Dr. Diane Golzynski, Deputy Superintendent for Business, Health, and Library Services | Michigan Department of Education
Educators and administrators were recently inspired by Deon Butler, a literacy advocate and former Detroit Lions player, during the "2025 Diversity in Literature Symposium: The How and Why of Literacy Webinar." This event is part of a five-part virtual series taking place during March is Reading Month.
Deon Butler, who has dyslexia, shared his personal journey with attendees. "When I couldn’t read, I had only one goal," Butler said. "After learning how to read, I had multiple goals. When you can’t read, you are one-dimensional. I thought that the National Football League was my only option."
Reflecting on his time with the Detroit Lions in 2015, Butler wrote on his website about the challenges he faced due to his reading difficulties. After ending his football career, he became an author and dedicated himself to motivating children. "Learning to read made the storm disappear," he said during the webinar.
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) co-sponsored the webinar series along with the Michigan Multi-Tiered System of Supports Technical Assistance Center. Dr. Corinne Edwards from MDE's Office of Educational Supports led the effort alongside Mrs. DeNesha Rawls-Smith and Ms. Katy Dennis.
Butler played a role in advocating for Public Act 146 of 2024 and Public Act 147 of 2024—known as the K-12 Literacy and Dyslexia Laws—with support from MDE.
State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice expressed appreciation for Butler's efforts: “We appreciate Mr. Deon Butler and all others who have interest in working to increase student achievement through literacy.” He noted that the webinar aligns with Goal 2 of Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan aimed at improving early literacy achievement.
The series will continue with future webinars featuring local and national experts focusing on topics such as dyslexia characteristics, structured literacy instruction, and engaging classroom texts.
Registration is required for upcoming sessions on March 27th and April 3rd about the MDE Dyslexia Handbook parts one and two respectively. Recordings will be available online afterward.
For more details about this initiative or to register for future events, contact MDE’s Literacy Unit at MDE-Literacy-Dyslexia@Michigan.gov.
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