Scotts Valley, Calif. – February 7, 2014: The Scotts Valley Educational Foundation is taking a proactive approach to helping its schools meet Common Core standards by funding Project GLAD® trainers. Veteran teachers of SVUSD Cathy Weist and Mary Dettle are now certified trainers for the program and are currently partially funded through the Scotts Valley Educational Foundation (SVEF).
The Scotts Valley Educational Foundation exists to raise and provide funding for enrichment programs and education materials to enhance the solid academic curriculum and high education standards in the Scotts Valley Unified School District. The SVEF was tapped by district superintendent Penny Weaver to consider funding the training of our Project GLAD® coaches. Over the past two school years, SVEF donated $72,000 to cover a part-time salary for a GLAD coach. In turn, all elementary staff within the district have been trained in the program and offered coaching to ensure its successful implementation. The program is on a trajectory to be self-funded by hosting additional training to other districts and private schools.
Project GLAD references a philosophy of teaching called Guided Language Acquisition Design. According to Project GLAD trainer and coach Cathy Weist, “The program provides an organizational structure for an integrated, balanced literacy approach. The integration of listening, speaking, reading and writing into all content areas and the interrelating of science, social studies and literature with each other, underscores research that language is acquired most effectively when the emphasis is on meaning and the message.”
Many educators believe this program to be vital in addressing the new Common Core standards. Beginning next year, all California students grade 3 and beyond will be required to test to the new academic standards. Michelle Stewart, Principal at Vine Hill Elementary School said “Our teachers are already seeing the benefits of teaching with the model of Project GLAD. This approach to learning is right on-trend and we are confident it will be key in keeping our test scores one of the highest in the state.”
This is the not the first time the Scotts Valley Educational Foundation has provided funding intended to undergird the integrity and excellence of Scotts Valley’s education infrastructure. “We are committed to working with the District to continue to advocate for excellence – whether through emergency funding or with new and relevant advances in our curriculum,” said Derek Timm, SVEF President.
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Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Scotts Valley Educational Foundation provides funding for the most critical needs and underwrites materials and programs that improve the high quality of education in the Scotts Valley Unified School District with the goal of supporting every child in the District from the time they enter school until they graduate. SVEF is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
For more information:
Scotts Valley Educational Foundation
Press Contact: Derek Timm 831-239-9203 [email protected]