Teachers hold Title I open house for parents

Post date: Mar 05, 2020 12:29:54 PM

Wells Elementary School’s Title I math and reading teachers recently featured an open house for parents of Title I students receiving math and/or literacy support at WES. The February 14th event, named "For the Love of Learning”, was to provide family interaction in celebrating student improvement in reading and math.

The Title I law is part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, a component of the Johnson Administration’s then “War on Poverty”. Since that time, Title I has provided supplemental funding to designated schools to help provide, among other educational needs, assistance to students falling behind their peers in reaching educational goals.

According to Title I Literacy teacher Karen Valliere, approximately 85 WES students are currently eligible and receiving this service. “We were delighted. Couldn’t have been any happier,” said Valliere about the turnout for the open house.

“Our goal is to help each child develop the skills and strategies necessary to become a competent student so (that) he or she will find success when participating in classroom activities,” said Title I Math teacher Kim Richard. “We want to help children enjoy reading and math by providing them with resources they can use at home with support. We hope they will continue to pursue reading and math for enjoyment as well.”

Stacey Schatzabel is the Director of Instruction and Special Services for the Wells-Ogunquit CSD. “Title I students make tremendous gains through our programming, however, the best results come from home and school working together,” commented Schatzabel. “This event is an example of this partnership." According to Schatzabel, the ESEA grant funds the Title I math teaching positions in the WOCSD. However, the literacy positions are funded locally.

Before they left their Title I classrooms on the 14th, also Valentine’s Day, participating students received either a free book of their choice and/or a math game to play at home.

Jacob Owen with son Jaxson reading together, My New Friend Is So Fun by Mo Willems. Jaxson is in the first grade at WES.

WES Title I teachers (from the left) Bonnie Esty (Literacy), Kim Richard (Math), Nancy Colley (Literacy), Brenda Brown (Math) and Karen Valliere (Literacy).