About Us
The Reading League Nebraska
The mission of The Reading League Nebraska is to advance awareness, use, and understanding of evidence-aligned reading instruction across the state of Nebraska.
Meet Our Team
Meet Dr. Brittney Bills
Dr. Brittney Bills is currently a Senior Manager for Literacy Partnerships with Amplify Education. She was formerly an Elementary Principal, Elementary ELA Curriculum & MTSS Coordinator, and School Psychologist. She was trained as a facilitator for LETRS Volume 1 and 2, and has served as an adjunct professor.
Dr. Bills has supported multiple school districts in establishing a Multi-Tiered System of Supports. Additionally, she has coordinated and supported the adoption and implementation of high quality instruction materials; including standards alignment, curriculum mapping, and professional development in effective instructional practices for teaching literacy. Dr. Bills has been recognized for her work in literacy and MTSS by being named a LETRS Literacy Champion, an Amplifying Your District Science of Reading Star Award Recipient and she has also been featured on Amplify’s Science of Reading podcast.
Meet Clarice Jackson
Clarice L. Jackson is a nationally recognized literacy advocate, dyslexia consultant, Supreme Court–trained mediator, trainer, edupreneur, and certified Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator. She is the Founder and Host of the Black Literacy Matters® Conference and the Founder of the Voice Advocacy Center (est. 2012), Nebraska’s first dyslexia-specific tutoring and family advocacy center.
Clarice serves in influential national leadership spaces advancing evidence-based reading instruction and systems-level literacy reform. She is a member of the International Dyslexia Association Definition Steering Committee, contributing to the 2025 Revised Dyslexia Definition, a foundational framework shaping research, policy, and practice internationally.
She also serves on the 95 Percent Group Education Leadership Council, collaborating alongside leading scholars in the science of reading movement, including Dr. Reid Lyon and Dr. Louisa Moats, whose work has been instrumental in advancing structured literacy, educator knowledge, and literacy policy nationwide.
In addition, Clarice is the Founder and President of Decoding Dyslexia Nebraska, a grassroots, parent-led movement advancing literacy equity, dyslexia awareness, evidence-based instruction, and policy reform across the state.
She also serves on the Evidence Advocacy Center Parent and Family Advocate Team and the Nebraska Department of Education Literacy Advisory Panel, and contributes her expertise through a select number of additional literacy, education, and policy councils at the state and national level.
A dedicated public servant, Clarice is a Commissioner on the Nebraska Commission on African American Affairs, where she contributes to statewide policy and advocacy efforts impacting African American communities. She also serves on the Omaha Public Library Board, supporting equitable access to literacy, information, and community learning resources, and provides parent-informed insight through local advisory service supporting special education and literacy access initiatives.
An ordained minister, mother, and parent of a daughter who navigated dyslexia, Clarice’s leadership is grounded in lived experience and accountability to families. She is the author of the NAACP Dyslexia Proclamation and Resolution (2014) and has received national and international recognition, including the 2025 College of Saint Mary Her Story Women’s History Month Award, the 2025 Global Inclusion Champion Award (Nairobi, Kenya), the 2023 Malcolm X Foundation Award for Dyslexia and Literacy Reform, the 2019 NAACP Freedom Fighter Service Award, and the 2014 National Coalition of 100 Black Women Education Reform Award.
Meet Melissa Taylor
Melissa Taylor is currently the Director of Budget and Analytics at LifeLink Foundation. She has her MBA with a concentration in Accounting from Bellevue University. She has over 30 years experience working in Accounting and has worked with numerous non-profits.
Meet Barb Treadway
Dr. Barbara Treadway currently works at the College of Saint Mary, where she serves as the Assistant Dean of Student Life. She has dedicated more than 25 years to higher education, following an early career in the nonprofit sector. She began her professional journey working with at-risk populations in the Omaha community through organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs and Goodwill Industries.In her current role, Dr. Treadway oversees mental health counseling services, campus leadership and student organizations, and campus well-being initiatives grounded in the Okanagan Model. She also works directly with student parents, connecting them with critical resources to support their persistence and success in higher education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Treadway created Kids Club, an innovative program that allowed parenting students attending in-person classes to bring their children to campus for supervised remote learning. The program was a significant success and provided a much-needed support system for student families. Dr. Treadway also partnered with Clarice Jackson assisting with the first Annual Black Literacy Matters Conference at the College of Saint Mary. Her deep involvement in the community, commitment to building meaningful connections, and passion for creating inclusive learning spaces are central to her work. Outside of her professional role, Dr. Treadway is an avid animal rescue advocate. She has partnered with organizations across the country to help homeless, abused, and abandoned animals find their forever homes. She shares her life with her three beloved fur babies
Reimagine the Future of Reading
Help us bring the science of reading to every educator, parent, and child.