A generous donation from a community member has led to a unique professional learning opportunity for HISD teacher development specialists and school support officers.

Jill Carter’s $5,000 donation was enough to bring noted authors Kylene Beers and Bob Probst to the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center to host a very unique training centered on literacy. The donation also highlighted the amazing impact donors and the community can have on the education of our city’s students.

“I wanted to make this targeted contribution because I don’t have a large amount of money and, from my time volunteering in two different schools as a tutor, I had come to feel that there needed to be much more of a focused approach to early reading,” said Carter.

“I don’t have a background in education, but when my daughter was in HISD, she needed real reading tutoring. That need has, perhaps, informed my feeling that my amateur efforts as a tutor could and should be improved upon within the school system.”

Beers and Probst are both former teachers and the authors of Notice and Note: Strategies for Close Reading. The book, which outlines no-nonsense strategies for connecting academic standards with practical classroom techniques, is being used extensively by school staff to help support the district’s Literacy By 3 efforts.

“The adventure of reading has been a lifelong pleasure for me.” said Carter. “I feel every child needs the opportunity to read competently, creatively, and thoughtfully as a part of becoming a whole person.”

Attendees to the learning series were provided a copy of the Beers and Probst follow-up book, Reading Nonfiction: Notice and Note Stances, Signposts, and Strategies, at the training.

Individuals and organizations who wish to support specific HISD programs should contact Strategic Partnerships at 713-556-6720 for details on how to partner with the district.