Literacy Leader Angie Hanlin is in WNY This Week!
Don't miss an opportunity to learn how she led her elementary school to 100% reading proficiency
Angie Hanlin has worn many hats in education - teacher, curriculum director, instructional coach, professional development coordinator, superintendent - but it was her work as a principal at Matthews Elementary in the New Madrid County R-1 School District in Missouri that drew national attention.
Because it was under Angie’s leadership that the Matthews Elementary school staff was able to dramatically transform their school and go from 13% reading proficiency to 100% reading proficiency.
You read that right.
Angie led her elementary school to 100% reading proficiency.
Through the WNY Literacy Initiative, we’re bringing her to Western New York to tell educators how she did it (hint: lots of hard work, a laser-like focus on data, more hard work).
You Have Two Opportunities to see Angie Hanlin!
Angie will be doing two literacy workshops for school leaders this coming week, one in partnership with Starpoint CSD on 10/23 (the workshop on this day is full) and one in partnership with Akron CSD on 10/24 (there are spots available - see below), where she will dive into the systems and structures that created such incredible change.
Opportunity #1:
If you are a leader in the region who would like to attend this special professional development opportunity, there are still spots available at the Akron workshop and you can register HERE.
Opportunity #2:
Angie will also be presenting as part of the WNY LIT speaker series on the evening of 10/23 from 6-8pm at Erie Community College - North Campus. This event is open to everyone and we still have room available! Please register HERE.
People scoff when they hear the phrase “literacy for all” but when Angie Hanlin says “all means all” she means it - and knows it possible. I hope you’ll join us for this chance to learn from this amazing educator.
What We’re Reading & Listening To
“New York State Path Forward Team Releases Action Plan to Transform Literacy Instruction” - press release from NYSED
** Please look for a more in-depth analysis of this 49-page document about strengthening teacher prep programs in one of our upcoming newsletters**
“Do Leveled Books Have Any Place in the Classroom?” - EdWeek
Leveled books are "based on outdated theories about how children learn. Studies show students can read books that are above their level with teacher- and peer-provided support. Restricting students to text at lower reading levels can actually widen achievement gaps.
Other research has found that the leveling system isn’t even that accurate. A 2014 study showed that data from leveling assessments correctly predicted students’ reading ability only about 50 percent of the time.
The big problem with these books, though, is that they don’t help students develop their decoding skills—their ability to sound out words by connecting letters to spoken sounds, said Kari Kurto, the National Science of Reading Project director at The Reading League, a group that advocates for evidence-based reading policy and classroom practice."
6-Part Webinar Series Highlighting Northeastern Literacy Leaders - From The 95 Percent Group, scan QR code in flyer to register.
Want to know how other WNY school leaders are successfully shifting to evidence-based reading instruction and curriculum?
Sign up for this webinar series from the 95 Percent Group! On December 4th, Anne Botticelli from Buffalo Public Schools will share what BPS has done to support teachers, and on December 17th, Rebecca Leone from Dunkirk City Schools will be talking about sustainability. (Frontier teacher Sean Morrisey was featured on October 8th, discussing evidence-aligned instruction.)
Have a great week - and I hope to see you at one of our events with Angie Hanlin!
Tarja