Division of Early Literacy Spotlight: Tara Griffith
Tara Griffith has joined the Office of Teaching and Learning in the Division of Early Literacy as one of the State Regional Literacy Directors (SRLDs). Griffith comes to this role with 24 years of experience, most recently serving as an Education Recovery Leader in the Office of Continuous Improvement and Support at the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) where she supported school leaders and teams in creating and implementing sustainable systems for continuous improvement that led to improved learning outcomes.
Through this work, she realized that many schools had a large number of students who were not able to read on grade level.
Griffith stated, “Schools were in CSI status, in part, as a result of reading performance. In examining the structure for elementary reading, we saw a need not only to focus on quality tier one reading instruction but also to use literacy acquisition and achievement as a lever for sustainable school improvement.”
She explained schools have approximately 700 days from the time students enter kindergarten until the time those students finish third grade to ensure they are proficient readers. Her goal in this new position is to be a partner in leading systemic change in order to improve literacy outcomes for all learners across our Commonwealth. Griffith will advocate for instruction in all five components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
"I am truly honored to have been chosen for this vital role in shaping the educational landscape of our state," Griffith said. "I firmly believe that literacy is the cornerstone of a successful academic journey, and I am committed to working collaboratively with educators, parents and stakeholders to ensure that every child receives the instruction and support they need in order to thrive."
As an SRLD, Griffith will lead a team of State Literacy Coaching Specialists (SLCSs) who will focus on supporting K-3 teachers in improving implementation of tier one instruction through evidence-based literacy practices and consistent, coordinated implementation of high-quality instructional resources. Griffith and her team also will support educators and administrators participating in the Kentucky Reading Academies Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) courses as they begin applying their understanding of how the brain learns to read, sparking change in their classrooms and schools.
In addition to her classroom experience and work at the KDE, Griffith sought to instill a passion for reading in her students during her years as a school librarian and literacy specialist and as president of the Kentucky Association of School Librarians and Kentucky Library Association. She also spent many years as a school district administrator in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment where she championed data-driven instructional strategies and collaborated with fellow educators to bolster academic excellence.
Griffith earned a bachelor’s, master’s and Rank I in educational administration and leadership at Western Kentucky University before completing a specialist in education for district administration - supervisor of instruction at Eastern Kentucky University.
With a clear goal of improving reading proficiency by the crucial third-grade milestone, Griffith plans to leverage her expertise as she empowers educators, engages families and creates a transformative educational environment that ensures every child's success. Her proven track record, combined with her passion for education and unwavering commitment to students' success, positions her as a change agent in the realm of literacy improvement.
Stay tuned to meet the rest of the State Regional Literacy Directors. If you missed the first two in this series, read the February 6 and February 13 editions.
 Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference Date Announced
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) Division of Early Literacy invites you to the first annual Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference on June 20, 2024 at the Central Bank Center, formerly the Lexington Convention Center.
Keynote speaker and educational journalist Emily Hanford, host of the Sold a Story podcast – the second-most-shared show on Apple Podcasts in 2023 and one of Time magazine’s top three podcasts of the year – has been covering education for American Public Media since 2008. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the EWA Public Service Award in 2019 for Hard Words and the 2017 Excellence in Media Reporting on Education Research Award from the American Educational Research Association.
The conference will require registration, but is FREE to Kentucky K-12 public educators and will offer focused learning pathways to meet the needs of teachers and administrators. Attendees will learn from KDE OTL consultants and partners about:
- Evidence-based instructional shifts for literacy;
- The benefits of structured literacy;
- Why high-quality instructional resources matter; and
- Available resources for implementing the Read to Succeed Act.
Mark your calendar for this June 20 event. Registration information will be coming soon.
Early Literacy Newsletter Archive
Did you miss last week's Early Literacy Newsletter? You can access all previous editions of the newsletter on the Early Literacy webpage.
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