Virginia Literacy Foundation: Fostering Collaboration and Literacy Growth Through Individualized Support
Throughout the summer, Robin’s Foundation’s summer intern, Annaliese Santana, interviewed eight inspiring community leaders as part of the foundation’s “Partner Spotlight” initiative. This new initiative provides a platform for grantees to highlight their important work in early childhood development and for Robins Foundation to recognize the incredible efforts and successes of our partners.
Annaliese’s first interviewee was Cindy Hutchinson, Director of the Excellence in Children’s Early Language and Literacy (ExCELL) program at the Virginia Literacy Foundation (VLF).
Currently serving over 1,800 children and families in Richmond, ExCELL provides essential resources to young learners, families, and educators throughout Virginia. Cindy Hutchinson, a former educator herself, provided meaningful insights about the importance of literacy development, family and teacher collaboration, and individualized support in early childhood development.
Can you please describe, at a high level, what the Virginia Literacy Foundation does?
The mission of the Virginia Literacy Foundation (VLF) is to support, from birth through adulthood, literacy development and achievement. VLF has been involved in efforts across the state to support adults with low literacy skills, specifically those who want to improve their reading capabilities. VLF also provides funding for volunteer community-based literacy organizations. In fact, we maintain a partnership with Virginia’s Department of Education and the statewide Adult Learning Resource Center (VALRC).
Beginning in 2004, in partnership with the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Education, VLF was awarded three consecutive federal Early Reading First (ERF) grants. And in 2008, VLF created the Northside Reading Foundations (NoRF) program using the knowledge gained from the federal grants. Two years later, this program was renamed Excellence in Children’s Early Language and Literacy (ExCELL).
And what does ExCELL do?
ExCELL is a comprehensive early childhood program that connects educators with families and helps build a common understanding of the important experiences and opportunities that young children need to develop a strong foundation for early reading success. My goal is to build a bridge that connects two contexts of the child; we want to have all important and influential adults supporting the child. So, we enter into an existing parent-teacher relationship where there’s already a level of trust between families and teachers.
ExCELL also builds a common knowledge base around what children benefit from in these first five years. And actually, I would suggest we focus on the first 8 years because the work we do with students, all the way up through second grade, sets the stage for children to be successful in reading and writing. While we maintain a focus on literacy and language, it’s all within the context of whole child development; which would include community support and resources as well.
Can you describe how ExCELL provides professional development to teachers and how partnerships with parents and families are developed and leveraged to advance children’s learning and development?
We offer professional development that focuses on topical areas of children’s early language and literacy development. Teachers then receive classroom instructional materials that are directly connected to what we’ve explored in that training that they can use the very next day in their classrooms. As a follow-up to these professional development sessions, we also provide early literacy coaches that give individualized classroom support to teachers each week. The coaches’ goal is to help teachers implement the strategies or practices they learned in the professional development session.
When working consistently with teachers, our connections with parents strengthen. This is because, oftentimes, teachers encourage and invite parents to meet the ExCELL team. When this happens, we find that family participation increases in our monthly family events that are aligned with the work we’re doing with teachers.
A big point of discussion in the education field regards teacher retention and longevity. Do you think that the support that you all give to teachers improves their longevity in their role?
I humbly say yes. I do think that this kind of support helps them to feel better about their jobs. We want teachers to really feel joy and success in their roles in the classroom. But without consistent support, teachers can feel isolated and overwhelmed at times. They might wonder, “Does anyone care?” I think it helps when teachers have a thinking partner, a coach, to problem solve and celebrate successes with them.
We have seen fairly stable teacher retention over the years. In fact, some of the teachers we’ve worked with have become leaders in their programs; and some of them have gone beyond, as they’re coaches or are in education administrators. So I do believe that it can make a difference, but I’m humble about that because it takes the teachers wanting that as well.
How have you seen children benefit from partnerships between teachers and coaches?
We do see gains in the assessments; and our literacy coaches see children more engaged because the materials and teaching strategies we’re providing are designed to do just that. Teachers are resilient and bring so many strengths to their job. Sometimes, though, we [educators] don’t realize we’re in a pattern of instruction or classroom management that’s not working. That’s what a thinking partner, or coach, is there for. The coach is there to identify those opportunities and to really support teachers in celebrating the good times.
Can you talk more about the importance of family engagement in advancing literacy rates?
There is growing evidence that we cannot change the trajectory for these children just through the classroom. When parents are truly connected and engaged in their child’s learning, the outcomes are significantly better for that child; not only for their success in school, but for a future beyond the classroom. We also find that, when parents feel invited and encouraged by their child’s teachers, they respond. They want their child to be successful and feel good about school. Sometimes parents just don’t know how to ask for help or advocate for their child.
As an experienced educator, I can still get nervous talking to someone who has authority in some way. So I understand that power imbalance. When it comes to education, we need to know when that power dynamic is at play to help parents feel comfortable to ask questions, learn more, and feel empowered to advocate for their child’s needs.
You talk about this topic with so much passion, what motivates you to do this work?
I was a preschool director in Richmond for many years; and in that job I became a volunteer tutor in one of the RPS elementary schools. Something in that experience just clicked for me, and I knew I wanted to be part of a program aimed at making a difference. I am driven to be a part of something that’s positive and forward-looking, wanting to make a difference for our children and their families who face challenges and barriers to succeed. All children deserve that kind of support. I want every child to start kindergarten eager, confident, and capable of succeeding.
How has Robins Foundation supported you all?
Robins Foundation has been a trusted partner and primary supporter of the ExCELL program for many years. We are so grateful for their support and guidance. Their commitment to early childhood and their focus on a child’s first five years is a shared value. Robins has been instrumental in bringing attention to the importance of early childhood in Richmond and provided the needed support for advancements in resources and services.
Is there anything specific that you would like to promote in this interview, like a specific program or initiative or an awareness month?
VLF is seeking to create regional early childhood “Family Learning Centers.” These Family Learning Centers will provide multi-generational resources, guidance, and connections to engage as true partners in their children’s learning, set family and individual goals, and build capacity for meeting those goals. Building community relationships will be key to the success of these family learning centers.
For more information on the Virginia Literacy Foundation, please visit their website: https://virginialiteracy.org/
