Simmons Elementary showcases K–5 writing program; principal Karen Kantor to retire

Simmons Elementary principal Karen Kantor and assistant principal Dr. Daniel Beck presented the school’s K–5 writing approach at the Hatboro‑Horsham board meeting Feb. 23, outlining how teachers build background knowledge, teach orthographic mapping in kindergarten, use shared experiences in early grades, and shift toward audience‑focused writing by fifth grade.

Kantor described kindergarten practices such as connecting sounds to letters and using adult transcription when students spell by sound. "When students read their writing back to the teacher, she adds the adult writing underneath for words that students sounded out and didn't know the correct spelling for yet," Kantor said. Beck described the second‑grade use of shared experiences (for example, making straw rockets) and graphic organizers to scaffold multi‑paragraph writing.

At the fifth‑grade level, students are challenged to write to an authentic audience; staff gave examples of students writing to local businesses and sometimes receiving responses, which the presenters described as valuable civic engagement. The board member question about peer critique prompted Kantor to explain that feedback structures ("two stars and a wish") begin in kindergarten and evolve into constructive peer questions by upper elementary grades.

The board thanked Kantor and Beck for the presentation and recognized Kantor’s upcoming retirement; the board president congratulated her on her service to Simmons Elementary.

Why it matters: the presentation illustrated district elementary literacy practice and how the curriculum supports progression from phonics and spelling to audience‑focused writing and civic engagement. The retirement note signals an upcoming leadership transition at Simmons.

No formal action was taken on the presentation itself; the board moved on to committee reports and agenda votes after questions and remarks of thanks.