The Whitewater Unified School District was featured in the latest edition of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) newsletter for its strides in improving students' reading and literacy skills.
Superintendent Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty and Director of Teaching and Learning Terilyn Robles engaged in an insightful question-and-answer session with WASB, shedding light on the pivotal components of this successful initiative. They spoke to the innovative curriculum and professional development strategies that have yielded tangible results in the district.
Recent assessments have highlighted significant growth attributed to the district's newly implemented elementary reading curriculum: the Science of Reading (SOR).
“It's gratifying to see our efforts validated through the success of our new reading curriculum,” said Dr. Pate-Hefty. “This achievement underscores our educators' dedication and adaptability to implement effective teaching practices. Being featured in this way is an enormous point of pride for our entire school community.”
Acknowledging the pivotal role of early commitment and professional development, Dr. Pate-Hefty and Robles highlighted various measures undertaken by the district over the past couple years. These include a shift to structured literacy instruction, comprehensive training on SOR, the adoption of new instructional materials, and enhanced support for data management and reading practices. Additionally, the district incorporated in-service days into the academic calendar to facilitate collaborative learning among staff.
As districts across Wisconsin prepare to implement the early literacy legislation outlined in 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, WUSD stands as a beacon of effective practices and collaborative learning.
