Akron Magazine - Winter 2010 - (Page 6)

( feATure sTory ) College of Education Receives $3.7 Million for a Preschool Literacy Program “The College of Education has demonstrated exceptional leadership by securing grant funding to improve literacy among Akron preschool children,” says Dr. Luis M. Proenza, UA president. “We are especially proud of our faculty involved with this project, who continue to train teachers to serve the needs of our community.” “I am excited to bring this program to Akronarea preschoolers,” Lenhart says. “The program is designed to provide the children with a strong literacy foundation, thus increasing their readiness and opportunities for success when they begin kindergarten.” Lehnart is a co-director of the Reading First Ohio Center for Professional Development and Technical Assistance and director of e-Read Ohio. For the past several years she has been engaged in creating online professional development for teachers. Prior to her university work, she taught in Ohio’s public schools for more than 10 years. “The program is designed to provide the children with a strong literacy foundation, thus increasing their readiness and opportunities for success when they begin kindergarten.” — LISA LENHART, UA Education Professor About Akron Summit Community Action, Inc. Akron Summit Community Action, Inc. (ASCA) has operated its Head Start Program since 1966 and is the longest-running program to address systemic poverty in the United States. The ASCA Head Start program not only provides early language, literacy and pre-reading development, but also supplies health, dental, nutrition and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families. The University of Akron’s College of Education will receive $3.7 million over the next three years from the U.S. Department of Education for an Early Reading First Program. Under the direction of UA education professor Lisa Lenhart, the reading program—known locally as Akron Ready Steps—is a partnership between UA and Akron Summit Community Action, Inc. The program aims to increase literacy skills among preschool children and will target children in low-income neighborhoods. Through grant funding, the program will provide training and support for teachers who serve 300 at-risk children in 16 Head Start classrooms throughout Akron. Valued research “Dr. Lenhart is nationally renowned for her commitment to the professional development of teachers,” adds UA College of Education Dean Mark D. Shermis. “This award reflects the value placed on the research conducted by Dr. Lenhart and her colleagues and is a wonderful opportunity for the Akron community.” Akron Ready Steps will mobilize the community in support of preschool literacy education, including providing teachers and teacher aides with knowledge and skills to support literacy-rich classroom environments. It also places an emphasis on active parent engagement so literacy skills are supported at home. “Akron Summit Community Action, Inc. is pleased to partner with the College of Education at The University of Akron,” says Malcolm J. Costa, Akron Summit Community Action, Inc. CEO and president. “Parents are a very integral part of Head Start; they can volunteer to be on the Head Start Parent Policy Council to enhance early reading. The Policy Council provides a great opportunity for members of our community to work with the parents of children attending Head Start.” |6|

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Akron Magazine - Winter 2010

Akron Magazine - Winter 2010