Literacy Leadership Initiative
The Literacy Leadership Initiative (LLI) is one of several programs of the VT READS Institute at the University of Vermont. Our purpose is to increase and sustain literacy leadership capacity throughout Vermont. We provide resources and professional development for individuals, schools, districts and supervisory unions.
LLI strives to meet the following goals:
- Support existing and emerging literacy leaders within Vermont’s schools and supervisory unions to meet their goals and boost local and regional capacity
- Link literacy leaders across the state to share expertise and resources efficiently
- Help literacy leaders stay current with research, initiatives, and opportunities
Who might participate in LLI?
- Literacy or reading specialists, literacy coaches, literacy coordinators
- Classroom teachers who see themselves as having an emerging or existing leadership role within their school or district
- Title 1, special educators with district-wide, school-wide or team-leadership role
- Principals, curriculum coordinators and other administrators who particularly want to focus on reading/literacy
Benefits: All LLI members can access the following activities and services:
- An initial start-up session in the summer to begin our work together
- Two half-day site support visits
- Two full-day Professional Development Conferences
- Online networking through the LLI list serve and access to LLI member resources
- Periodic mailings and updates from coordinators & colleagues
- Opportunity to integrate LLI participation in a UVM course: EDLT380: Literacy Leadership and Systemic Change (credit is an additional cost).
LLI achieves its goals through 3 different models of membership/participation:
Model A: Individual Membership
This model is appropriate for individuals (up to four individuals per school, district, or SU). Members receive critical one-to-one discussion and professional development to support and advance literacy related work important to their roles through two half-day visits.
Model B: Team model
This model is appropriate for groups of 4-16 individuals within a district or supervisory union who want to strengthen cross-school communication, coordination and collaboration. Consultants will work with the larger team while also providing site-support for individuals. 10-25% of the LLI site-support time should be spent on cross-school collaboration through means such as study groups, work sessions or sharing/problem-solving sessions. The first meeting will involve planning out the year.
Model C: Project Model
This model is appropriate for schools, districts or supervisory unions that have a specific need in the area of literacy that is achievable within a year. This model is designed with school or district leadership to provide technical assistance and/or professional development with a specific focus that can be achieved over the course of 3-8 days. Model C applicants must identify 2 or more individuals to become LLI members (Model A).
