Purdue News

Reading Recovery program establishes statewide board WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Indiana Reading Recovery Program, with headquarters in the School of Education at Purdue University, has established a statewide advisory board to maintain the quality of the program and to support its implementation throughout Indiana. The early intervention program, which is directed by schools, serves as a safety net for first graders who are struggling with literacy development at the outset of their schooling. "The intent of this instructional program is to prevent the need for long-term remedial assistance by allowing the children to catch up to their peers and benefit from classroom instruction," said Maribeth Schmitt, board member and director of the statewide program. Since the first group of 229 children started in the Reading Recovery program in 1993, more than 24,000 Indiana children have participated. It is currently implemented in 483 schools in 166 districts throughout the state. The new advisory board includes Reading Recovery teachers, school administrators, university faculty, state department officials and business leaders. Suellen Reed, state superintendent of public instruction, serves as an ex officio member of the board. The board will create ways to respond to important issues facing those who work to support literacy for all children, but especially children at risk of failure. Committees for public relations, legislation and policy, implementation, public relations, and technology have been formed and include education professionals, legislators, and business leaders. A priority will be to work with the Indiana Department of Education to support Indiana General Assembly legislation that provides funding for early literacy interventions. Such funding in the past has supported the training and continued professional development of Reading Recovery teachers and teacher leaders throughout Indiana as part of the $8 million biennium allocations for early literacy projects. "In my 30 years in education, I have never seen a program that did a better job of rescuing a child from academic doom," said board member Janet L. Emerick, superintendent of Lake Central School Corp. in St. John. "Reading Recovery 'jump starts' a child toward academic independence." Other members of the Indiana Reading Recovery Advisory Board are: Nancy Bear, principal at E. O. Muncie Elementary School, Madison; Jean Baresic, executive director of curriculum and instruction in Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp., Evansville; Gloria Donovan, Reading Recovery teacher leader in Madison Consolidated Schools, Madison; Pam Hardy, Reading Recovery teacher leader in Spencer-Owen Schools, Spencer; Earlene Holland, associate director of program development in the Indiana Department of Education, Indianapolis; Ann Millikan, Title I director in Kokomo-Center Township Consolidated School Corp., Kokomo; Judith Mullinix, Reading Recovery teacher leader in MSD Perry Township, Indianapolis; Max Oldham, associate superintendent in MSD Perry Township, Indianapolis; Jane Roush, executive director of Kendalville Chamber of Commerce, Kendallville; Connie Sipes, Indiana State Senator and principal of Fairmont Elementary School, New Albany; Lynn Vaught, Reading Recovery teacher leader in Southeast Indiana Reading Recovery Consortium, Jeffersonville; Joanne Weddle, director of reading services in Monroe County Community School Corp., Bloomington; and Tammy Younts, Reading Recovery teacher leader specialist at Purdue, West Lafayette. CONTACTS: Schmitt, (765) 494-5683, mschmitt@purdue.edu; Emerick, (219) 365-8507; Indiana Reading Recovery Program Web site. To the Purdue News and Photos Page