Quick look: Forty educators from three OC school districts gathered this week to launch the Orange County Department of Education’s inaugural Literacy Fellowship, a yearlong initiative that combines evidence-based literacy training, instructional coaching and cross-district collaboration to strengthen early reading instruction.
While many students are enjoying summer break, dozens of Orange County teachers are preparing for the school year by sharpening one of the most important skills they’ll teach: reading.
This week, the Orange County Department of Education welcomed 40 educators to the inaugural OCDE Literacy Fellowship. A virtual orientation on Monday marked the start of the yearlong professional learning initiative, designed to strengthen early literacy instruction through evidence-based practices, instructional coaching and collaboration among school districts. A three-day “Keys to Literacy: Beginning Reading Summer Institute” began Tuesday, laying the foundation for learning that will continue throughout the academic year.
Developed by OCDE’s Educational Services division in partnership with the Centralia Elementary, La Habra City and Lowell Joint school districts, the fellowship brings together 34 kindergarten through second-grade teachers and six instructional literacy coaches. Throughout the year, participants will receive coaching, collaborate with peers across district lines and put new literacy strategies into practice in their classrooms.
“We know that helping every child become a confident reader begins with investing in the educators who make that possible,” said Dr. Sandra Lee, associate superintendent of Educational Services. “The Literacy Fellowship is about creating a community of educators who learn with and from one another, apply evidence-based practices in real classrooms and continue growing together throughout the year. When we strengthen teachers, we strengthen outcomes for students across Orange County.”
Collaborating districts
Lee said the fellowship was designed in collaboration with assistant superintendents from the three participating districts. OCDE intentionally selected neighboring districts to encourage teachers to build professional relationships beyond their own campuses while making cross-district collaboration easier throughout the year. Organizers also used an application process to ensure participants were eager to commit to the fellowship.
Each fellow has been paired with an instructional literacy coach who will provide ongoing, site-based support as teachers implement new strategies in their classrooms. Coaches will also participate in additional professional learning with nationally recognized instructional coaching expert Elena Aguilar, author of “The Art of Coaching,” to further strengthen their ability to support teachers throughout the fellowship.
The starting point
Dr. Laurie Virtusio, OCDE’s coordinator of Literacy and Language, said the fellowship was informed in part by the Sonoma County Office of Education, which is entering the fourth year of its own literacy fellowship. According to Virtusio, Sonoma’s success helped demonstrate the value of pairing high-quality literacy training with sustained coaching and cross-district collaboration.
“The summer institute is really just the starting point,” Virtusio said. “Our goal is to create sustained learning that continues long after the training ends. Through coaching, collaboration and ongoing reflection, we’re building a network of educators who can support one another while translating research into daily classroom practice.”
Grounded in the Science of Reading, the fellowship includes ongoing instructional coaching, full-day collaboration sessions hosted across the three partner districts, virtual Community of Practice meetings and implementation support throughout the school year. OCDE and the participating districts also plan to monitor student growth to help measure the fellowship’s overall impact.
“Every student deserves the opportunity to become a confident reader,” Lee said. “By bringing educators together, supporting them throughout the year and learning alongside our district partners, we’re making that goal a shared commitment across Orange County.”