DEED Spotlight Energizing Literacy

DEED Spotlight on Supporting Literacy, Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant Convening

The School Recognition and Support team has a lot of new faces and exciting opportunities to serve the state. One of those new faces is Hollins Emili, the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant (CLSD) Specialist. Mrs. Emili began her career in education as a classroom teacher in Anchorage. Her love of learning and literacy makes her a perfect fit to serve as the lead support for the CLSD Program Grant.

The CLSD Program is a federally funded competitive grant awarded to 15 districts, and one consortium consisting of five separate districts in Alaska. These districts will have access to funds to support literacy-based initiatives in the classroom over the next five years. The CLSD Grant is one way educators are striving to meet Alaska's Education Challenge by supporting all students to read at grade level by the end of third grade and focusing on literacy growth.

The CLSD recipients did not let the health pandemic or Zoom fatigue stop their momentum. They came together for a Fall 2020 CLSD Convening hosted by Mrs. Emili and DEED’s School Recognition and Support Team. The three-hour virtual event was full of great information, assessment guidance and tools, and rich literacy-focused conversation.

Educators were able to share what they have learned, loved, and noticed about teaching and learning in the current environment. Some highlights and trends from the conversation are listed below.

We have learned...

• Communication is key
• Flexibility is required
• Grace and creativity go hand-in-hand

We have loved...

• Collaboration with people from all over the state
• Added time to support and connect with kids individually
• Finding new ways to build relationships

We have noticed...

• Family engagement in the process of learning is increasing
• Lots of opportunities to revise and improve quality
• Being invited into homes as a guest (via Zoom) is humbling

We have wondered...

• How will this change us as educators?
• How will the combined efforts over time impact growth and progress for kids?
• What are some things that have changed that we need to keep moving forward?

 The Gold Star or Biggest Take Away...

• The spirit of the grant is to explore means by which we can increase student engagement and enjoyment of reading, as well as provide them with skill set to improve in this area
• We are all in the same place and we are all pivoting!
• The importance of family engagement is more apparent now than ever before

The discussions were invigorating, and the connection was needed and welcomed. It was clear that no matter the challenges we are facing across the state, literacy is vital to the education of our children.  A focus on literacy can help students overcome challenges, enhance resiliency, and expand horizons. Mrs. Emili and the CLSD Program Grant recipients will be working closely to find creative ways to serve students in a different way, enhance student literacy, and provide an excellent education for every student every day.

Thank you to the CLSD Grant Recipients for your commitment to supporting literacy across the state!