We recently lost a remarkable champion of literacy—an American hero—Dr. Lily Wong Fillmore. For nearly three-quarters of a century, she devoted herself to supporting language-minority students across our country. We are endlessly grateful for her years of service on Knowledge Matters’ Scientific Advisory Committee.
Many of us first met Lily in 2010, not long after the Common Core State Standards were adopted nationwide. We were spellbound as she spoke to a large group of educators, urging us to stop giving language-minority and other students simplified, dumbed-down materials—thin gruel that failed to offer the complex syntax, vocabulary, and concepts so essential for success.
Drawing on decades of research, much of it led by Lily herself, she made a compelling case that students could develop the sophisticated language and thinking skills needed to thrive in school and beyond by engaging with demanding materials alongside their peers, with ample opportunities to process their ideas orally.
True to form, Lily drew on her scholarship and her genuine commitment to helping students access complex text by creating a practical strategy for teachers, called “Juicy Sentences.” Now used across the country, this strategy teaches students to deconstruct and reconstruct rich sentences while exploring how language features shape meaning.
Lily earned numerous academic honors, including a PhD from Stanford, an assistant dean role at the University of California–Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education, and recognition for her groundbreaking research. She was a leading member of our Scientific Advisory Committee. Above all, we will remember her abiding humanity. Knowing Lily meant experiencing kindness in its purest form. Every encounter with her brought something special to our lives, and her warm, ebullient smile will remain indelible.