United WE READ is grateful for the many educators, leaders, and community members who pour into our students each and every day. On this #InternationalWomensDay, we wanted to give a special shout-out to longtime UWR Leadership Team member and champion for students, Dr. Robin McClellan of Sullivan County Department of Education. Recently, Dr. McClellan has been leading the district through a significant investment into the reading curriculum known as CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts). Through this transition, our students are already showing significant gains! A few highlights:

• Just from fall 2018 to winter 2019, students with “at-risk” levels of reading proficiency have fallen from 37.8% to 29.9%!
• That means 351 fewer 1st through 5th graders are considered at-risk in their reading skills!

We can’t wait to see more from Dr. McClellan, Sullivan County Department of Education, and the CKLA curriculum renaissance! To learn more about her work, check out these websites and articles where she has contributed or been featured:

“We Have A National Reading Crisis” in Education Week –By Jaren Myracle, Brian Kingsley, & Robin McClellan

“The Outcomes Stories We Should Be Talking About” on CurriculumMatters.org

“Sullivan’s Elementary Students Show ‘Historic’ Reading Improvements” in the Bristol Herald Courier

“Sullivan County Department of Education Announces Promising Academic Progress in Elementary Reading” on Sullivank12.net

Thank you, Dr. McClellan for engaging,  empowering, and equipping, all children, families, and our Greater Kingsport community with tools and strategies that build a literacy-rich culture, and a pathway to lifelong success!

Happy #InternationalWomensDay!