If you want to find Heather Cella, early reading specialist at NWEA, on a warm weekend, you might try her small backyard sanctuary, her porch (she’ll be the one with a book), or her family, which includes twin dogs and two sweet cats. Heather is passionate about early literacy education, especially reading for grades K–2. Her 30-year career in education began with roles as a primary and intermediate teacher and interventionist. She has consulted with many school districts across Illinois and Wisconsin, provided professional development in literacy, and served as a district literacy coach for a large school district. She also spent over a decade in educational publishing. Heather believes good early literacy instruction is dependent on developmentally appropriate and evidence-based assessments so all children have the opportunity to read at grade level. She holds a master’s in education from DePaul University and an EdS in supervision and administration from National Louis University.