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Simpson County School District (SCSD) employee and dyslexia therapist Katie Rutland is the newest recipient of a competitive grant awarded annually by the Mississippi Professional Educators (MPE), a statewide professional organization of teachers, administrators and non-certified staff from kindergarten to graduate school level.
Awarded to members of MPE, Rutland is one of 44 members to receive classroom grants totaling nearly $41,000, to enhance instructional offerings or educational experiences for students during the 2023-2024 school year. Receiving more than $900, Rutland will use her funding to build upon the district’s dyslexia therapy program referred to as Spelling, Handwriting, Alphabet Skills, Reading and Phonics — or SHARP.
“I am proud of the hard work that Mrs. Rutland does every day. I have witnessed firsthand the difference she makes in student’s lives, and I am happy that she has been awarded this grant to assist in her work,” said SCSD Superintendent Paul Lawrence.
During the 2022-2023 school year, Rutland and colleague Allie Knotts introduced a new component to the dyslexia therapy program called SHARP Readers, which provides second-year students in the program at Magee Elementary School and Simpson Central School an opportunity to showcase their reading and leadership skills by reading books to kindergarten classes, as well as performing Reader’s Theater plays. A big success, this method helped the students improve their fluency skills and help them increase their self-esteem about reading. This year, Rutland will expand SHARP Readers to Mendenhall Elementary School, so that more students can gain much needed confidence and leadership skills.
“Last year, it was so fun to see students who were very reluctant to read come out and say, ‘I did it’,” said Rutland. “It really builds their confidence, and they have fun with it.”
As SHARP Readers, students not only learn written language skills, but they also are taught public speaking skills, articulation, and how to present to the audience. They even learn leadership skills as identified in Leader in Me, a districtwide improvement process based on the
idea that everyone can be a leader.
With the MPE grant, Rutland will build upon the program and heighten its identity by buying T-shirts to distinguish student presenters as SHARP Readers because “Readers are Leaders.” She will also be able to purchase books, costumes and props for the Reader’s Theater performances, so that the books can come alive and be more engaging and fun for the presenters and audience alike.
Ultimately, Rutland’s goal is to give her SHARP Readers an identity and to have them feel proud they get to do something others don’t get to do because they haven’t always been confident readers.
“I hope it will help them to become more confident in their reading skills and to do things they thought they couldn’t do before,” said Rutland. “I also hope it helps them become leaders by reading to younger children and helping the younger children to appreciate books and reading.”
Rutland is a veteran educator with 23 years of experience. She has worked for SCSD for the past nine years as a dyslexia therapist, providing services to students in first through fifth grade.
MageeNews.com is an online news website covering Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi.
It’s so wonderful that Mrs. Rutland has been recognized for her excellent work with her students!