Windows, Mirrors, and the Stories That Save Us with Dr. Katie Egan Cunningham

📌Episode Synopsis

In this powerful episode of Classroom Narratives: Healing in Education, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with literacy scholar and educator Dr. Katie Egan Cunningham to explore how stories shape the human experience—both inside and outside the classroom.

Together, they examine why stories matter not only as texts but as lived experiences. From novels and playlists to social media and personal memory, stories help young people make sense of the world and themselves. Dr. Cunningham reflects on how literature allows students to see themselves and others through what educators call “windows and mirrors,” while also urging educators to think carefully about how stories are selected and taught.

The conversation moves into deeply personal territory as Dr. Cunningham shares how navigating her son’s dyslexia reshaped her understanding of literacy systems and advocacy in education. She explains how school structures can unintentionally fail children who learn differently—and how educators can recognize early warning signs before students fall through the cracks.

Dr. Weisler and Dr. Cunningham also discuss grief, vulnerability, and the emotional realities that students bring into classrooms. From experiences of trauma and loss to the pressures of school systems that prioritize certainty over humanity, the episode asks a critical question: What happens when educators create classrooms where students feel seen?

Ultimately, this conversation reminds us that literacy instruction is not only about decoding words—it is about helping students navigate the stories of their own lives.

📌 Show Notes

🔗 Dr Katie Egan Cunningham's website

🔗 Dr. Cunningham's article: In Search of Hope and Healing: Guideposts for Whole-Hearted Living, Loving, and Teaching after Loss

🔗 Article: Catching Readers Before They Fall (Torgesen)

🔗 PODCASTS: Dr. Susan B Neuman, Dr. Adam Wolfsdorf

Theorists and thinkers: Grace Enriques from Lesley University, Pam Allyn,