Erie Teacher Trained as Literacy Coach
by Colleen Neely
September 04, 2006
The last session in a year-long training project to prepare teachers to help colleagues with reading instruction will be held in September.
The goal of the instruction is to strengthen teachers’ instructional skills and knowledge as well as their students’ reading skills. These teachers then become “literacy coaches” in their schools, providing a resource to other teachers who may be struggling with a student’s literacy challenges.
"Without reading, children are not going to have success in all other subjects such as math, science, et cetera," said Melissa Reed, director of the training. "All teachers have some measure of training in teaching reading, but for students who need extra help, the teachers need someone to turn to who can guide them in the best methods to assist the students."
Louise Venneman, Title 1 services teacher at Erie Elementary School is among a handful of teachers from across the state were carefully selected for the literacy coach training, and a contract had to be signed by the teachers’ school administrator saying the school district would support the teacher in her literacy coaching. This included having Erie Elementary School Principal John Cole attending sessions with the teacher.
“We felt if they came as a team, the administrators would more likely support the new role of the literacy coach at their school,” Reed said.
The literacy coaches have attended sessions this year in April, June, and August. On September 14 they will have their final session.
This program is offered through the Jones Institute of Educational Excellence at Emporia State University and the Institute of Educational Research and Public Service at the University of Kansas and is sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education.
School districts, teachers, and administrators participating in the program are listed below.
For more information about the program, contact Melissa Reed at 620-341-5372 or 1-877-378-5433.
