Literacy leader cultivates joy
Dionna Roberts wears multiple hats, but she likes to say, “Literacy is my ‘jam,’ meaning my job and motivation for the work I do.”
A former teacher and literacy coach, now a principal and current president of the Michigan Reading Association (MRA), Roberts describes her core philosophy as a balance between the technical “science of reading” and the motivational “art of teaching.”
She agrees that explicit instruction in phonics is crucial to building kids’ foundational reading skills, but she wants to make sure reading love remains part of the equation too.
“If we are not cultivating a culture of literacy where books are celebrated and stories are sources of joy, then why would kids want to learn how to read? Reading is a hard task to do. Are we modeling reading? Are we making reading a part of what we do and how we operate?”
The MEA-Retired member is in her third year as principal of Lincoln International Studies School in Kalamazoo Public Schools after spending 17 years as an elementary teacher and three years as a literacy coach in the district.
As MRA president, she champions “literacy for all” as an equity issue that requires breaking down systemic barriers, including access to culturally relevant books, certified teachers, and the best teaching practices, saying, “Every child has a right to read.”
Roberts’ district is ahead of upcoming requirements in Michigan’s new literacy and dyslexia laws, having already adopted a highly regarded phonics program for K-5 use called “UFLI Foundations” from the University of Florida Literacy Institute.
The next step is ensuring teachers receive good training, so they can determine how to use the program to best effect, Roberts said. “I would never take away the professional judgment of educators. I respect them too much for that.”
Mark your calendars for upcoming inspiration, she noted. The MRA conference in March will be headlined by Anita Archer, a renowned expert in structured literacy.
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