Surry County Schools is proud to be an outstanding leader in state LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) implementation. The success in early literacy education can be attributed, in part, to the remarkable addition of an Early Literacy Specialist (ELS). Holly West-Pauley, the Public Information Specialist at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), commended Surry County Schools for its exceptional achievement in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS), implementation.
Holly West-Pauley stated, "Educators across the state have shared with us that the Early Literacy Specialist positions have been a real game-changer as they implement the science of reading across the state. Surry County really stood out as having a great story to tell on this topic."
Donna Bledsoe, Principal of Cedar Ridge Elementary School and Wells Fargo 2023 NC Principal of the Year, expressed her appreciation for the ELS position, stating, "The focused, collaborative work of our Early Literacy Specialist continues to afford our school a strong collective efficacy base centered around effective literacy instruction assisting teachers to implement LETRS strategies, targeted instruction, and analysis of DIBELS 8th Edition data to ensure the success and continual growth of all students."
Margaret Spicer, Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction, emphasized the pivotal role of Abby King, Surry County’s ELS, in supporting teachers and students, stating, "Having an Early Literacy Specialist in our district has given our schools and teachers the support needed to quickly and accurately review data, set goals, and take action steps to close gaps for students. The support doesn't end when the goals are written. Our ELS is there to guide instructional planning and implementation in the classroom. We are very thankful for this position and the role our ELS is playing in LETRS implementation and literacy improvement across our district."
NCDPI has equipped each district with at least one ELS to support early literacy and LETRS implementation. The ELS supports educators by providing coaching, instructional planning, driven data collection, and analysis. This multi-level collaboration on literacy has already yielded remarkable results. In the two years since the launch of LETRS, North Carolina’s first, second, and third graders have made gains that are more than double those seen on the national level. During the 2022-23 school year, the percentage of students who measured “on track” for reading more than doubled in kindergarten, increased by 22 percentage points in first grade, and increased by 13 percentage points in second grade.
Surry County Schools extends its gratitude to NCDPI for their support and recognition of the district's efforts in early literacy education.