A group of Polk County Schools educators spent three days this summer immersed in cutting-edge reading research, returning home equipped with powerful new tools to support early literacy across the district.
Jennifer Schweitzer of Tryon Elementary School, Beth Brangan of Polk Central Elementary School and Jennifer Goforth of Saluda Elementary School attended the UFLI Academy in Charlotte, June 28-30, made possible through a Slater Grant from the Polk County Community Foundation. They were joined by several colleagues from Saluda Elementary – first grade teachers Taylor Edwards and Madison Magyar, second grade teachers Jen Doten and Michelle Richardson – as well as Brooke Benfield, Polk County’s DPI Literacy Specialist.
The UFLI Academy is led by the University of Florida Literacy Institute, a global leader in the Science of Reading, an approach to literacy instruction grounded in decades of research into how the brain learns to read. At the Academy, participants learned directly from Dr. Holly Lane, one of the nation’s foremost literacy experts, diving deep into current reading and dyslexia research and exploring proven, sound-based instructional strategies that support all learners, particularly those who struggle with language processing or dyslexia.
“We are all so excited to bring these powerful, research-backed strategies back to our respective classrooms to support early literacy in our district,” said Schweitzer.
The experience reflects Polk County Schools’ ongoing commitment to investing in educator development as a direct investment in student success. When teachers grow, students grow, and the knowledge brought back from the UFLI Academy will benefit young readers across the district for years to come.
