Board honors teachers who completed AIM Institute structured-literacy coursework

The DeSoto County School Board on Aug. 7 recognized a group of elementary teachers and administrators who completed AIM Institute coursework aligned with the science of reading and structured literacy. Jenny Treadway, the district's director of primary schools, told the board the honored educators "completed 30 plus hours of coursework outside of their regular school day" and that the training "align[s] with the science of reading and structured literacy." She said the district wanted to reward "the educators that rise above the average expectation." The superintendent invited Treadway to present certificates; more than two dozen staff members were named during the recognition. Named educators included Maria Wright, Laurie Burns, Tanya Yarbrough, Hannah Hall, Rhonda James, Hailey Bryant, Stacy Morgan, Charlotte Wade, Sicily Campbell, Aaron Harris, Linda Larson, Leann Williams, Torrey Carter, Patty Woman, Stephanie Weathers, Audrey Young, Shay Oakley Steel, Jamie Parish, Ashley Phillips, Candace White and Greta Stevens. Presenters said this was "half the group" and that the recognition was split across two events because of the number of participants. The board invited the group to pose for photographs and thanked them for their work with students. No policy or budget action was taken as part of the recognition.