MEETING A CRITICAL NEED

Supporting students’ literacy development

For many districts and educators, the COVID pandemic exacerbated an already existing need to focus on literacy in PK-12 schools. As a result, districts, such as West Ottawa in Holland, Michigan, are allocating resources and creating positions to target this critical need. Amy Bauer, a recent graduate of CMU’s Reading and Literacy program applied for and was promoted to one of these key positions. Amy is currently the MTSS Specialist for Lakeshore Elementary. Amy has been a kindergarten teacher in her district for 11 years and at Lakeshore elementary school for 9. Recently, West Ottawa Lakeshore Elementary school was awarded the National Blue Ribbon award by the Department of Education. This is a very prestigious award that recognizes schools for academic excellence and their work on closing the achievement gap. Amy is excited to have the opportunity to work at a diverse school that is standards-based and student-centered.

When asked how her CMU masters program contributed to her work in her new position, Amy noted that because the program focused on applying critical knowledge and skills to the literacy needs of today’s classrooms, she was able to hit the ground running and implement assessments and intervention strategies for students at all levels in her building. Additionally, she also appreciated how well prepared she was to take the test to receive the BR (Reading Interventionist) endorsement.

When we did our portfolio at the end, I was amazed at how much I changed through the entire process, and how I am able to put into practice what I learned. It is really exciting. I could not have walked into this position feeling as confident as I do without that.—Amy Bauer

Amy has always wanted to “plug into reading”. She talked about how excited she is in her work with students with intensive literacy needs and that not only did she have the skills to implement all the key assessments but more importantly use that data to meet the individual needs of those students. Amy noted how much she appreciates working in a forwarding thinking district that focuses on supporting both students and staff. In this position she can see the impact that a focus on literacy has in districts. When she gets to work with former students it is exciting to see how much the students have grown and the impact that literacy interventions have on them and their confidence.

I felt so prepared with CMU’s program. I have always been a nervous test taker but going through this test I felt like I know this. I was confident in the program preparing us for the exam. —Amy Bauer

She is looking towards growing in her current position and appreciates opportunities for collaboration. She noted that the program’s emphasis on building relationships was huge and how fortunate she is to have the opportunity to “walk along side of another teacher” or be “able to meet kids who are struggling and just have those relationships built” in her new position. Pairing the academic background from the degree with the relationships that she has built at her school has helped her engage in a collaborative role in her district that has a foundational impact on students.

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