Kansas Teachers Trained as Literacy Coaches       

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."

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 administrators attend 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.Unified School District – Literacy Coach, Administrator

USD 262 Valley Center – Becky Cox, Terry Ishman

USD 358 Oxford – Rachelle Graves, Terri Wiseman

*USD233 Olathe / USD 464 Tonganoxie – Terri McAlister, no administrator attended

USD 475 Geary County – Kathryn Maxwell, Greg Lumb

USD 405 Lyons – Dee Orth, Nancy Barlow

USD 265 Goddard – Sarah Shobe, Lynne Ann Borchers

USD 101 Erie – Louise Venneman, John Cole

Last Updated July 2, 2007>