Michigan Reading Association

2015 Agency Literacy Award

Michigan English Language Arts (MiELA) Network

The Michigan English Language Arts (MiELA) Network was founded by a consortium of ISD consultants with the mission of addressing the rigorous instructional demands of the Michigan Standards. Each summer, the MiELA Network has invited every district within Michigan, and several beyond our state’s borders, to send K-12 teachers, teacher leaders, and administrators to engage in professional learning opportunities. The Summer Institute 2014 had over 1500 participants. One person stated, “My attendance at both summer institutes furthered my understanding of the MAISA units and introduced better instructional practices to use in my classroom.” The MiELA Network facilitators provided teachers with the tools and strategies to be successful in implementing the Michigan Standards.

2013 Agency Literacy Award

Taylor Reading Corp, Taylor, Michigan

Judge Geno Salomone, a life-long Taylor resident, had been concerned about literacy in his hometown and surrounding area for years based on observing the number of adults in his courtroom who would be considered functionally illiterate at best. In the summer of 2011 the judge brought together a team of eleven community members to form a volunteer literacy tutoring group and the Taylor Reading Corp came into existence. The non-profit organization, by unanimous acclamation of the Board of Education works with, but is not part of the Taylor Public Schools. The goal of this group is to make Taylor, “the city of readers in Southeast Michigan” which is well under way. They are supported by grants, monetary donations, in-kind donations and hundreds of hours of volunteer time. There are two hundred volunteers that work with at-risk pre-k, kindergarteners and first grade students in eight elementary buildings. As the president of PNC Financial Services Group stated, “The beauty of TRC is its volunteerism.” Business leaders, parents, teachers and administrators are all represented in the Corp. This program in not only good for kids, and the advancement of literacy, it is also good for the community.