WCS Teachers Complete Intensive Training

Published December 13, 2012

A group of Williamson County educators are learning how to better meet the needs of disabled readers. In the last three years, 22 teachers from across the district have completed the Wilson Reading System's Level I certification program. Nine of those teachers have begun Level II certification.

The Wilson Reading System is a highly-structured remedial program that teaches the structure of the language to students who have been unable to learn with other teaching strategies, or who may require multisensory language instruction. Teachers who undergo the certification process must complete an introductory workshop, a minimum 60-hour suprevised practicum, a 90-hour word study online course and student pre-and-post-testing reports.

"Wilson training provides our teachers with the instructional skills to be more effective teachers of reading," said Student Support Services Coordinator Janie Thompson. "The Wilson program is presented in such a way that students who have failed repeatedly in learning to read experience success from the very beginning of the program. Having teachers across the district with expertise in these particular instructional strategies has allowed students of all ages learn to read."

WCS teachers who completed Level I certification:

Barb Goetzman - Allendale Elementary
Nicole Thomas - Allendale Elementary
Sandra Haynie - Brentwood Middle
Holly Hoch - Crockett Elementary
Maria Baker - Edmondson Elementary
Jill Collins - Edmondson Elementary
Sha Potter - Grassland Middle
Rosel Wright - Heritage Elementary
Diana Shepard - Hillsboro School
Glennda Simpson - Hillsboro School
Rachael Sims - Longview Elementary Lori Redick - Nolensville Elementary
Lynn Sawyer - Oak View Elementary
Wintress Bennett - Page Middle
Melody Thompson - Page Middle
Sarah Roberts - Pearre Creek Elementary
Zach Hudson - Spring Station Middle
Derek Murray - Trinity Elementary
Anna Milton - Walnut Grove Elementary
Charlene Chapman - Westwood Elementary
Kate Martin - Student Support Services Specialist
Yolanda Blackburn - Mentor