Cape to try out coaches for reading in schools

The answer to poor literacy among Cape Girardeau's elementary students may be found through coaches, but not the kind who punish with push-ups.

The Cape Girardeau School District will introduce the concept of reading coaches to its elementary reading program this year, with coaches stationed at each of the district's five elementary schools.

"Basically, they'll do whatever it takes to help the teachers be the best they can be at reading instruction," said Pat Fanger, curriculum director for the district.

Fanger previously worked with a similar program at a district in St. Louis, and said she was excited by the success she saw in that district. In Cape Girardeau, reading scores among elementary students on annual assessments range from 21 percent of students at an unsatisfactory level to 44 percent unsatisfactory.

"We have to continue to move up the ladder and find the right way to strengthen our skills," Fanger said. "This is one of our best options."

Originally, the district had hoped to receive a federal reading grant to fund the coaching program, but when that didn't come through administrators opted to implement the program anyway. The teachers' salaries will come from federal funding the district receives for its low-income population and other programs.

The coaches will work full time with teachers in kindergarten through fourth grade. They'll provide training, resources and other support to teachers. They may model teaching skills or set up classrooms.

"They're more of a resource and guide for teachers than for students directly," said Rhonda Dunham, principal at Franklin Elementary.

Dunham said she wasn't sure about the program when it was first introduced because of the impact it might have on the way her teachers operate.

"Sometimes someone coming into a school and telling teachers what to do doesn't set well," Dunham said. "But their job is to give pointers and ideas, she's not there to tell them how to teach."

Low reading scores are more common in schools such as Franklin, where a high percentage of the student population is low-income.

"We you look at the scores, you see there is a need for extra help," Dunham said. "The problem is nationwide, it's not just relative to Southeast Missouri."

cclark@semissourian.com

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