Cobb County School District
Marietta, Georgia

Reading Recovery teacher leaders Donna Williamson (trained in 1992-93) and Vickie Hester (trained in 2004-05) have trained 94 teachers. Cobb’s Reading Recovery intervention has served 3,493 students. Demographics of Reading Recovery students for 2008-09 show 85% free and reduced lunch. The ethnic breakdown includes 46% Hispanic and 38% Black students served.

Multiple factors have contributed to the success and sustainability of this implementation in a diverse, constantly changing suburban environment through lean budget years and personnel attrition. These include:

• Collaboration by a system level Reading Recovery Administrative Team
• Building level support from local school administrators
• Ongoing communication at all levels
• Dedication of Reading Recovery teachers who embrace the challenge of acceleration for these lowest literacy learners
• High-quality professional development facilitated by Georgia State University trainers
• Advocacy of local administrators, Reading Recovery teacher leaders and teachers, classroom teachers, and parents

This advocacy is reflected in written comments from stakeholders.

• The highest percentage of students on grade level in first grade ever!
  — Administrator
• Reading Recovery is an amazing program that TRULY guides our students toward improvement. The teachers are phenomenal and go the extra mile every time. — Classroom teacher
• I thank you for taking [my child] under your wings. Teachers never see the results of what they do right away. You could be helping to mold the next state prosecutor or doctor. [My child] will never forget you. — Parent
• Thank you for the support and not letting any child go without the opportunity of being someone in the future. — Parent
• One Reading Recovery teacher said her training was a defining moment in her life: I will never teach the same and I will always teach from each child’s strengths, rather than deficits.
  
  

Reading Recovery founder Marie Clay attended
professional development at Georgia State
University in September 2006. Pictured left to
right are Donna Williamson, Cobb County School
District teacher leader; Marie Clay; Sue Duncan,
Georgia State University; and Vicki Hester.