An OCF North Coast Regional Action Initiative in Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln and Tillamook Counties
The North Coast Regional Action Initiative Committee understands that literacy is vital to becoming a productive member of society. Reading, writing and language skills are necessary for success at school and work.
Phase I of the Committee’s efforts focused on supporting adult education in the wake of growing unemployment and rising tuition costs. In spring 2009, the Committee awarded $25,000 to four local community colleges, which provided scholarships for North Coast students. Matching grants from the Miller Foundation doubled the number of scholarships available.
In fall 2009, the Committee recognized the importance of training teachers and administrators to improve childhood literacy: teaching strategies can improve or hinder a child's ability to read, write and communicate. Local superintendents recommended a professional development model called Project GLAD™, and noted that teachers trained in this model are particularly good at reducing the achievement gap between native and non-native English speakers. In February 2010, four teams of school district superintendents submitted proposals for funding to train teachers and administrators in Project GLAD™.
In spring 2010, the Committee partnered with county superintendents to launch Phase II of the Initiative: Project GLAD™ Tier I Training for teachers and administrators. Training began in July 2010 to enthusiastic response; 44 teachers from Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook counties attended the seven-day session. According to Astoria School District Superintendent Craig Hoppes, participants called this training “the best professional development they’ve ever had.”
The demonstrations comprised a morning session in which trainer Lara Smith modeled a lesson with students while participants observed and received coaching, and an afternoon session in which participants created their own Project GLAD™ unit.
Because working with children is an essential part of teacher training, the Committee also held free weeklong science camps in Clatskanie and Tillamook. These camps taught K-5 students about the temperate forest ecosystem while allowing teachers to hone skills they learned during Tier 1 training. An evaluation report summarizing teacher surveys from the first year of implementation is now available.
The Lincoln County School District already had several teachers with Project GLAD™ training, so it received a grant of $50,000 to train up to 40 teachers in the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP®), which is another proven model for improving literacy.
In spring 2011, the Committee was pleased to receive a two-year grant from the Miller Foundation, which will support Project GLAD™ training and coaching for regional teachers and administrators. In July 2011, 44 additional teachers received Project GLAD™ training.
Teachers trained as part of this Initiative have expressed a need for their administrators to become more familiar with the Project GLAD™ model. On November 18, 2011, OCF hosted a Project GLAD™ Administrator Awareness session in Astoria to give North Coast administrators the resources they need to support Project GLAD™ strategies.
Currently, the Committee is making a series of community outreach presentations to generate support for ongoing Project GLAD™ training on the North Coast. If you’re interested in contributing to this effort, please contact us.
To get involved or contact us
If you are interested in supporting or learning more about OCF's North Coast Regional Action Initiative, please contact Molly Roman, RAI training coordinator: mroman@oregoncf.org; or Melissa Durham, statewide RAI coordinator: mdurham@oregoncf.org or 503.227.6846.