As teachers across the state prepare to go back to work next week, teachers at Vernon Elementary and Snowflake Intermediate prepare for additional professional development in reading classes. The Navajo County Education Service Agency (NCESA) has received a prestigious grant from the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), Read On Arizona, and First Things First that will span 5 years. The $ 800,000 will be used for teacher learning, student support, and school resources.
ADE selected 10 scholarships (Kindergarten through 5th grade) nationwide for the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant to improve reading skills and strengthen community collaboration. NCESA will work with teachers from Vernon Elementary and Snowflake Intermediate to implement evidence-based strategies that promote higher language and reading skills.
“With this great scholarship, we have the opportunity to offer top-notch professional development and support over several years. We know that the implementation of quality instructions takes time and support. We thank the Arizona Department of Education for this award, which will help rural Arizona, ”said Jalyn Gerlich, headmistress for Navajo County.
The scholarship will not only train 40 local educators in advanced language and literacy strategies, but also provide a reading specialist, reading coach, and teaching materials. Both Navajo County’s Associate Superintendent Lannie Gillespie and Navajo County’s Education Specialist Susan Rodriguez will become evidence-based reading coaches and begin providing training in the Navajo and Apache counties. Currently, educators who want to stay current on strategy and career development are forced to travel to Flagstaff or Phoenix. By offering on-site training, schools save travel and time wasted outside of the classroom. It is NCESA’s goal to create a consortium of local educators who will share their knowledge of literacy education with other local educators and with parents / guardians.
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