History of Reading Recovery^® in Kentucky

PAST

Reading Recovery® in Kentucky began in Louisville in 1988-1989.  Two Jefferson County School’s primary teachers were selected for Teacher Leader training at Ohio State University (OSU).  The Jefferson County Public School (JCPS) District was so impressed by the quality of professional development and service to children that it selected another two teachers for Teacher Leader training in Reading Recovery at OSU.  During the 1990-1991 school year, while JCPS was training over 40 Reading Recovery teachers, Fort Knox School District established the second Teacher Training Site.

As interest began to grow throughout the state in 1993-1994, Dr. Judy Embry was selected to establish the third Teacher Training Site in Lexington through the Central Kentucky Education Cooperative, housed at the University of Kentucky.

In 1996, Dean Shirley Raines from the College of Education hired Dr. Embry to become the Teacher Leader at the University of Kentucky (UK).  Also during that school year, Dr. Embry trained Lindy Harmon as a Reading Recovery teacher.  During Mrs. Harmon’s training year, a meeting was held with Washington County’s Superintendent Bill Hardin, Lindy Harmon, Judy Embry, and Senator Dan Kelly (District 14).  Senator Kelly was very interested in Reading Recovery due to conversations with Fort Knox Community Schools former superintendent, Dr. Roland. 

During a special legislative session in the spring of 1997, Senator Kelly requested a testimony on Reading Recovery from Dr. Embry.  Dr. Shirley Raines also spoke to the joint legislative education committee for the creation of an endowed literacy position.  In November of 1997, Dr. Embry initiated a fact-finding trip to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.  The Reading Recovery/Early Literacy fact-finding committee consisted of Dr. Lois Adams-Rodgers, UK; Dr. Denise Jones, UK; Stacy Carmichael, Reading Recovery teacher from Fayette County; Elaine Jones, Reading Recovery teacher/Title I Director, Scott County; state Senator Jack Westwood, and Mike Sunseri, Senate Communications Director who attended the two day meeting at the University of Arkansas.

After the fact-finding meeting, Senator Westwood (District 23) and Senator Kelly began the creation of Senate Bill 186.  During December of 1997 and January of 1998, several revisions of Senate Bill 186 were exchanged between Dr. Shirley Raines, Dr. Lois Adams-Rodgers, and Dr. Denise Jones, and from Dr. Judy Embry to Senators Kelly and Westwood.  These discussions of Reading Recovery led to the development of an organizational structure, the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development (CCLD), to house Reading Recovery and the Kentucky Reading Project.

In January of 1998, as Senate Bill 186 was introduced, Governor Paul Patton and several key legislators observed a Reading Recovery lesson at Hearn Elementary in Frankfort with Reading Recovery teacher, Vikki Hall.  Senate Bill 186 supported the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development (CCLD) and early literacy intervention grants for struggling readers.

Senate Bill 186 also required the decision of The Council on Post-Secondary Education to determine the placement of the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development.  After a Request for Proposal to all the state universities, the University of Kentucky was honored to be selected as the home base for CCLD.

In 1998, the first two initiatives housed by CCLD were Reading Recovery, directed by Dr. Judy Embry, and the Kentucky Reading Project, directed by Cary Pappas.  In 2000 - 2001, Dr. Embry, under the direction of CCLD Director, Nawanna Privett, began the Training of Trainers at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas.  After Dr. Embry’s year-long training, she established the Reading Recovery Center at the University of Kentucky in 2001.

During the 2004 Legislative Session, Governor Ernie Fletcher, First Lady Glenna Fletcher, and key legislators observed a Reading Recovery lesson and small literacy groups at Hearn Elementary in Frankfort, Kentucky.  Through his new initiatives, Read to Achieve, a new wave of early literacy grants added hundreds of teachers to assist young, struggling readers throughout Kentucky.

PRESENT

The Reading Recovery Center at the University of Kentucky created the first statewide Reading Recovery conference for teachers and Teacher Leaders.  Over 350 Reading Recovery teachers came from all over the Commonwealth to Lexington to study and reflect on Dr. Marie Clay’s Literacy Lessons Designed for Individuals, Parts One and Two.  During the first statewide Reading Recovery conference, the establishment of the Kelly Literacy Leadership Award was presented to Senator Dan Kelly who has been a champion for young, struggling readers in Kentucky.

This year has brought expansion to the staff of the Reading Recovery Center through Lindy Harmon as a Statewide Teacher Leader.  Lindy has strengthened the Reading Recovery Center with her knowledge of children and teachers.  Her expertise with leadership and research will continue to expand Reading Recovery as Kentucky moves to full implementation for all struggling literacy learners.  During the 2008-2009 school year, Reading Recovery services were provided by 375 Reading Recovery teachers and 21 Reading Recovery Teacher Leaders to 3,161 first-grade children in 272 schools within 84 school districts.

FUTURE

·        Lindy Harmon will be trained as an additional Trainer for the Reading Recovery Center at the University of Kentucky to expand Reading Recovery Teacher Leader training. 

·        Continue to move toward full implementation of Reading Recovery for all young, struggling literacy learners in Kentucky.

·        Conduct pilot study and training with Dr. Linda Dorn from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock using the Comprehensive Intervention Model Design, especially in the areas of Response to Intervention (RTI), small literacy groups, and literacy leadership for principals.