We’re excited to share that Episode 2 of SERP Stories is now live!

In this episode, host Dr. Kala Jones takes us back to the very beginning of STARI (Strategic Adolescent Reading Intervention). You’ll hear how Boston Public Schools first identified adolescent literacy as a pressing challenge and how SERP convened researchers, teachers, and designers to build a program from the ground up. Episode 2 tells STARI’s origin story, from idea to prototype.

But the story doesn’t stop there.

Coming next, Episode 3 explores the scaling journey: how STARI grew beyond its Massachusetts roots to reach classrooms across the country. What does it take to move from a promising local intervention to a nationally recognized program? Evidence, persistence, and strong partnerships. Episode 3 also shows that scaling isn’t just about growth, it’s about staying true to the research and design principles that made STARI successful in the first place.

🎧 Listen to the episodes here: serpinstitute.org/podcast

Together, Episodes 2 and 3 reveal the full arc: from spark to scale.



Share these episodes with a colleague who’s curious about how innovations in education take root and grow.