Smith Leadership Academy Charter Public School receives $9K Literacy Grant from Massachusetts Department of Education

Boston, November 16, 2009 - The state's Department of Elementary & Secondary Education has awarded the Smith Leadership Academy Charter Public School a $9 thousand Literacy Professional Development Partnership Grant for the 2009-2010 academic year. Lesley University in Cambridge, MA is working with the Academy as its primary partner in this school-wide professional development program. The Smith Leadership Academy is one of 67 public schools statewide receiving a DOE literacy award to support implementing proven, scientifically-based methods of reading instruction.

"It is an honor for the Academy to receive this Literacy Grant, and all staff members view it as a vote of confidence in the teaching being done at the school," said Karmala Sherwood, Head of School. "Working in partnership with Lesley and other professionals trained to deal with a variety of learning styles and cultural differences, our teachers will develop new teaching strategies to excite their students about reading which, hopefully, will result in improved reading comprehension in all subject areas and higher test scores."

The Academy, a middle school located in Boston's Fields Corner neighborhood, serves inner-city children primarily of African-American and Caribbean-American descent. The professional development program will stress the importance of using racially and culturally cognizant materials as a magnet to encourage the Academy's students to read.

"Today, we celebrate the state's strong support for the important work being done by the teachers and staff at Smith Leadership Academy," said Mary Ann Cappiello, assistant professor of Language and Literacy, Lesley University's School of Education. "Building a bridge from Cambridge to Dorchester, this grant provides us with the opportunity to bring literacy research to life through rich professional development opportunities for teachers."