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GHS literacy program draws honor

Gilmer High School Principal Gary Whitwell and science teacher/literacy counselor Donna Sue Perkins were recently honored with letters from State Sen. Florence Shapiro, chairperson of the Senate Education Committee.

The letters praise them for the Gilmer High School literacy skills program Whitwell instituted and which Mrs. Perkins heads at GHS.

The letters recognize them being invited to the United Kingdom Literacy Association International Conference, which will be held at Liverpool Hope University from July 11 to 13.

Mrs. Shapiro’s letter to Whitwell, dated April 9, said that “it is not every day that one gets word that a Texas high school team gets invited to the United Kingdom Literacy Association’s conference at Liverpool University, and to be asked to share their journey of creating a stronger literacy skills program in all of their curriculums. . . . You are a shining example of what an effective principal can do in the State of Texas.”

Her letter to Mrs. Perkins, also dated April 9, said that “teachers play a vital role in Texas schools, transferring knowledge from generation to generation, and it is wonderful to hear that an amazing individual has been recognized on an international level for her service and innovative skills that lead to the improvements of Gilmer High School’s education system. . . .

“As chair of the Senate Committee on Education and a former teacher, I would like to convey my appreciation for all the hard work and dedication that you have administered,” Sen. Shapiro said.

White and Mrs. Perkins received their invitation to UKLA in a February letter from UKLA president David Reedy.

Reedy wrote “We should very much like to include your proposal “Let your secondary content and good instruction MAKE the change” for a 45-minute session.”

Mrs. Perkins said that “almost every student can read better than they do,” even the “A” students. She said the literacy skills program involved ways to train students to improve their comprehension.

“You can open a college textbook and it might seem overwhelming,” Whitwell told The Mirror. “But they often have subheads and charts. We teach students to scan a passage before they read it. And read with questions in mind.”

He said the program helped not only poor readers, but the better students.

“It will help get college-bound kids more prepared,” Mrs. Perkins said.

She said that smart kids can read quickly, and that is important on timed standardized tests like the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).

Mrs. Perkins received her training as a literacy counselor from Sandy Switzer, a consultant who came from Maryland worked with Mrs. Perkins last summer.

Mrs. Perkins said the program started when Whitwell had his entire staff do a book study. She had been a science teacher, and still heads the science department at GHS, but Whitwell said they cut back on her teaching duties to give her time to work with the literacy program.

She said collaboration among educators is a “big deal” in making the program work, so “we’re not teaching in isolation.”

The literacy program helps not only reading comprehension, but in math, history, writing and science programs. Mrs. Perkins said that the Texas Legislature recently passe HB 2237, which mandates that literacy programs start in middle schools.

“Gilmer is two years ahead of the state,” she said, adding that she thinks Sen. Shapiro learned about the Gilmer program while researching literacy programs to use as a model for Texas.

Both said that “it was an honor to be recognized,” but they don’t plan to travel to the United Kingdom, because a trip there would be expensive, and the school district does not have the budget for it.

Mirror Photo
TWO GILMER HIGH SCHOOL educators received the honor of being invited to an international literacy conference in the United Kingdom. They included science teacher/literacy skills counselor Donna Sue Perkins and principal Gary Whitwell. Whitwell said they are honored to be invited, but do not plan to go, since the school district does not have funds for it, and a trip to the UK would be expensive.

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