INSIGHT FROM THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER
 

Assistant Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Alesia Gillison provides perspective on several important factors in Pickerington Local School District's journey. It starts with Leadership Support. She explains, "You’ve got to start with strong leadership support, and that comes all the way from the superintendent – an administration that actively supports the adoption of these evidence-based practices, and that has an unrelenting focus on literacy. That includes the building principals and making sure they are on the same page with leadership, have the same expectations for their students, and have that keen and unrelenting focus on literacy.” 

Dr. Gillison also emphasizes the importance of Professional Learning. “Pickerington is focused on that continuous professional learning. We invest in ongoing professional learning for our educators, including our building administrators, duty aides, and paraprofessionals, because we want to ensure that we're all well-equipped and rowing in the same direction.” 

Finally, she points to the vital role that Data-Based Decision-Making plays in their success. “We rely heavily on accessing data, analyzing data, and letting data lead the way. Our data informs our practices. And are we making a difference? Can we look at this data and tailor instruction and strategies based on what our students need?" 

Reflection Questions

• What conditions might cultivate instructional leadership in your building or district? 
• To what degree do staff hold a growth mindset for continuous improvement and professional learning for teaching reading? 
• How does data currently inform the implementation of evidence-based practices and selection of high-quality English language arts instructional materials? 

Learn More

• Pickerington's Plan for Progress – Academic Excellence goal (p. 3) provides an overview of the components that must be in place to ensure academic excellence at the district.
• Pickerington's Plan for Progress - Professional Learning (p. 14-15) provides an overview of the components of a successful professional learning plan.
• Ohio’s Model for Instructional Coaching for Literacy provides information on how to develop a successful coaching plan to support literacy instruction.
• Implementing Ohio’s Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement: A Guide for School Leaders, Grades K-5  provides an overview of strategies and resources to support the development of building and district systems to support literacy instruction. 
• The Science of Reading: Ohio's Commitment to Raising Literacy Achievement (video) provides an overview of the science of reading, relevant research, and implications for literacy instruction.
• Science of Reading FAQ answers frequently asked questions about the science of reading.
• Literacy Academy on Demand provides short, accessible courses on literacy topics. Literacy Academy on Demand is free and there is no sign-in necessary to access the courses. 

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