 25+ years, CORE has pioneered evidence-informed professional learning and school supports that equip educators with the tools they need to advance rigorous instruction, high-quality materials, and effective assessments. In 2017, the organization became a subsidiary of Pivot Learning before the two organizations merged with UnboundEd in 2022. Together, CORE and UnboundEd are committed to improving education and raising achievement for our nation’s most vulnerable students.
About UnboundEd
UnboundEd works with educators to disrupt the predictability of student outcomes based on race, language, and socioeconomic status. Utilizing evidence-informed grade-level instruction, UnboundEd’s team of former teachers, district and school leaders, curriculum writers, and education experts walk side-by-side with educators and help them cultivate the skills to deliver grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful – GLEAM™ – instruction. UnboundEd continues to expand its offerings and drive long-needed changes in instruction, partnering with school districts and education agencies across more than 40 states.