Pair of educators become literacy coaches

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    MILO — For the last year SAD 41 teachers Carol Smith and Alison Woodard have been studying at the University of Maine in order to become literacy coaches, to then be able to support their colleagues as they continue to refine their literacy teaching. During a school board meeting on Oct. 1 the two were formally recognized for this accomplishment with a ceremony conducted by representatives from Maine Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy (MPCL), part of the department of Education and Human Development at UMaine.

    “These coaches undergo an intense year of study,” said MPCL Director Marcia Boody, at the end of which they are certified as literacy coaches. She said Smith and Woodard have been trained in the newest practices concerning reading, writing and content comprehension.
    “Your literacy coaches will be working for and with teachers,” Boody said, saying they will also be an academic arm for the administrators. Boody, who was joined by MPCL Clinical Coach Dawn Jandreau, then presented Smith and Woodard with diplomas certifying them as literacy coaches as well as MPCL pins.
    Woodard said when she taught in RSU 68 in Dover-Foxcroft she had the opportunity to be guided by literacy coaches, and will be teaching a graduate-level course for SAD 41 educators.
    She said she was worried that by becoming a literacy coach, instead of having her own classroom, she would miss out on the “aha moment” when a student is able to grasp a concept. Now Woodard sees that those instances will not go away as “I get to have those aha moments with the kids and I also get to have those aha moments with teachers.”
    Smith, who will also be leading a graduate-level course as an SAD 41 literacy coach, said, “This whole process will help our students be the best they can be.” She added, “It is a tremendous positive thing because I get to interact with all the students and see them progress through.”
    In other business, School Board Chair Don Crossman said before the meeting he had a brief conversation with Milo Select Chair Lee McMannus about the possibility of a meeting between SAD 41 officials and officials from members of the district’s communities.
    McMannus told those in attendance that at times the different boards may be at odds but they all have a similar goal of doing “what’s best for kids.”
    “In light of everything that’s happened I think it would be nice to get together,” he said, potentially with a neutral facilitator to allow for an easier exchange of dialogue. “I think it’s time to discuss how all of the communities in the AOS feel.”
    McMannus said he has been contacted by residents with concerns about the school system and would like to have “a conversation just to see where we are all at, I think it would be beneficial to everyone.”
    Superintendent Michael Wright said perhaps questions about the schools could be given to the officials in advance and then a meeting of the AOS could be convened. He said SAD 41 is in its fourth year of being a member of AOS 43 with the SAD 31 of the Howland-area, and both have seen cost savings by sharing a central office and also have been able to share some resources.
    “I think it’s been a pretty good thing for us, but perhaps not everybody knows about it,” Wright said, saying even in the Penquis Valley School building not all the details of the AOS may be known.
    McMannus said he hears about the negatives concerning the AOS, but he would like to learn about the positives in order to be able to see what may be the best plan for the future.
    “I hope that you all saw our new sign coming up the driveway,” Penquis Valley Principal Jeremy Bousquet said. He said the sign was a donation from the Class of 2014 and was painted by Allen Monroe of Milo, to replace the previous sign broken during a storm. Bousquet said he is happy to have a great symbol for the school and the new sign is something the community can be proud of.