by Marianne Lloyd Aho
One of the benefits of participating in the projects of the Jacksonville Bar Association is the opportunity to work on projects that benefit people in our community. As the mother of a six-month-old, I am finding myself more drawn to children’s issues.
The Jacksonville Bar Association and the Duval County public schools have teamed to co-sponsor a free, all day seminar on April 12, for teachers of elementary school students on reading and learning disabilities. The Honorable Karen K. Cole has been instrumental in the genesis and organization of this project. She welcomed the co-sponsorship of the JBA.
The seminar, which will take place at the Schultz Center for Teaching & Leadership, Inc., located at 4019 Boulevard Center Drive, is open to regular classroom and ESE teachers in public schools, private schools, charter schools, and home schools. Public school teachers will earn master plan points for attending.
The seminar features nationally-recognized experts who will discuss the latest research on how children learn to read, why they sometimes do not and what teachers can do to help them. Confirmed speakers are as follows:
• George Farkas, Ph.D, a sociology professor at Penn State University, has taught at Yale University and the University of Texas at Dallas. He is the author of four books and more than 20 scholarly articles. He has received research grants from the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Science Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation. He developed a one-on-one reading instructional program that operates in four cities and was one of the bases for President Bill Clinton’s “America Reads” initiative. One of his areas of emphasis is teaching reading to children from lower socioeconomic groups who may not have experienced a literature-rich environment during their preschool years.
• Deborah Gianoulis, of Ch. 4, is one of Jacksonville’s most accomplished and best-known citizens. Among professional honors accorded her is the prestigious Peabody Award, which she and Ch. 4 won for their documentary on the plight of victims of domestic violence. Gianoulis has hosted televised documentaries on reading, and is currently producing a documentary on teaching. Long involved and committed community volunteer, Gianoulis will share her knowledge of community reading resources available to teachers.
• Lynne Raiser, Ph.D, a University of North Florida professor, is a past winner of the EVE Award in education. Dr. Raiser, who teaches weekly at Woodland Acres Elementary School, has developed practical methods of implementing the most effective research-based teaching methods in the elementary school classroom.
• Dr. Sylvia Richardson, a Tampa pediatrician, speech pathologist and author, is a past president of the International Dyslexia Association. A frequent conference speaker, she is known nationally for her life-long commitment to combating dyslexia. Known as an engaging speaker, her remarks at this seminar will focus on early literacy skills.
• Gordon Sherman, Ph.D, is a neuroscientist. He served on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and was a principal researcher for the National Institute of Health, exploring the neurologic basis of dyslexia, including how the development of a child’s brain affects how the child learns and remembers. Like Dr. Richardson, Dr. Sherman has served as president of the International Dyslexia Association. He is the current executive director of the Newgrange School, known across the country for its work with dyslexic individuals.
• Michael Sisbarro, Ph.D, a respected local school psychologist, obtained his doctorate in psychology from the University of Florida. He is a board member of both the Florida branch of the International Dyslexia Association and the C.H.A.D.D. of Duval County Professional Advisory Board. He often writes and speaks on the subject of dyslexia. Dr. Sisbarro will discuss the best practices in the assessment of children with reading problems.
• Joseph Torgesen, Ph.D, a distinguished research professor of Psychology and Education at Florida State University, is a leading expert on phonological awareness training. Dr. Torgesen has studied children with learning disabilities for over 20 years. Together with colleague Dr. Richard Wagner, he engages in research for the National Institute of Health to identify the nature, causes and best approaches to instruction for children with moderate to severe reading problems. Dr. Torgesen is a widely published author, and serves on the editorial boards of several publications, including The Journal of Educational Psychology and The Journal of Learning Disabilities.
We all know of the statistics showing the high crime rates, particularly among juveniles who cannot read. We hope this seminar will benefit children and teachers in our community.
I encourage anyone who may be interested in this seminar to call me at 363-1950.