What do you do when you hear that a public elementary school in your district is going to become, “The district’s first “innovative school”… turning it into a literacy model school? Well, if you’re the mom of a child who has been misunderstood through his entire school career due to his dyslexia, you cheer, tear up a little and maybe do a little dance. Why such a strong reaction? Because I understand that this may mean that a child who is a struggling reader will be taught in a way that will help him succeed. What it means to me is, that if this school is successful, the model may resonate with more school leaders and a child who starts at this elementary school, has the possibility of not being misunderstood because they are dyslexic, because there is the possibility that this literacy model may spread. I could have only dreamed of an elementary school where teachers were required to be trained in Orton-Gillingham, multi-sensory teaching methods when my now 17 year old son was in elementary school and neither his school nor we understood his struggles with reading, writing, and spelling.
I do need to clarify, I’m not happy that the school had to be labeled as a failing school and according to the Winston-Salem Journal article, Cook Elementary to receive new principal, new staff in hopes of turning around failing school, “After years as the lowest-performing elementary school in the state, Cook Elementary School is getting rebooted.” I feel like that means there will be a lot of uncertainty for all involved who were trying to make this a successful school. I believe that no educator or administrator goes through all the schooling or training to have this happen. Superintendent Emory was quoted in the W-S Journal, “At least by our records, Cook has been the lowest-performing elementary school in the state of North Carolina for more than six years,” said Superintendent Beverly Emory. “That is despite some incredibly dedicated and committed folks who have worked very hard in that school. “At the end of the day, all of us have to look in the mirror and say: is there a better way? Can we do better?” So, we need to turn this misfortune into a positive and I think by taking the chance on this Literacy Model School, they have given many students who struggle to read a better chance to succeed.
Since dyslexia legislation was introduced (HB 420 & SB 439) last March several things have happened. North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction has released two documents about dyslexia, Report on Dyslexia and Dyslexia Topic Brief and now Cook Elementary will start this Literacy Model School in August 2016. So, while the dyslexia legislation that was introduced didn’t move in the legislature, I can only imagine that it sparked the conversation that helped lead to these recent events. Rep. Conrad, a primary sponsor of HB 420 in the W-S Journal article, Family's advocacy for son leads to dyslexia bill said, "The bill seems to have generated a lot of interest among the members." These are legislators from all over North Carolina who helped start this conversation. I certainly don’t know if the NC Legislature is the reason for these recent happenings but I do know they deserve a big thanks from my family for answering our call for help for dyslexic students like our son, Payne.
Primary Sponsors of HB 420:House Representatives: Conrad; Lambeth Primary Sponsor of SB 439: Senator: Paul A. Lowe, Jr
Realizing that all students can benefit from O-G, multi-sensory type of teaching, not only struggling readers, this is a huge beginning for what I hope is the spread of these types of schools and teachings. I immediately contacted the champions of last session’s bills (Rep. Lambeth, Rep. Conrad and Senator Lowe), all of whom are in this same district, because I was extremely excited and wanted to make sure they were following what was happening and found out that legislators were given a preview of what was going on a few days earlier. PURE JOY! I then contacted all 28 of the cosponsors of both bills, thanking them again for deciding to step up for dyslexic children in North Carolina and wanted to make sure they watched was happening in Winston-Salem because they are legislators from all around the state and I hope they watch what I’m sure will be a success for our students who struggle to read. I hope it spreads.
Meeting with Rep. Lambeth & Conrad:
I hope (yes, I have a lot of hope) you read this post understanding that I’m just the mom of a dyslexic child who has been put through the ringer in public schools because he has been misunderstood. I have no ax to grind with the public school system, I only want to see it improve it's knowledge and understanding of children who struggle to read, like my son. I also realize that he is more than his dyslexia, but it does affect him when he goes into schools that have little understanding of why he learns and processes information the way he does.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers, or even a few of the answers on how to tackle what my family sees as this gigantic problem, but this school in Winston-Salem is a glimmer of hope, hope that students like my son will receive the instruction that can help make them successful. As a matter of fact, I think once established, this school is going to shine so bright, you’ll have to wear shades to walk through the doors.
Just a mom’s hopeful perspective.
Sponsors of House Bill No. 420:
House Representatives: L. Bell; Brockman; Carney; Cotham; Farmer-Butterfield; Fisher; Gill; C. Graham; G. Graham; Hamilton; Harrison; Hurley; Jackson; Jeter; R. Johnson; Jordan; McNeill Queen; Reives; B. Richardson; Schaffer; Shepard; Whitmire; Wray;
Sponsors of Senate Bill No. 439: