Based in Washington, DC, Donyall Dickey has an extensive background in Pre-K- 12 teaching and learning, school leadership, and district administration. Having founded Educational Epiphany in 2008 and expanding its national and international reach in 2017, Dr. Dickey’s ideas support significant and sustained gains in student achievement in urban, suburban, and rural schools.
Dr. Dickey is the author of a wide-ranging body of curricular and professional resources spanning the Science of Reading, English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. His seminal professional works include The Integrated Approach to Student Achievement (1st–4th Editions), Mitigating Curricular Chaos, Humanized Education (Marzano Resources), and his most recent book, The Universal Language of Literacy. In addition, he has authored an extensive catalog of more than 180 children’s books, literacy development tools, writing programs, and core curricula—notably contributing to the national literacy landscape through a major partnership with Scholastic Education.
A native of Texas City, Texas, Dr. Dickey began his career as a third-grade teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools, later serving as an English literature teacher and Assistant Principal in Baltimore County Public Schools. He went on to lead two secondary schools to record-setting academic gains in Baltimore City and Howard County, Maryland, solidifying his reputation as an instructional leader. In subsequent roles as an Assistant Superintendent and chief-level executive in the North and Southeast, Dr. Dickey guided scores of schools to unprecedented improvement through a focused commitment to Tier I instruction, early and continuing literacy development, human capital investment, strategic professional learning, and distributive leadership practices.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
For most of the 262 weekdays each year, I am awake by 5:30 am, stirring in a hotel room somewhere in the world as I orient myself to where I’ve landed—often just hours earlier. I reach for my phone to confirm the distance between my hotel and the day’s engagement. Once that’s settled, I move through a familiar routine: grooming, repacking my suitcase, locating my rental car keys, grabbing a bottle of water, and ensuring I arrive at least 30 minutes early—whether the stage is a school, a boardroom, or an auditorium.
Most days demand that I be fully present—teaching, leading a curriculum audit, or facilitating a strategy meeting—for no fewer than three hours in person. From there, I am often ushered into a borrowed, quiet space to engage virtually with a different partner school, district, or professional association via Zoom, before rushing to the airport, fielding high-stakes calls en route, and flying through the night—only to begin the cycle again the next morning. And by the way, I love every minute of it.
How do you bring ideas to life?
1. Clarify the Why Before the What
Every viable idea begins with purpose. Ask:
• What problem must be solved?
• For whom?
• Why does this matter now?
Ideas without a compelling “why” rarely survive contact with reality.
2. Distill the Idea to Its Essence
Before expanding, compress.
• Can you explain the idea in one sentence?
• What is the non-negotiable core?
If the idea cannot be articulated simply, it cannot be executed well.
3. Pressure-Test Through Reality, Not Opinion
Move the idea from abstraction to application:
• Where would this live—in practice, policy, a product, a classroom, instrument?
• What constraints (time, money, human capacity) will challenge it?
Strong ideas are refined by friction, not protected from it.
4. Build the Smallest Viable Expression
Do not wait for perfection.
• Prototype the lesson, framework, product, or message.
• Pilot it with real users, in real conditions.
Momentum is created by movement, not mastery.
5. Observe, Measure, and Listen
Watch how partners interact with the idea:
• What resonates?
• What confuses?
• What changes behavior?
Feedback is data—not a verdict.
6. Refine Ruthlessly
Cut what is ornamental.
Strengthen what is essential.
Alignment matters more than scale at this stage.
7. Institutionalize the Idea
Ideas only endure when they are:
• Documented
• Taught
• Replicated
• Embedded in systems and routines
An idea becomes real when it no longer depends on you alone.
In Short:
Ideas come to life when vision meets structure, and structure meets action.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I recently signed up for a TikTok account and have enjoyed teachers and leaders—whom I’d otherwise never have become acquainted with—sharing their firsthand experiences. It’s inspiring to see real-world challenges, innovative strategies, and personal insights presented in such an authentic, engaging, and accessible way.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
On a good day, I take copious notes during planning meetings and team discussions, deliberately capturing decisions, rationale, and next steps. Before adjourning, I
confirm commitments, timelines, and ownership to ensure shared understanding and accountability. Within 24 hours, I codify and disseminate my notes to all
relevant parties, providing a clear record of decisions and action items. This practice ensures continuity of effort, minimizes duplication of work, and sustains momentum across the team.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to trust the long arc of growth and not confuse urgency with importance. There is no substitute for patience, preparation, and disciplined consistency. I would remind myself that adversity is not evidence of inadequacy—it is often the very training ground that sharpens purpose, clarity, and resolve. Most of all, I would say this: protect your integrity, honor your curiosity, and do not rush past the moments that are quietly shaping who you are becoming. The work will come. The impact will follow. Stay the course.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.
For more than a decade, I have been declaring to anyone who would listen that students (of all grades) must have access to comprehensive literacy instruction—instruction that simultaneously cultivates a genuine love of reading and systematically develops the foundational skills that make capacity reading possible. This includes explicit attention to phonemic and phonological awareness, phonics and encoding, coupled with deep understanding of Greek and Latin word parts—which is the gateway to authentic intellectual engagement with complex texts. I have long believed that joy and rigor are not competing priorities in literacy development; they are complementary. When students are taught how language works, they gain the confidence to read independently and the curiosity to read widely.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I approach every challenge with openness and unwavering resolve. I hold an abiding belief that anything is possible and that obstacles are often opportunities in disguise. By embracing such a mindset, what initially seems like a setback can become—what it should have been all along—a springboard for innovation, philanthropy, and unexpected success.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I am brainstorming new ideas—writing, creating, or refining content and products—and I find myself overwhelmed or unfocused, I instinctively reach for my phone and open my gospel music playlist. I play it softly—not so loud that it drowns out my thoughts, but loud enough to hear the messages and melodies rooted in hope, perseverance, and triumph. The music steadies me, helping me quiet the noise, regain clarity, and move forward with renewed focus and purpose.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Educational Epiphany is fundamentally driven by partner-centered innovation. I dedicate significant time and energy to understanding the evolving needs of our partners, approaching this intentionally through a threefold process: (1) listening deeply to identify both explicit and unarticulated challenges, (2) soliciting candid feedback and piloting new ideas on a manageable scale to test their feasibility, and (3) iterating thoughtfully based on what proves effective. This disciplined approach allows us to align our products, services, and solutions directly with the real problems of practice that our partners face. The result is a business that not only builds lasting loyalty and trust, but also expands its reach, remains agile in a rapidly changing landscape, and drives sustainable revenue growth—without sacrificing the integrity and purpose at the heart of our work.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
There was a time when I believed that titles conferred importance and value—how wrong I was. I learned that impact matters far more than any role or designation. For a period, I allowed the perception of a title to shape my sense of worth, which sometimes left me vulnerable to being misunderstood and misrepresented. Nearly 10 years after what some might view as a failure, I now know that true influence comes not from a position, but from the consistency of one’s work, the integrity of one’s actions, and the positive difference one makes in the lives of others.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I’m an avid user of the Notes app on my iPhone. Ideas hit me at the most inconvenient times—while asleep, sprinting through an airport, cramped in a middle seat on a cross-country flight, scarfing down a meal, and even in the middle of teaching or presenting. As soon as I wake or as etiquette allows, I dictate these ideas into the app to develop, refine later, and share later. I can’t imagine being a creative without it. Thanks Apple.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
My cell phone is the portal to my nonstop business life, and its battery is always teetering on empty. So, my most recent $100 investment was pure necessity: a portable cell phone battery. Because let’s be honest—airport outlets are unreliable, planes are worse, and my schedule doesn’t pause for dead batteries. That little compact powerhouse now keeps me running through every time zone, connecting flight, emergency Wi-Fi, and Uber request. Every dollar well spent.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I draw immense value from the writing of the 18th, 19th, and mid-20th centuries—each for a different reason. I am continually inspired by W.E.B. Du Bois, whose piercing insights remind me that the pursuit of knowledge is inseparable from the pursuit of justice. Phyllis Wheatley’s verse, though penned centuries ago, still whispers the power of resilience and intellect against impossible odds. Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose essays celebrate self-reliance and the infinite possibilities of the human mind, challenges me to think independently and courageously. And James Baldwin, whose words cut through the noise and force us to confront truth, beauty, and the human soul, is a constant guide for reflecting deeply on society and ourselves.
In the podcast space, I seek those that carry a similar weight: conversations that challenge assumptions, illuminate hidden histories, and offer tools for both personal and professional growth. Together, these voices—written and spoken—remind me that knowledge, empathy, and courage are inexorably intertwined, and that the work of learning is also the work of living fully.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently enjoyed revisiting the Superman movies. Beyond the action sequences, explosions, and epic battles of good versus evil, what always strikes me is the balance between extraordinary power and human responsibility—reminding us that even heroes have to navigate everyday challenges, make tough choices, and stand for what’s right, no matter the odds.
Key learnings
- Obstacles are opportunities for growth, innovation, and unexpected success in disguise.
- Core values are the building blocks of a lasting legacy.
- Consistency, integrity, and impact matter more than titles or designations.
- Pursuance of knowledge and understanding are essential in all aspects of life—personal and professional.