Literacy Coaching Enhances Education for Elementary Students "The core of our program is servicing students who need additional support," says Kim Jones, reading specialist and literacy coach at Center Street School. Kim works closely with 50-60 students per day, some she sees multiple times each week, to provide intensive reading and language support. Between the two elementary schools, Kim and her counterpart at Richmond Street, Lisa Haun, saw approximately 150 students last year. Kim believes her role is to "reinforce the curriculum presented by teachers." And she says it's a privilege to be working in the El Segundo Unified School District, which allows reading specialists the flexibility to design their program around the needs of the students, instead of a scripted plan that's the same for every student. Last year, in the midst of state budget concerns, Kim learned that her position was going to be cut, however funding from the El Segundo Educational Foundation preserved the program and her job. But Kim's concern was less for herself and more for the children who would have lost a very important educational resource. "There's a lot happening in a classroom, and teachers with the best of intentions don't always have time to sit down with kids who need extra support. We know that working with kids and targeting them early will give them the highest rate of success later on in their education. For many, it's not that they aren't going to get it, but maybe not at the pace that teachers have to present information these days. A lot of it is a timing issue. Working with us gives children time to catch their breath and build on small successes in a safe environment," Kim explains. Reading specialists work on targeting children for extra support at the earliest possible point in their education. Kim and Lisa work with teachers at their respective schools to determine which students might need a little extra support during their early years of schooling. In addition to making sure the proper materials are available, their job is to help those children gain confidence in their reading abilities. Because the program is designed to meet the needs of the child, there's no specific length of time a child might work with a literacy coach. "It's very fluid. You might find some students who maybe need just a little push, more attention, or confidence building. They come in, get what they need, and then they're out. Others may be around for two years because they do better when they have a little extra support," she shares. And it's made a difference to the kids Kim has served. "When students are successful and feel confident in their abilities, it sets the tone for how they will approach school for the rest of their career. With so much on everyone's plate from a teaching standpoint, it's nice to know that there's another place where students can go to get support." That place, at Center Street, is the school's award-winning reading lab. It's Kim's job to make sure the lab has all the resources necessary to meet the needs of different grade levels and abilities. Currently the inventory includes more than 20,000 pieces of reading materials. "Reading has been a priority in El Segundo for a long time. We're one of the few districts in the South Bay that even has reading specialists," she explains. "To have the resources and the support that we have, despite all the budget cuts, shows a strong commitment to reading in the district." Kim explains that some parents may have a negative association with "reading specialists" from their experience in elementary school. She says it's no longer the case. "The students want to be here. This room is their room. Once a parent sees that, it's not a negative but a positive for their child to get to be a part of it," she shares. Another part of the reading specialist's role is to educate parents about how they can help their child at home. She's emphasizing that even more now, considering the state's budget concerns. "I believe parents truly value what the reading program has done for their students and how it has helped them succeed in their schooling. This program is a priority for most parents, however I do think that for most people it's a given." Until things improve at the state level, there's always a possibility that programs could be cut in the future, and Kim wants to make sure that everyone has a clear understanding of how important a program like this is, especially at the elementary level, to provide a foundation for all students. While the program is important enough to be preserved, Kim says if one of the two reading specialist had to be eliminated in the future (as was the possibility for the current year), it would really change the program. "To do this job part-time would really be more about monitoring the program rather than running it. There's already so much on the teachers' shoulders, but the responsibility would be left to them if one reading specialist had to support two schools," she explains. It's a harsh reality, but thankfully, the program is secure this year, and elementary students will have the literacy coaching they need. The assurance that the ESEF will provide funding gives Kim a sense of peace, for now. "We've been so fortunate with the support we get from all levels," she says. "Most schools don't have reading specialists." It's a reality that the El Segundo Educational Foundation hopes to ensure will never reach inside our city limits. To support the ESEF and the literacy programs at ESUSD elementary schools, visit our website and make a gift online today: www.elsegundoedfoundation.org.