The Orchard Foundation Partners with The Center for Literacy & Learning
Creating a Model of Excellence
Janee’ Butler, Senior Literacy Content & Training Specialist
“Professional Development for district leaders and superintendents is a key component in The Orchard Foundation’s efforts to improve academic achievement for Central Louisiana students,” said Dr. Marjorie Taylor, Executive Director of The Orchard Foundation. “During the 2022-23 school year, we were pleased to have The Center for Literacy & Learning as a partner in facilitating content training, school walk-throughs, and workgroup breakout sessions, which provided school district leadership with expertise around the critical goals of kindergarten readiness and third-grade student mastery level achievement.”
The Center for Literacy & Learning hosted The Orchard Foundation’s nine-parish Central Louisiana school district network with a focus on the importance of and implementation of structured literacy. Each visit focused on the underpinnings of school systems and supports to ensure all districts had the necessary steps to build a culture of literacy. The visits allowed district leadership to discuss the perplexities and challenges in guiding teachers and administrators in their schools’ journeys in applying the science of reading. Five of the nine school districts had the chance to host a session, where they opened their schools for a fun-filled learning experience, allowing for the application of all the new learning The Center provided to be materialized. In addition, district leaders had the opportunity to practice walk-through protocols for structured literacy and participate in breakout sessions grounded in collaborative efforts among superintendents and district instructional leaders.
The Center would like to thank The Orchard Foundation for the opportunity to help their nine districts on their journey in the science of reading. We would also like to send a warm thank you to all nine districts for their eagerness to learn and embrace the movement!
The Orchard Foundation nine parishes of Central Louisiana: Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn.
