About Julie Scali
Julie Scali, literacy improvement specialist
Who understands the complexities of school life.
I’m Julie Scali, a national literacy improvement specialist, learning difficulties specialist, author and former school leader with more than 25 years’ experience across Australia and the UK in mainstream, special needs and high EAL/D contexts.
Why I do this work
Literacy changes the trajectory of a child’s life. This is why I do what I do.
I do not believe the current rate of literacy failure is acceptable. Every child has the right to leave primary school a confident, competent reader, writer and communicator.
To achieve this,
every teacher deserves the clarity, knowledge and confidence to teach literacy effectively.
Every leader deserves a practical pathway for building sustainable school improvement.
And every student deserves access to the literacy knowledge, opportunities and life chances that come from high-quality instruction, regardless of their postcode, background or starting point.
I understand the reality of leading improvement in schools
I understand because I’ve lived it. I’ve been the teacher, and I’ve been the school leader in hard to staff schools. I understand the gap between knowing what good literacy instruction looks like and actually building a school capable of delivering it consistently. So when I work with a school, I’m not interested in adding another initiative to an already impossible list. I help leaders see how the pieces fit together, and where effort will make the biggest difference for students. Then we make the work doable.
I still walk into classrooms and teach
I don’t ask teachers to implement practices I’m unwilling to demonstrate myself.
In my school partnerships, I’ve taken groups of students I’ve never met and modelled a new routine while teachers observe, sometimes on camera, in classrooms from preschool to secondary.
I’m prepared to make my own practice visible because trust matters in school improvement. I’m not there to stand on the sidelines. I’m there to work alongside teachers, show what it can look like in practice, and help leaders build the conditions that let great teaching happen consistently. In Building Literacy Excellence™, this happens online through modelled routines, video examples and feedback on your teachers’ own classroom video. In person modelling can be added when a school asks for it.
About Julie Scali: teacher, school leader and literacy specialist
01 Primary classroom teacher
In Australia, England and Northern Ireland, Foundation to Year 7, including a special needs unit in London.
02 SENCO
In London for four years, leading schoolwide inclusive practices as part of the senior leadership team.
03 Support Teacher Learning Difficulties
With the Centre for Inclusive Schooling (now SSEN:D), WA Department of Education, supporting principals statewide to strengthen multi tiered systems of support (MTSS).
04 Deputy Principal
For eight years across two schools in high and low ICSEA areas, leading whole school improvement and Response to Intervention.
05
Since founding Literacy Impact™
system level work with
25
Top End schools (NT) over four years
27
Schools in the Big Rivers region (NT)
80+
Schools in intensive one year partnerships, professional learning and consultation
DoE WA Centre for Excellence
Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools (MACS)
Northern Territory Christian Schools Early Childhood Preschools
Qualifications and recognition
Bachelor of Education (Primary), Murdoch University
Graduate Certificate of Education (Learning Difficulties), Edith Cowan University. Fogarty Scholar and Highest Score Prize winner
2025 Learning Difficulties Australia Bruce Wicking Award
Show all qualifications (3 more)
Former Editor of the LDA Bulletin and LDA Council member
Grattan Institute, Ochre Education, SSEN:D DoE WA Expert Advisory Panel
AusMumpreneur Awards finalist, Education and Training, 2026
SRSD writing improvement
Endorsed by Dr Karen R. Harris, co-creator of Self Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) and ASU Regents Professor Emeritus, Research Professor, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, and Consultant, who said of Julie’s 31 page SRSD writing unit planner for genre based writing instruction:
“Your deep knowledge of SRSD is so clear, as is your own stamp on it and presentation for teachers. This is very impressive.”
Dr Karen R. Harris
The book
High Impact Reading Instruction and Intervention in the Primary Years (Amba Press) turns the research on reading into practical classroom and intervention routines.
“Implementing the approaches outlined in this book will result in a significant improvement in reading achievement. It is a must read.”
Donna Reeves, Principal, Tumut Public School, NSW
“She marries practice with pedagogy with ease. I have seen Julie putting these words into action in the years before she put them into print.”
Zoe Sharman, retired Headteacher, London
“Well written with warmth, the same way Julie presents.”
Tamara Johansen, Literacy Leader, Humpty Doo Primary School, NT
Frequently asked questions
Who is Julie Scali?
Julie Scali is a national literacy improvement specialist, author and former school leader with more than 25 years in schools across Australia, England and Northern Ireland. She founded Literacy Impact™ to help school leadership teams build lasting literacy improvement.
Does Julie still teach in classrooms?
Yes. Julie models routines with students so teachers can see the practice in action: online through video in the partnership, and in person on request.
What is Julie’s book about?
High Impact Reading Instruction and Intervention in the Primary Years (Amba Press) turns the research on reading into practical guidance for teachers and leaders, including how to organise intervention so fewer students fall behind.