READ 180 and System 44 Outstanding Educators Turn Lives Around by Teaching Struggling Students to Read

NEW YORK, May 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Scholastic Education today announced the winners of the 2011 READ 180® and System 44® Outstanding Educator Awards. The honors are awarded to remarkable teachers who have helped students turn their lives around by learning to read in Scholastic's READ 180 and System 44 reading intervention programs. These four educators have helped students overcome their reading challenges and become confident and lifelong learners.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100907/SCHOLASTICLOGO )

"Reading is the birthright of every child and the foundation for success in all subjects and in college and careers," said Margery Mayer, President, Scholastic Education, a division of Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), the global children's publishing, education and media company. "The sad fact is that millions of kids can't read – and without that skill, they miss out on the chance of doing well in school and leading a fulfilling life. Many of them become dropouts. We're thrilled to honor these four passionate teachers who have one of the most important jobs anyone can have. These READ 180 and System 44 Outstanding Educators are saving kids lives by helping them become strong readers."

The Outstanding Educator Awards are determined by a Scholastic selection committee that reviews hundreds of nominations. Each nomination includes a statement about the educator by a colleague who has submitted the nomination, a statement by the educator, and a statement from a student about the impact the educator has had.

The 2011 READ 180 Outstanding Educators are:

High School

Ida Shepherd – Andy Dekaney High School, Houston TX

A former university professor, Ida Shepherd used to see one student after another arrive on campus with poor reading skills, unready to take on the rigors of college-level work. Frustrated, she decided she wanted to help change that.

Now a high school English and reading teacher, Ms. Shepherd has become a leader in her school district, and her classroom has become a model for how to help struggling readers get back on track. It's common for Ms. Shepherd's students to gain a full grade level in reading after just six months in her READ 180 class, and she's helped raise achievement for all sorts of students, including those in ESL, special education and general education programs. She is known for the personal connections she has forged with many of her students and for the regular phone calls she makes to parents to keep them updated on grades and behavior. Says one student: "Ms. Shepherd has shown great compassion and concern for me and my ability to accomplish all of my education goals. She has spent several hours of her own personal time ensuring that I achieve all of my goals…Without Ms. Shepherd, I wouldn't be where I am today."

Ms. Shepherd says the extra time and effort she puts in are worth it when a student who has never read a book before comes to her and asks to take a book home to read on their own.

Middle School

Carol Hoffman – DeWitt Middle School, Ithaca, NY

If you walk into Carol Hoffman's READ 180 classroom, you might see students "dancing" their way from one learning zone to another. You'll also see something far more special taking place: kids learning to read.

Ms. Hoffman has only been teaching READ 180 since November 2009, when her school first adopted the program, but she's already turning students' lives around. Many of her students have had to contend with enormous obstacles -- some as English language learners, others with developmental and learning disabilities, and a few have escaped to the U.S. from war-torn regions. This year, seven of the students in Ms. Hoffman's class are from other countries, and each has a unique set of challenges.

To help promote an environment of academic and reading success, Ms. Hoffman fosters a fun and vibrant learning atmosphere where students celebrate each others' achievements, and they even "dance" their way from one part of the classroom to another. This has helped create a classroom where students feel comfortable participating and reading aloud in front of peers. Ms. Hoffman has had many students start off the school year at a below basic reading level and make two years growth in just a few months. She is such a popular and successful teacher that former students often stop by her room and ask to re-join the READ 180 class. One student, a refugee from Southeast Asia, arrived at DeWitt Middle School without understanding any English, and now she is beginning to thrive.

One of her colleagues notes: "Carol Hoffman's special forte as a teacher and as a READ 180 leader is enhanced by her ability to organize, plan ahead, and anticipate her students' needs and create a safe, fun, and engaging environment while maintaining high academic standards."

Elementary School

Marilyn Clark – Martin Luther King School, Edison, NJ

A literacy teacher tapped by her school to focus only on helping the most at-risk kids, Marilyn Clark has helped turn students' lives around in READ 180 for six years now. Her colleagues describe her as a "master teacher" and say she played a key role in her school earning recognition as a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. Mrs. Clark's passion for helping kids and for READ 180 have led to her being called upon to share her expertise with fellow teachers and district leaders.

The gains Mrs. Clark's students have made are truly impressive. In September 2010, the fifth grade READ 180 students were reading, on average, at a third grade level; in March 2011, the same group was reading slightly above the proficient level for 4th grade. In September 2010, the fourth grade READ 180 students started the school year, on average, at a second grade reading level, and by March 2011, they were reading on grade level.

"Marilyn creates a classroom atmosphere where academic achievement is a priority, and every instructional opportunity is maximized," says one colleague. "Students leave Mrs. Clark's classroom with a love of reading, greatly improved literacy skills, and the tools to succeed outside the READ 180 classroom."

The System 44 Outstanding Educator is:

Daniel Roberts – Phillips Charter School, Napa, CA

A native of Napa, CA and a product of the Napa Valley Unified School District where he has served as an educator for 27 years, Daniel Roberts is giving back to a community that he says gave him so much. In a school where 47% percent of the students are English learners and 71% receive free or reduced lunch, he is helping kids succeed despite daunting obstacles.

Under Mr. Roberts's guidance and instruction, many students, including some in Special Education, graduate out of System 44 because they experience such rapid progress in reading. He has also seen kids raise their SRI reading scores by an astounding 710 Lexiles after just four months of instruction. Although he is reluctant to take credit for such success, Mr. Roberts's peers insist that his passion for teaching and his desire to see each student thrive are the reasons his students have become such strong and confident readers.

"It is my sincere belief that Dan Roberts is a gift to his children, a source of pride for his district, and that as a System 44 teacher he truly has no peer," says his nominating educator, Dr. Laura Ryan.

The READ 180 and System 44 Outstanding Educators will each receive a $1,200 check from Scholastic, an all-expenses paid trip to the National Summer Institute in Orlando, Florida, and a commemorative plaque. Additionally, the Nominating educators of the 2011 Scholastic Outstanding Educator Award Winners will receive a READ 180 Xtra™ Collection for their classroom.

Click here to learn more about READ 180 and System 44.

For more information about Scholastic, visit our mediaroom at http://mediaroom.scholastic.com.

SOURCE Scholastic Inc.