Books are her business

Debbie Blake creates readers for teachers, and teachers of readers. She hones in on student skills and weaknesses, and brings each one to grade level and beyond in their reading ability. She models ideas and strategies for teachers, while strengthening proficiencies and motivation in students.

In Exeter-West Greenwich’s Wawaloam Elementary, grades 1-2, Blake is both Reading Recovery teacher and Literacy Coach – and now holds the 2003 Rhode Island NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.

Blake began the program at Wawaloam four years ago when she was tapped by the superintendent to meld her interest in learning styles with her love for working with students. After 16 years in the classroom, Blake jumped at the opportunity to impact students more by impacting their teachers.

“I work with the most wonderful teachers,” she said. “They’re so open, so willing to embrace new ideas. I learn from them just like they learn from me – then we put it all together.”

The literacy program she developed is based on daily, consistent reinforcement of instruction and feedback for a 90-day period in each classroom. It is divided into four, forty-minute blocks: guided reading instruction, writing, working with words, and silent reading. Blake models instructional techniques within the blocks, using student work as examples on an overhead.

Results of the program are clear – almost every student who moves on to grade three from Wawaloam is reading at grade level, and their reading for pleasure rate is on the rise as well.

Four years ago, Blake introduced a project called “Reading Outside the School Day.” For every ten books a student reads, following completion of a one-on-one conference with a literacy volunteer, he or she is invited to select a free book or a writing journal as a reward. The first year Wawaloam students read a total of 12,000 books – last year, that number was 21,000. “It’s become a monster – a full-time job,” Blake laughs.

Her goal this year is to interest a member of Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation in shadowing her on the job. A lot of districts are cutting literacy coaches, she pointed out, and its important that Washington lawmakers see the need for the position.
Of the national NEA Foundation award ceremony, Blake says, “It was an extravagant event – exciting to see how the other half lives.”

It struck her that the top 10 finalists all held National Board for Excellence in Teaching certification. “Next year,” she muses, “I might start on that.”

What is the NEA Foundation Award?

The NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes, rewards, and promotes excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession. It honors public education and the dedicated members of the National Education Association.

Nominations for this prestigious award are submitted to the NEA Foundation by the state and direct affiliates of NEA. These affiliate nominees receive the I CAN Learn®-NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence. The I CAN Learn® Education Systems funds the travel for all awardees to attend the NEA Foundation’s annual Salute to Excellence in Education gala held each December in Washington, D.C.

From these awardees, five national finalists receive The Horace Mann–NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence, which include $10,000 and financial support to attend the gala from The Horace Mann Companies.

The first place NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence includes $25,000, celebration at the gala event, a personalized commemorative gift, and national recognition.