Local Author/19th District Constituent Visiting Marbrook Elementary School

I am really excited about an upcoming visit to Marbrook Elementary School. A local, children’s author (Rick DeDonato, the author of Pipsie Nature Detective), a 19th District constituent, reached out to me after reading my monthly E Newsletter. I had a post about my visit to Brandywine Springs, where I was principal for the day. He offered sometime to come to a school and read his book to a group of students. He sent me the information about his book and he dropped off a book for me to read.  

After emailing Rick, I thought that this would be a great opportunity to bring a local, children’s author into one of our schools in the 19th District. I reached out to Dr. Daugherty, the Red Clay superintendent, asking him if it would be possible to have Rick come into one of our schools and read his book to the students. Dr. Daugherty agreed to it!

I ordered books for every student in a second grade class at Marbrook Elementary School. Rick is going to read the book to the students and then sign each of their books. Rick has two more books that will be released. This is such a great opportunity for the students! 

Why Must Schools Choose Between Larger Class Sizes or Unified Arts Programs?

I believe every school in our state should have technology, pe, art, music, library and talented and gifted programs. I know it costs lots of money. Our class sizes should not have to suffer because of these programs. Schools should not have to choose between class size and the arts. These programs are just as important as reading, math, social studies and science.

My daughter participated in Youth in Government, she wrote a bill called the Mandatory Unified Arts. I am proud to say, she won best Senate Bill that year. Just a shout out to Melissa Tracy at Conrad for running a fabulous program and Beth Blohm for chaperoning every year.

Thoughts? Do you agree or disagree with me? Very interested to hear what folks have to say.

Reading Assist Institute New Initiate

Reading Assist Press Conference

Today, I attended a press conference where Reading Assist Institute launched RAI Reading Corps, pilot program designed to aid children who struggle to read. RAI Reading Corps interventionist will work one-on-one, five days a week, with 1st through 3rd grade students who attend school in the Colonial School District.

(Below was taken from press release.)

Reading Assist will work with educators inside the Colonial School District to implement and refine the program over the next three years. Teachers, reading specialists, literacy coaches and speech language therapist from Colonial have taken training in RAI’s reading intervention program, which will create opportunities for significant cooperation and understanding between AmeriCorps tutors and educators within the district.

The RAI Reading Corps is unique in the amount of training that members will receive before going into schools, and in the type of students that these reading interventionist will serve. Every RAI Reading Corps member will spend approximately 50 hours training in the RAI reading intervention program. Coaching and ongoing professional development in literacy will provide additional support to the Reading Corps members. The program is designed to help students who face even the most severe reading challenges .

The 15 AmeriCorps members who make up the RAI Reading Corps bring with them a great diversity of backgrounds and experiences, from recent college graduates to educators with 17 years of experience.

Reading Assist Website