Letter asking Legislators to Require that Districts Use Literacy Funds to Train Teachers in the Science of Reading
Oregon continues to face a literacy crisis where over 60% of our 3rd graders are not reading at grade level - even though research shows that almost any child can learn to read, given the right instruction. As teachers, we urge the state to take action by:
Requiring districts to use their Early Literacy Success Initaitve funds to train all of their K-3 teachers and administrators in the science of reading by Fall 2027
Ensuring that training includes a minimum number of training hours, rigorous evaluations of learning throughout the course, end-of-course assessment and documentation of successful completion of the course. Example: Eastern Oregon University’s teacher training Building a Strong Foundation in Literacy.
Inequitable systems blame individuals for difficulty in achieving, when it is the systems themselves that perpetuate those outcomes. Currently, districts can choose how to spend their Early Literacy Success Initiative funds, which means many classroom teachers may never receive the training they need to teach all children. Addressing our crisis means that every teacher be given the skills and confidence to help all their students become successful readers.
Signed:
Educators
Danielle Thompson, Forest Grove School District, Teacher
Cathy Parker, Portland Public Schools, Reading Interventionist
Samantha Einarsson, Portland Public Schools, Teacher, 4th Grade
Casandra Huerta Murphy, Portland Public Schools, Instructional Coach
Mary Starrs, Reynolds School District, Reading Specialist
Laura Skaggs, Oregon Trail, Substitute Paraprofessional
Jennifer Pultz, Portland Public School, Dyslexia Therapist
Becki McIntosh, Imbler, Reading Specialist
Nikole Emerson, Tigard Tualatin School District, Teacher, Kindergarten
Jan White, Redmond 2J, Reading Specialist, Interventionist
Heather Mansberger, Portland Public Schools, Reading Specialist
Patsy Homberg, Scappoose School District, Literacy Interventionist
Erika Lucas, Tigard Tualatin School District, Literacy Specialist
Kellie Koch, Crook County, Reading Interventionist
Jessica Ratliff, Salem-Keizer School District, Teacher, 1st Grade
Shawn Brooks, La Grande School District, Teacher, 4th Grade
Kayla Flores, North Powder SD 8J, Paraprofessional
Katie Cracraft, Elgin School District, Title 1 Assistant
Logan Nedrow, North Powder Charter School, Teacher, 3rd Grade
Astoria Thornton, Helix Charter School, Paraprofessional
Alexa Collins, Pilot Rock School District, Teacher, Kindergarten
Sarah Yoshioka, Pendleton School District, Teacher, 6th Grade, ELA/Reading Interventionist
Beth Naughton, Intermountain ESD, Instructional Coach
Bridget Schultz, Pendleton School District, Teacher, 3rd Grade
McKenna Miller, Imbler Elementary, Teacher, Kindergarten
Ashley Sturtevant, Pilot Rock School District, Special Education Teacher
Mary Black, Baker School District 5J, Teacher
Sandra Harris, Pine Eagle School District, Paraprofessional
Shelby Cook, Pendleton School District, Teacher, 2nd Grade
Meghan Dixon, Union School District, Teacher, 5th Grade
Rachel Luke, Morrow County School District, Instructional Coach
Kayla McIntosh, Condon School District, Teacher, 3rd/4th Grade
Autumn Thomas, Ione School District, Teacher, 5th Grade
Holly Wagner, La Grande School District, Teacher
BeAnn Smith, Morrow County, Teacher, 2nd Grade
Tricia Tucker, Cove School District, Special Education Teacher
Katie Jo Johnson, Baker School District 5J, Teacher, 3rd Grade
Jill Welter, Baker School District 5J, Teacher, 3rd Grade
Lynnette Murasky, La Grande, Library Clerk
Cambree Shields, Pendelton, Teacher, 1st Grade
Allisyn Ferdig, Baker School District 5J, Teacher, Middle School, 4th, 5th Grade
Annie Haifley, Hood River County School District, Teacher, 2nd Grade
Ashley Harsin, Intermountain ESD, EL Specialist
Kinsey Smith, La Grande School District, Reading Specialist
Laura Weddle, Condon School District, Special Education Instructional Assistant
Jolene Hudson, Pendleton School District, Intervention Specialist
Natalie Wilkins, Condon School District, Teacher, 1st, 2nd Grade
SuAnn C Dixon, North Powder School District, Reading Specialist
Amber Savage, First Grade Teacher, Morrow County School District, Teacher, 1st Grade
Piper Kelm, Pendleton School District, Principal
Misty Anderson, Baker 5J, Teacher, Kindergarten
Sharilyn Newtson, Helix School District, Teacher, Special Education
Evan Rummerfield, Pendleton School District, Teacher, English
Devyn Cudaback, Nyssa School District, Teacher, Kindergarten, 1st Grade
Rachael Oliver, La Grande School District, Teacher, Special Education
Correen Bogardus, Baker City School District, Teacher
Marsha McElrath, Milton Freewater Unified School District #7, Teacher, Reading
Aysha Vidales, Baker School District, ELD Specialist
Rachel Balza, Baker School District, Teacher
Kristle Kuehn-Allison, Helix School District, Teacher, 5th Grade
Krysten Horn, Pendleton School District, Teacher, Elementary
Crystal LeGallo, David Douglas School District, Reading Specialist
Cory Torrence, Helix School District, Teacher, 1st Grade
Jaclyn Kilpatrick, District 11, Pre-K Educator
Serena Bontemps, Pendleton School District, Teacher, 3rd Grade
Kim Harwood, Stanfield School District, Teacher
Jessica Stephen, Pendleton School District, Teacher, 2nd Grade
Koreen Williams, Cove School District, Teacher, 2nd Grade
Jordann DeWitt, La Grande School District, Teacher, 1st Grade
Ami Livingston, Baker School District 5J, Teacher, 1st Grade
LaDonna Blagg, La Grande School District, Paraprofessional
Karen Crews, La Grande School District, Teacher, Kindergarten
Krysta Rodgers, North Douglas School District, Reading Coordinator
Haley Ebner, La Grande School District, Teacher, 2nd Grade
Francine OConnell, Baker School District 5J, Reading Specialist
Daniel Sharp, Stanfield School District, Educator
Whitney Porter, Pendleton School District, Intervention Specialist
Mary Walker, Intermountain ESD, Education Specialist
Melinda Hassinger, La Grande School District, Teacher, Kindergarten
Kimberly Isaacson, La Grande School District, Teacher, Kindergarten
Dana Marlia, North Powder School District, Teacher, 2nd Grade
Caitlin Anderson, North Douglas School District, Teacher, Kindergarten
Killian Sump, Burnt River School District, Teacher, Middle Grades
Andrea Belding, Baker School District 5J, Teacher, Kindergarten
Holly Stanton, Baker School District 5J, Teacher, Special Education
Sarah Leonard, Pendleton School District, Teacher, Kindergarten
Tony Milton, Riddle School District, Special Education Coordinator
Taunya Barnett, La Grande School District, Teacher, Title I
Julie Stout, Baker School District 5J, Teacher, Intervention
Brie Ellis, North Douglas School District, Instructional Assistant
Brandon Haberly, North Douglas School District, Principal
Kimberly Green, North Douglas School District, Teacher, Special Education K-8
Daisy Walden, Intermountain School District, Teacher, Elementary
Marcy Jerome, Pilot Rock School District, Teacher, PreK
Niccole Harrison, Pendleton School District, Teacher, ELA
Brandy Richardson, North Powder Charter School, Teacher, 4th Grade
Calli Wynn, Adrian School District #61, Teacher, Kindergarten
Molly Smith, North Powder School District, Principal
Emilie Bennett, Portland Public Schools, Reading Interventionist
Lisa Cope, Pendleton School District, Teacher, 2nd Grade
Tammy Gattis, Umatilla School District, Teacher
Cézanne Tyner, Portland Public Schools, Assistant Principal
Diana Sohn, Amity School District, Reading Specialist
Monique McMillan, Morrow School District, Teacher, Special Education
Angela Gibson, The Lighthouse School-Coos Bay, Literacy Coordinator
Dia Norris, Nestucca School District, Speech-language Pathologist
Mandy Burton, Portland Public Schools, Teacher
Laura Benice, Portland Public Schools, Assistant Principal
Candice Trent, Portland Public Schools, Teacher, 8th Grade Science
David Rueppell, Portland Public Schools, Teacher, Special Education
Alyssa Eldridge, Portland Public Schools, Paraeducator
Julie Twining, Portland Public Schools, Teacher
Heather Stellpflug, Portland Public Schools, Site Support Instructor
Claire Garrott, Portland Public Schools, Teacher, Language Art
Kiera Asay, Portland Public Schools, Teacher, Film Studies
Taylor Reed, Portland Public Schools, Instructional Coach
Andrew Pan, Portland Public Schools, Teacher, Middle School Mandarin Immersion
Margarett Peoples, Portland Public Schools, Teacher, Special Education
Alicia Strebin, Morrow County, Teacher, Title 1- Reading and Math
Courtney Odom, Portland Public Schools, Teacher, ELA
Kristina Rissetto, Portland Public Schools, Teacher, Science
Community Supporters
Lisa Lyon, Decoding Dyslexia Oregon, Tutor
Angela Uherbelau, Oregon Kids Read, Portland Public Schools, Parent
Patti Bisenius, Clackamas County, Tutor
Donna Avedisian, Lake Oswego
Mackenzie Weintraub, Portland Public Schools, Parent
Tara Jewell-Mixon, Parent
Kathleen Law, Oregon teacher, 4th Grade, retired
Darlin Diaz, Educator
Lynique Oveson, Home School/Non-Profit Educator
Anna Cox, Speech-Language Pathologist
Athena Lieuallen, Central School District, Parent
Leah Emmett, Springfield 19, Parent
Sara Bettinger, Portland Public Schools, Parent
Elizabeth McBreen, Literacy Specialist, Private Tutor
Geeta Glasser, Tigard Tualatin School District, Private Tutor
Heather Fisher, Northwest Dyslexia Center, Reading Tutor
Tiffanie Clifford, Canby, Parent
Suzanne LaGrande, Multnomah County, Executive Director, Blosser Center for Dyslexia Education
Jennifer Robinson, Portland Public Schools, Parent
Kate Steen, Portland Public Schools, Parent
Kimberly Chavez-Sierra
Rachel, Cascade, Parent
Margaret Gutierrez
Dr. Scott Smith, Decoding Dyslexia Oregon, Board member
Dacia Thomas, Portland Public Schools, Parent, Homeschool
Julie Frazier, Archdiocese of Portland, Academic Success Coordinator
Heather Matteri, Archdiocese of Portland, Learning Specialist
Michele Interian
Lisa Mitchell
Amy Rennett, District 2, Parent
Kurt Kemp, District 2, Parent
J. Schuberth, Oregon Kids Read, Parent
Wendy Wray, Portland Public Schools, Parent
Anne Adler, Lake Oswego, Early Literacy Advocate