District One Spartanburg County Schools
Campobello, South Carolina

In 2008–2009, Reading Recovery teachers taught 136 individual students, with 76% of students with a full series of lessons now on grade level. In addition, Reading Recovery teachers served 486 students in their other roles. They also began working with middle school special education students who were significantly below grade level in reading and had not had an opportunity for Reading Recovery in first grade.

Superintendent Dr. Jimmy Littlefield, who recently received the South Carolina Friend of Reading Recovery award said, “Our district has taken a closer look at our comprehensive literacy plan. We, like many other districts in our state and nation, are struggling financially. However, through this financial crisis, our district led by an outstanding board of trustees and administrators, has continued to find funding to support this program. Reading Recovery is not just an expense, it’s an investment in the future of our students."

District One has set higher reading expectations for all students by providing ongoing staff development at the district and school levels and additional reading resources for all students, forming literacy teams for all schools, stressing intensive ongoing reading assessment in Grades K–4 through 8, and providing reading coaches in addition to Reading Recovery teachers. As a result of the focus on literacy, the district was awarded the District Literacy Spot Award for South Carolina in 2001. Four or five elementary schools have received the Literacy Spot Award and the International Reading Association Exemplary Reading Award.

The positive systemic changes resulting from Reading Recovery have truly made a difference in the educational lives of young children. District One Spartanburg County believes that reading is not a privilege, it is a right for every child!
 

Chris Price, Principal at New Prospect Elementary,
shares the love of reading with Reading Recovery
students during the holidays.

Dr. Jimmy Littlefield shares a book with students.
Recipient of the South Carolina Friend of Reading
Recovery Award in December 2008, Superintendent
Littlefield said, "Reading Recovery is not just an
expense, it's an investment in the future of our
students."

Proud advocates display the District Literacy Spot Award for South Carolina: (left to right) Ann Greene, coordinator of instruction; Karen Daugherty, board member; Jimmy Littlefield, superintendent; Beth Young, principal; Vicki Steadman, Reading Recovery teacher leader; and Joy Ballenger, literacy coach.

In Spartanburg County District One, Reading Recovery
teacher leaders also provide professional development
for literacy teachers in other grades. Here middle-school
teacher Tracie Bell works with a middle-school student.