January 25, 2024 @ 9:00 am – January 26, 2024 @ 3:30 pm

Leading for Literacy: What Every School Leader Needs to Know

Educator sitting at table writing in a notebook.

What every school leader needs to know about systemic literacy improvement including effective teaching, coaching, and teacher leadership.

In this 4-day training for school principals and administrators, learn how to support literacy teaching in grades K–6.

Register to participate in-person at Lesley University or virtually!

Date(s):

January 25-26 & March 14-15, 2024

Time:

9:00-11:30am & 1:00-3:30pm (EST)

Number of Days:

Location:

In-Person at Lesley University or Virtual

Grade Levels:

K-6

Focus:

Leadership & Coaching

Audience:

District & School Leadership
Literacy Coaches & Teacher Leaders

Credit:

Non-credit; graduate credit available

Cost:

$1,950

Includes professional texts & materials
Literacy Collaborative Affiliation Discount available
Bring a Thought Partner Discount Available. Email CRRLC@lesley.edu to inquire

Course Description & Outcomes

Trainers

In-Person at Lesley or Virtual

Policies & Graduate Credit Option

Establish core values and beliefs about literacy teaching and learning that will be the foundation of your visionary leadership.

Learn how to develop a vibrant school culture that supports teamwork and continuous professional learning to get swift improvement in student outcomes. With a strong foundation in literacy processing, assessment, and research-based instructional practices, you will be able to support instructional coherence for every child in every classroom, at every grade level.

In addition, you will learn how to promote shared ownership of data on student outcomes and address systemic structures that limit the learning of some students in the educational system.

Specifically, you will learn the essential elements of a variety of research based instructional practices:

Systematic phonics, spelling, and word study
Interactive read-aloud
Shared reading
Guided reading
Book clubs
Independent reading and writing
Interactive/shared writing
Guided writing
The structured readers’ workshop
The structured writers’ workshop

You will learn how to support teachers in using the Literacy Continuum to plan for and assess teaching and how to guide them in developing their knowledge of the specific scaffolds needed for English learners.

You will use observation tools for each instructional practice, so you can observe, discuss, and support specific elements of high-quality teaching. You will analyze and identify areas of strength and need in school interventions using principles of effective intervention. You will expand your use of precise language to support reflective teacher practice by analyzing videos of teaching to understand decision-making instructional practices that result in improvement of student competencies.

You will receive a variety of professional texts and materials, including the book, Leading for Literacy: What Every School Leader Needs to Know, by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell.

You’ll earn 24 professional development hours upon completion of this training, or you may take it for graduate credit.

Cynthia Downend, Associate Director, Literacy Programs

Cynthia Downend has worked at the Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative for 15 years, serving in the roles of primary level literacy trainer and currently as the Assistant Director for Primary Literacy Programs.

Cynthia has worked with many school districts across the United States to train and develop district level literacy staff developers, literacy coaches, classroom teachers, literacy interventionists and school administrators on a variety of topics related to improving literacy instruction.

Prior to her work at Lesley University, Cynthia held positions as a literacy coach, Reading Recovery teacher, and classroom teacher for over 20 years working in a variety of school settings including urban, suburban, and international schools.

Linda Murphy, Associate Director, Literacy Programs

Linda has worked in school districts in New York in a variety of roles and settings. Prior to her joining the center at Lesley University, Linda held positions as a principal of an intermediate school, a Director of English Language Arts, Social Studies and Reading, a district trainer for Literacy Collaborative Intermediate, a Reading Recovery Teacher Leader and a classroom teacher. Linda holds licenses in Elementary Education and School District Administration.

You may choose to attend this training in-person at Lesley University or virtually in real time. Should any of the conditions change and it is determined the training will be offered virtually only, you will be notified as soon as possible. We recommend that you contact us before reserving travel and lodging.

If you choose to attend in-person, the training room will have Lesley University’s HyFlex Classroom Technology to support an engaging learning environment for in-person and virtual participants. If you have questions about in-person or virtual attendance, please email us at CRRLC@lesley.edu.

In-person participants are required to follow the Lesley safety protocols noted on the Policies & Graduate Credit Option tab.

Cancellation Deadline & Refund Policies

Non-credit

You must cancel your registration no later than two weeks before the first day of training to get a full refund. If you cancel your registration within the two weeks prior to the first day of training, you will be charged a $50 processing fee. Email CRRLC@lesley.edu if you have a cancellation or substitution request. Regardless of weather conditions, if the event is held but you cannot attend, you will be billed for the full amount.

Graduate Credit

Review the university’s cancellation and refund policies for credit bearing courses.

Registration Deadline & Shipping Policies

The registration portal closes two business days before the first day of training to allow the minimum amount of time to ship additional training materials (if applicable).

If you register within two weeks before the registration portal closes, you may incur additional fees for expedited shipping. You may still experience delays in receiving your materials.

Requirements for Participation

After the training, you will receive a certificate of attendance for your participation. To receive a complete certificate, participation during the specified times is required. Additional work may be assigned to meet the professional development hours.

COVID-19 Protocols

At this point in time, participants who have opted to come to Lesley University for the in-person format of professional learning must be prepared to follow the University’s COVID-19 protocols before and during the event.

You must be “up to date on vaccinations” as defined by the CDC.
Refrain from coming to campus if you are feeling COVID-19 symptoms. If you are feeling sick, symptomatic, or test positive for COVID-19, please stay home and email CRRLC@lesley.edu to switch your registration to virtual.
Masks are highly recommended indoors, but not required at this time. If there is a mask requirement for the event you are attending, our team will communicate this decision.
Please read the Lesley University’s COVID-19 protocols are designed to protect the health and safety of our community.

Graduate Credit Option

With additional assignments and fees, this course can be taken for 3 graduate credits. Contact CRRLC@lesley.edu to register for credit.

3 graduate credits: $4,275 ($1,950 + $750*/credit + $25*/credit comprehensive fee) *subject to change

With Your Colleagues Option

We can deliver this training to your school/district. This option can be delivered virtually or in-person for a group within your school/district (as COVID-19 social distancing guidelines allow).

Fees & Policies

Fees are determined by the number of participants and the duration of training.
If applicable, travel expenses for each trainer (airfare, hotel, meals, and rental car) are an additional cost to be paid by the district.
Professional development sessions that require extensive travel or overnight stays (if applicable) may incur an additional surcharge.
If the number of participants exceeds the maximum, another trainer may be needed. This will increase training costs and travel expenses.
Unless otherwise noted, fees do not include the cost of any required books or materials. The faculty trainer will consult with the district to select books based on the topics and the district’s needs.
School districts in the same geographic area participating in the same training may combine their resources to meet participant minimums. Payment must be on one district’s purchase order.

For detailed costs, complete our online form to request this training for your school/district and we will contact you.