Literacy Coach Program

Education has many important facets. Transitioning into a coaching role this year has made it obvious to me, and other colleagues, the importance of the coaching aspect of education. The tasks and academic challenges faced this school year would have been insurmountable without the support of The Center, as well as direct support from my Regional Literacy Specialist. Meaningful resources, opportunities for collaboration and networking, cutting edge information, timely guidance, and just overall great support given, to help to me as a coach to give support to teachers- who ultimately impact students.

“Thank you for reinspiring us and helping us find a new goal to work towards. My team and I (coach and teachers) were feeling really down and lacking motivation, because of all the disruptions with Covid and the Hurricane. Now we have momentum and we’re all working towards something to support our students to grow and become independent readers.”

At Leesville Junior High School, in Vernon Parish School District, STAR Screener Data showed that 73% of 7th graders required intervention at the beginning of the year, with 41% in need of urgent intervention. By the end of the year, 42% of 7th graders needed intervention with only 22% in need of urgent intervention. There was an increase of 35% of the students reading at or above benchmark by the end of the year.

I am a first year literacy coach for Tangipahoa Parish. Kelly Morris has been a wonderful influence on me and my position. I serve two different schools, and Kelly Morris learned the structures of both schools quickly. She had great rapport with the administration teams at both schools. As a regional literacy specialist, she was willing to answer and support all of my needs as a coach. She would give me advice on how to conduct my observations, meetings with teachers, and different strategies to help me support my teachers. She has given me suggestions for student motivations, as well as ways to motivate teachers who were placed in difficult situations.

Having the support of Mrs. Harrell and The Center for Literacy & Learning has been a tremendous help in fostering growth and learning in our classrooms. Through this collaboration, our literacy coach’s personal and professional learning has been enhanced and enriched through this partnership and has had a definite impact on instruction. Additionally, that personal contact and ability to network with colleagues across the state have been critical in providing the support she needed transitioning out of the classroom and into her new role. We appreciate our partnership with Mrs. Harrell and the CLL!

My Regional Literacy Specialist was everything I needed for my first year. Now I can read and learn things over the summer and have more direct questions for the new school year. I better understand my position now and hope to start off the next school year on a good note.

I was recently appointed as literacy coach in November of 2021. I was unfamiliar with the role and duties of this posiiton. I have been fortunate to have Ms. Joan Primeaux as my mentor through this process. She makes regular school visits to help answer my questions and assist me with upcoming PLCs at our school. She is always available by phone or email, and I am so grateful for her assistance. I have definitely learned valuable information from her, and I hope she will be able to remain as my source of guidance for the 2022-2023 school year. The Center for Literacy and Learning has truly been an integral part of this learning process.

At Grand Caillou Elementary in Terrebonne Parish School District, Region 10, 93% of the Kindergarteners scored at or above benchmark!!!

“I have no idea what my mental (or professional) state would have been without the guidance, knowledge, reassurance, and SUPPORT of Jennifer Kelly. She was a constant support and a WEALTH of knowledge. Being new to this position, this campus and the shifts in literacy, I was a complete ball of nerves and self-doubt entering the school year. Each time we met, I left the meeting knowing something I did not know before or with a new perspective on something old. She was always willing to go ABOVE and BEYOND what the "expectations" of a literacy specialist was, and for that I am truly blessed to have worked with her. I am going to miss working with her this year, but I know she is just a phone call or email away. Thank you to the CLL for all that you do in providing support to literacy coaches in our area. You are greatly appreciated!”

“I had the pleasure of working with Jennifer Kelly from The Center for Literacy and Learning. CLL provided me with countless resources and support to ensure that I was successful in my first year of being a literacy coach. Our meetings were always so insightful and I left feeling refreshed and ready to take on the next challenge that came my way. CLL helped me feel like part of a community rather than on an island in my new position. I gained so much knowledge and leadership skills through their trainings and attending the Plain Talk conference. I also gained a friend in Jennifer Kelly. I do not think I would have survived my first year without the support from CLL.”