SPRINGFIELD— Effingham County teacher Mallory Turner is attending Georgia State University for a full-time year of study focusing on how best to help first graders who struggle with beginning reading and writing skills.

 The study is part of a training program that will qualify Turner to become a Reading Recovery teacher-leader. 

Teacher Leader Training Scholarships are awarded to school districts that have demonstrated a commitment to Reading Recovery and have selected a suitable teacher leader candidate. The scholarship, which provides support for the initial training of teacher-leaders, consists of full-time study at Reading Recovery training centers in the U.S. and Canada. In turn, teacher-leaders train and coach Reading Recovery teachers in their districts and teach children who demonstrate extreme difficulty learning to read and write. 

Six $15,000 scholarships were awarded for the purpose of training teacher-leaders during the 2018-19 training year. Funds were provided by The James P. Verhalen Family Foundation, MaryRuth Books, Hameray Publishing Group/Yuen Family Foundation, and Pioneer Valley Books. The awards are administered by the Reading Recovery Council of North America (RRCNA).

 “As part of our commitment to early childhood literacy, MaryRuth Books is happy to support the training of Reading Recovery professionals by contributing to the Reading Recovery Teacher Leader Training Scholarship program,” said Mia Coulton, author and founder of the Chagrin Falls, Ohio publisher. “We offer our congratulations to Mallory Turner from Effingham County Schools in Springfield, the recipient of this year’s scholarship.” 

Dr. Randy Shearouse, superintendent of the Effingham County School District, stated, “Our school district has always recognized early literacy as a cornerstone for all future academic success, and the Reading Recovery program has certainly proven its effectiveness in strengthening core literacy skills. I am grateful for the opportunity that Mallory is being afforded through Reading Recovery’s Teacher Leader Training Scholarship and sincerely appreciate her willingness to take on this challenge. Our teachers and students will surely benefit for years to come.” 

Turner, who received her Masters in Special Education from Georgia Southern University, brings nine years of teaching experience to her training. She looks forward to sharing her learned knowledge and to building a network of strong, driven, and motivated Reading Recovery teachers. She plans to advocate for Reading Recovery by inviting school leadership to behind-the-glass lessons. She will also collect testimonials throughout the year from parents, students, and teachers to share with leaders at the state capital.

 The Effingham County School System has served more than 5,000 students in Reading Recovery over the past 21 years.

 Free or reduced lunch is provided to 37 percent of the student population.

 Also receiving scholarships this year are Michelle Brown, Branson School District, Branson, Mo., training at University of Arkansas at Little Rock; Rachel Chappell, Sarasota County Schools, Sarasota, Fla, training at National Louis University; Katherine Herring, Chesterfield County School District, Chesterfield, S.C., training at Clemson University; Peggy Phillips, Lexington School District One, Lexington, S.C., training at Clemson University; and Mary Vreeman, Hillsborough County Public Schools, Tampa, Fla., training at National Louis University.