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Recognize the Literacy Champion in Your Life

A Champion fights or advocates for a cause on behalf of someone else.
When we think of a literacy Champion, we think of educators and those dedicated to literacy education- their resilience, strength, and persistence to helping students be the best they can be. Now educators are more important than ever. Nominate your literacy champion and they can win a subscription to our Literacy Symposium, a LETRS Champion t-shirt, and more fun prizes.

Nominate a Literacy Champion Today

Here are Some of Your Literacy Champions

Martha Campbell
Martha Campbell
ARI Reading Specialist
Conecuh County School
District, AL
“Martha Campbell is a vocal and passionate supporter of the Science of Reading. She loves LETRS®, and is a lover of the Science of Reading. She is an advocate for moving the LETRS components from theory to practice in every classroom she is assigned within the district.”
Kelly Shelby
Kelly Shelby
Teacher
Round Rock ISD, TX
“I have been to numerous literacy trainings during my 23-year career in education. Not until I heard Kelly talk about how young children develop reading skills, did I truly understand it. She has a passion and natural way of speaking about literacy that helps it all come together.”
Abigail Dougherty
Abigail Dougherty
Reading Specialist
Virginia Beach City Public Schools, VA
“Abbi works tirelessly to promote high-quality literacy instruction aligned to the SOR in all 55 elementary schools across the division. She is an advocate for students and teachers and empowers them to know better and do better. She is leading 200 coaches, administrators, and teachers through VBCPS LETRS® cohorts.”
Jill Ramsey
Jill Ramsey
Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction
Putnam County Schools, TN
“Mrs. Jill Ramsey is our literacy champion in Putnam County Schools. She is a game-changer advocate for the science of reading. She tirelessly and passionately champions SOR. She learns, shares, and presents her knowledge with teachers and administrators to impact ALL students in becoming proficient readers, writers, and thinkers.”
Dr. Tania McKey
Dr. Tania McKey
Senior Director of Humanities
Portland Public Schools
“As Director of Humanities for PPS, Dr. McKey has championed LETRS® training for all teachers and administrators in the district. Because of her, PPS has 250 teachers in LETRS and is on schedule to have all teachers trained in the science of reading by 2023.”
Dr. Maria Murray
Dr. Maria Murray
Creator of The Reading League
“Dr. Murray has created The Reading League, and in so doing, has taught hundreds about the science of reading; ultimately leading to thousands of children learning to read.”
Jamie Bennett
Jamie Bennett
Early Literacy Specialist
Frenship Independent School District, TX
“Jamie is an exceptional reading teacher and our reading academy coach for kindergarten. The entire emphasis of 'the work' they collaborate on is 'The Science of Teaching Reading.' Her No. 1 professional goal is to equip teachers to teach reading using research-based instructional practices. LETRS informed her belief about readers.”
Donna Meade
Donna Meade
Teacher
Nelsonville-York Elementary School Nelsonville-York City Schools, OH
“Donna is one of those teachers who everyone wants to be! She is a literacy champion because of the amount of knowledge she has about SOR and her willingness and passion to share it with her coworkers and use this knowledge to help ALL students. Donna Meade=Reading/SOR Guru.”
Donna Hejtmanek
Donna Hejtmanek
Independent Reading Consultant
Founder of Science of Reading: What I Should Have Learned in College Facebook Page
“Donna started the Science of Reading: What I Should Have Learned in College Facebook page in August 2019 with the dream of bringing educators, parents, and researchers to the science of reading. The site now has 53,390 members from all around the world. She has changed children's lives.”
Amanda Yates
Amanda Yates
Teacher
Kingston Elementary School Virginia Beach City Public Schools, VA
“Mandy is a dynamic reading coach and champion for every child. She believes with her entire being that every child deserves to be taught how to read. She never stops delving deep into the ‘why’ when it comes to literacy. Mandy's passion is contagious. Teachers want to learn from her.”
Susan Snyder
Susan Snyder
Reading Specialist
Eisenhower Elementary Norman Public Schools, OK
“Susan is a literacy change agent! She began her career in Kansas, and then took her amazing talents to Oklahoma. Susan rallies her colleagues to implement the science of reading, while providing resources, tools, and training in order to help all students become literate. Susan truly is a literacy champion!”
Fortune Sheffield
Fortune Sheffield
Literacy Specialist
Joe M. Gilmore Elementary School, Jackson Intermediate School, Clarke County School District, AL
“Mrs. Sheffield was the driving force in motivating our entire faculty to commit to learning LETRS® last year. This year, as we continue to learn, she is now leading the way for LETRS training for the faculty of another school!”
Marvaye Payton
Marvaye Payton
Teacher
Goodwin Elementary School Charleston County School District, SC
“Mr. Payton strives each year to see that his students get the best education. He is constantly studying data and changing the way he teaches reading to match his student's needs. He is not afraid to ask for help. His students always achieve in his class.”
Jackie Behney
Jackie Behney
Retired Teacher
Member of Decoding Dyslexia and The Reading League, PA
“Jackie championed for reading during her teaching career as a leader and reading specialist. She now is a committee member of Decoding Dyslexia and The Reading League PA. She is trying to help get better dyslexia screeners in doctor’s offices across Pennsylvania as well as educate and guide new teachers.”
Mackenzie Rudy
Mackenzie Rudy
Literacy Specialist
Newberry Elementary School, Etters, PA
“Mackenzie Rudy is my literacy champion. She is my co-worker and works tirelessly for her students every day. This summer, she spent hours preparing literacy continuums to help inform the literacy instruction of primary teachers at our school. She is currently converting our intervention materials for our use online.”
Dr. Carolyn Gore
Dr. Carolyn Gore
K–2 ELA Curriculum Specialist
Caddo Parish Public Schools, Shreveport, LA
“Dr. Gore has been the driving force in our state promoting the science of reading and teacher content knowledge for many years. She is respected for her determination in bringing change to help teachers help students become literate. She has been tireless in educating herself and countless others.”
Gay Finn
Gay Finn
Education Administrator
Alabama Department of Education
“Gay Finn has worked diligently to provide the opportunity for any and all Alabama educators to be able to participate in LETRS® at no cost to the teacher. She is working to make sure these teachers also have support and resources. She is impacting the future of the entire state.”
Janelle Kopac
Janelle Kopac
Third grade teacher
Dillsburg Elementary School, Northern York County School Ditsrict, Dillsburg, PA
Second Grade Teacher
Northern Online Learning Academy, Northern York County School Ditsrict, Dillsburg, PA
“Janelle is a lover of literacy and spends countless hours learning about best practices and science of reading. She makes it a priority to read with her students daily and implement research-based interventions for decoding and phonemic awareness.”
Kristen Jones
Kristen Jones
Curriculum Director
Enid Public Schools, OK
“Ms. Jones is a literacy champion because of her love for learning and sharing her knowledge about the science of reading. The information she has shared gives the teachers the tools they need to make informed decisions about the needs of our struggling readers.”

These Literacy Champions Share Why Teachers Are the Most Important Factor to Student Success

Teachers are the most important factor in student success. Informed teachers can explain language to students, including sounds, spellings, and word meanings that might be confusing. They use lessons based on reading science and understand the process of learning to read and write. Research proves it. Science matters. ”
—Dr. Louisa Moats
Author of LETRS
Informed early childhood educators help young children learn the early literacy skills that will make a difference for the rest of their lives. They use lessons based on reading science to build the foundations needed for learning to read and write. ”
—Dr. Lucy Hart Paulson
Author of LETRS® for Early Childhood Educators
Going through LETRS, you sit there, moment-by-moment, thinking ‘I should have known this.’ It’s the tool to change lives and change communities. ”
—Ebony Lee, Ph.D.
Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment,
Clayton County Public Schools, GA
Teacher expertise provides the 'why' behind your choice of programs, assessments, and interventions. There's no need to guess ... we know how to do this! Understanding how children learn to read, and what happens when they don't respond to instruction, is the key to enable students' growth. When you know better, you do better. ”
—Dr. Carol Tolman
Coauthor, LETRS

LETRS Fills the Gaps in Teacher Preparation

LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) addresses four critical outcomes for effective literacy instruction:

  • Understanding the science of reading
  • Converting research to practice
  • Enhancing teacher effectiveness
  • Transforming instruction
Learn More About LETRS

Calling All LETRS Champions

Applications are now being accepted for the Dr. Louisa Moats Award for Excellence Implementing the Science of Reading. LETRS Champion districts or schools using LETRS literacy professional learning are encouraged to apply. Deadline: March 22, 2021.

Apply For the Award

Rules of Literacy Champion Contest

The contest lasts from August 17, 2020–March 31, 2021. No purchase is necessary. Making a purchase does not increase the chance of winning. This contest is not endorsed by Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

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