In an effort to enhance early literacy, Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her has embraced innovative strategies. Since the beginning of the school year, she has dedicated Mondays to working alongside classroom teachers, especially first-grade teacher Ana Bustos at Mayfair Elementary School. This initiative aims to directly engage with students and understand their educational needs.
Misty Her’s Classroom Engagement Strategy
Superintendent Misty Her believes that being present in classrooms can make a significant difference. “I believe that a superintendent should be in the classroom,” she stated. Her hands-on approach allows her to witness firsthand the challenges teachers and students face, leading to more informed decisions.
Impact on Student Literacy
Through this initiative, Her has focused on students struggling with reading. Under her guidance, 84% of students in Bustos’ classroom are now reading at or above grade level. At the start of the year, over half of the students needed intervention. By splitting a group of 13 students into two intervention sessions, Her specifically chose to work with those facing the greatest challenges.
- Initial “green” readers: 4 students
- Current “green” readers: 20 students
- One student’s progress: from 4 words to 144 words
Innovative Reading Techniques
Her employs the Orton-Gillingham method, a multi-sensory approach tailored for struggling readers. This technique combines visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles. Students engage with phonemes by demonstrating physical movements, such as tapping their arms as they pronounce sounds. This method has proven effective, linking sounds to words and enhancing student understanding.
Holistic Literacy Development
After mastering sounds, Her encourages students to write words, bridging the gap between reading and writing. She integrates these new words into simple sentences, fostering comprehension in a broader context. “The sounds and the words don’t ever work in isolation,” Her emphasized.
Fresno Unified’s Literacy Goals
Fresno Unified has set ambitious literacy goals, targeting 80% proficiency in first-grade reading. During the 2024-25 school year, only 37% of students met state standards in English Language Arts, compared to 49% statewide. The district has recognized its past shortcomings and aims to transform its approach to literacy.
- Current proficiency goal: 80% of first-graders
- Last year’s proficiency: 37% met state standards
Monitoring and Adjusting for Improvement
To ensure continuous improvement, Her emphasizes rigorous monitoring. She reviews student progress data regularly with Bustos, identifying strengths and areas for growth. This ongoing analysis helps target instruction effectively and addresses potential learning disabilities early on.
Collaborative Learning Environment
Fresno Unified has initiated a support system for new teachers, ensuring knowledge transfer from experienced educators like Bustos. Following recent budget cuts, the district approved early retirement incentives, prompting 573 employees to retire. This transition poses challenges, but the focus remains on continuous professional development.
“That training is going to be really important for us next year, especially with the new group of teachers,” Her remarked. Ongoing collaboration among teachers ensures that effective practices continue, promoting high expectations and favorable outcomes for students.
