Small District Takes A Big Step

Pinegrove and Rockland Elementary School educators have proven that being in a small school district is no obstacle to success. Cranberry Area School District has set the pace for Reading First schools in Pennsylvania, as the first school district in the state to have completed the opening course in the Early Literacy Series.

Although the smallest Reading First school district in Pennsylvania and in only their second year of the Reading First program, Cranberry Area elementary school teachers were thrilled to begin the process of taking job-embedded professional development that could be immediately applied in their daily classroom activities. They have clearly demonstrated their enthusiasm and commitment by being first to finish the course.

A major goal throughout the implementation process was building and encouraging professional teamwork among the learners and the coaches, providing them with a collaborative environment in which they could improve their practice. This made the process of taking the courses smooth and effective: "You could actually see the milestones being reached!" explained Joanne Kushner, Cranberry Elementary School Building Principal.

A district-wide professional learning community has taken root with Cranberry educators and their enthusiasm for job-embedded professional development is setting them up for Reading First success. As Principal Kushner puts it, "…these are the kinds of things that keep us going and keep us motivated to do more. We are very proud of our teachers."

Let's see which school district will be first to finish the next course in the series – will it be Cranberry again? Check back to this site to see.