A group of UTC faculty from the Colleges of Education and Arts and Sciences
are working together to assist local urban schools to improve their
students' literacy skills.  Dr. Valerie Rutledge,  Associate Professor and
Acting Head of the Teacher Preparation Academy, will serve as director of a
$50,000 contract from the  Hamilton County Department of Education.  Dr.
Rutledge will be assisted by Drs. Jane Brower, Diane Riddle, Ted Miller,
Sarah Sandefur, Lloyd Davis, Valerie Rutledge,  Caryl Taylor, Fran Bender,
and Verbie Prevost, and Mrs. Gwen Williams.

The $50,000 contract  represents a subgrant from the Tennessee Department
of Education and enables UTC to be a key player in the Reading Excellence
Act grants awarded to the State of Tennessee.  The award underscores the
importance of UTCs role as a member of the Tennessee Reading Collaboration,
a core group of literacy education specialists from higher education
institutions across the state of Tennessee.  In addition, these
sub-contracts exemplify the successful partnership efforts between UTC and
the Hamilton County Department of Education.

This award will fund programs at Clifton Hills, East Lake, Orchard Knob,
and Howard, four local elementary schools, three of which the state of
Tennessee has placed on-notice as low performing schools.  Dr. Rutledge and
her colleagues will tailor their instruction to meet the specific needs of
each school and implement research-proven training modules including guided
reading activities, classroom observation of exemplary colleagues, study
groups, and one-on-one lesson reflections.  The professional development
team will also work with teachers to provide support and assistance as they
implement literacy teaching strategies.

Congratulations to Dr. Rutledge and our A&S and CEAPS faculty!  This
professional development initiative is an invaluable service to local
teachers and will significantly improve literacy skills among Hamilton
County's most at-risk children.




Diane Miller
Director
Office of Grants and Program Review/Dept 4905
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN  37403
TELEPHONE:  423-755-4431
FAX:  423-755-4052
EMAIL:  [log in to unmask]
WEBSITE:  http://www.utc.edu/Grants-and-Research/