The literacy program is a watershed for increased professionalism and collegiality, the teachers agree. The literacy-resource room is an example. Building this together really has made a wonderful atmosphere in the staff. A similar room for sharing math materials is in the works. All staff take part in twice-yearly student testing and quarterly discussions to assign students to literacy groups.
All staff attend important trainings.
Because they share such experiences, staff also share students with confidence. The literacy-program kickoff in fall 1996 coincided with McCullough's arrival at Grout. It also marked the school's conversion to a Title I Schoolwide program. It's an ideal way to start reform. The literacy program takes advantage of this flexibility.