Shiryl McAdams has been named literacy intervention coach for the Daviess County Public Schools district. The new position is funded by a grant from the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro with a goal of improving student achievement in literacy.
The position will focus on increasing the effectiveness of reading interventions in DCPS schools. McAdams will support teams in design and implementation, as well as monitoring and evaluating reading interventions to maximize student success.
A key component will involve building partnerships with schools and teachers to refine instructional practice in the area of literacy intervention. Additional facets will include designing formative assessments, implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) and collaborating with teachers as they work with targeted students.
“My goal is to impact each student’s literacy journey in a meaningful way to ensure they perform at their personal best,” McAdams said. “To achieve this goal, I will support teachers in identifying potential barriers, diagnosing deficits early and pushing learning deeper so students can achieve their greatest potential.”
Additionally, she said she wanted to expand and refine teachers’ knowledge in intervening and use of resources.
“Collaborating with teachers in this work of intervention and analysis will be critical in determining student needs early and then monitoring consistently so students can overcome deficits and be successful life-long readers.”
PLFO executive director David Boeyink said they are excited about the potential for this project and are eager to see how it bears fruit in the coming three years.
“The match between our interest in reading proficiency gains and the role of the intervention coach is a great fit,” he said.
“I am grateful for this opportunity given to our district by the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro,” McAdams said. “This grant allows us to provide specific support to students and teachers in the area of literacy intervention so all of our students will have a successful reading journey.”
McAdams earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Western Kentucky University and a master’s degree in literacy (K-12) from Capella University. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in the area of literacy/early to middle childhood.
She has 17 years of experience as a teacher in Florida and Kentucky.
“I taught for six years in kindergarten, which taught me the value and skill of intervening early in foundation skills and early literacy,” McAdams said.
She taught grades 1-6 for five years and has spent the last six years as a literacy coach and interventionist, most recently at Country Heights Elementary School.
“As a coach, I supported teachers in core literacy instruction, and guided reading, analysis and classroom intervention instruction,” she said. “As an interventionist, I supported our students in closing gaps in their literacy learning and building strong foundational skills.”
McAdams has also facilitated learning on guided reading for the Kentucky Reading Project at Western Kentucky University.
