Grace College Holds Ribbon Cutting for Center for Literacy & Learning

Grace College’s new Center for Literacy and Learning (CLL) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new tutoring center on the third floor of Mount Memorial Hall on Monday, Sept. 9. The CLL, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. through its initiative, Advancing the Science of Reading in Indiana, is dedicated to enhancing teacher candidate knowledge and application of Science of Reading evidence-based practices while collaborating with local school districts to build capacity for dynamic clinical placements.

“The Center for Literacy and Learning is our collective response to the need for literacy,” said Dr. Rachael Hoffert, director of the center and chair of the Department of Elementary Education at Grace. “We believe every child has the right and ability to read, which is why, at the most basic level, our mission is to empower readers and empower leaders.”

Programming at the CLL will focus on three core pillars: teacher and leader preparation, classroom application and community engagement.

The first pillar, teacher and leader preparation, will strengthen the pipeline of teacher candidates entering the classroom equipped with the ability to implement Science of Reading evidence-based practices. The center will ensure Grace’s teacher candidates engage in carefully sequenced literacy coursework while providing professional development opportunities for the School of Education’s faculty and staff.

The second pillar, classroom application, will begin with a partnership with Jefferson Elementary School, located next to the college. A lab school has been established at Jefferson, offering teacher candidates opportunities to collaborate with students and teachers at various grade levels. The lab school will serve as a training ground for teacher candidates to apply strategies aligned with Science of Reading frameworks.

“The partnership between Grace College and Jefferson Elementary will create invaluable learning opportunities for our students, staff and community,” said Joshua Wall, principal of Jefferson Elementary School. “We value the opportunity to bring teachers and teacher candidates together in the classroom to grow our capacity around the Science of Reading. This program is a win-win for Jefferson and Grace.”

The final pillar, community engagement, will include tutoring services for community K-5 students. Tutoring will take place at the CLL tutoring center, where Grace’s teacher candidates will gain experience teaching students in a small group setting. Additionally, the CLL will establish strong partnerships with local school districts to provide training support for partnering teachers.

Kyle Carter, chief accountability officer at Warsaw Community Schools and former principal of Jefferson Elementary School, sees tremendous value in implementing the Science of Reading in the local schools.

“The Science of Reading provides decades of research-based understanding of how children learn to read,” said Carter. “This research guides educators to use the most effective strategies to help all students become proficient and confident readers, close literacy gaps and open doors to a lifetime of learning success. Warsaw Community Schools is thankful to strengthen its relationship with Grace College to grow the Science of Reading practices for current and future educators and create additional learning opportunities for students.”

The CLL’s tutoring center is now training its teacher candidates through an IDOE-approved literacy program. The center will begin its first week of student assessments on Monday, Sept. 16.

“There are many ways for community members to support the center, get involved and empower readers,” said Megan Smith, director of programs and partnerships at the CLL. “Today’s readers are the leaders who will shape our future. We invite you to join us in this crucial mission.”

To learn more about the Center for Literacy & Learning or to inquire about how to get involved, email literacyandlearning@grace.edu.

To learn more about the Lilly Endowment Inc. Advancing the Science of Reading in Indiana initiative, visit lillyendowment.org/reading/.