Project L.E.A.P. (Leadership to Enhance Academic Practices) was a systemic reform of the Antwerp Local Schools K-6 reading program, changing it from a patchwork of many programs and approaches to a Literacy Umbrella for students, teachers, parents, and community partners. This project was in response to an identified need at the school to improve reading achievement and test scores. Antwerp Elementary School is a Pre K-6 building in extreme Northwest Ohio; the district is highly rural and geographically isolated.

       The importance of Project L.E.A.P. for Antwerp Elementary School, and all stakeholders, was its comprehensive approach to delivery services for literacy. The major component of the project was to develop a school wide Literacy Umbrella model based upon: 1) Family strengths, 2) School leadership, 3) Partnerships, 4) Changing classroom practices, 5) Building capacity for excellent teacher, and 6) Using a systemic approach. This McAuliffe Fellowship allowed Patricia Wright Kammeyer to be the Leader to Enhance Academic Practices in this initiative, thereby modeling best practices in professional development.

       The McAuliffe Fellow served as a professional development leader in the following activities:

  • Creation of a Literacy Umbrella to coordinate all literacy programs and activities including: Title I, Title VI, Ohio Reads, Intervention Specialists, Regular Education, Special Education, Gifted Education, Community Volunteer Program, Literacy Services, and Accelerated Reader
  • Addition of a before school intervention program called Reading Riots
  • Addition of an after school program to tutor students in grades 4 and 6 who were "at risk" readers as identified by their performance on the Ohio Proficiency Test
  • Site visits to schools with similar populations who have maintained Effective School ratings with selected staff to view successful programs
  • Facilitation of two Family/Community Literacy Nights
  • Implementation of a Reading Incentive Program based on Dr. Seuss' LEAP for learning with activities such as:

     

    •     - Cat in the Hat thermometer in front of school to record progress
          - Reading Hall of Fame
          - Principal's movie
          - Limo ride for students after school wide goal was met
          (our local PTO paid for this incentive)
          - Students planning their own school day

       Products from this project include a web page (www.noacsc.org/paulding/aw), and an Archival video of the reading incentive program. Literacy Tips handouts were prepared and sent home to parents. Monthly progress sheets were kept on each student to quickly identify students who were not achieving, immediate intervention was provided. Scores on the Ohio Proficiency improved in every area with the greatest increase being in the area of reading.

       The impact of this project was far reaching in our community of 2,000. Every child in PreK-6 had multiple opportunities to participate in fun and educational opportunities to improve reading skills through Project L.E.A.P. activities. The High School technology students and teachers taped and prepared the video. The project's web site was designed by high school student Kent Nighswander. Parents were actively involved as reading partners. Community volunteers were an essential part of the Project L.E.A.P. Our PTO was actively supported the project by providing financial support and manpower, which contributed to the success of the incentive program. Our Board of Education, elementary principal, Ray Etzler, and school superintendent, David Bagley, were active supports of the project.