Cresta McIntosh, Associate Superintendent of Educational Services at the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, shared the following reflection with CTI after a group of MPUSD teachers attended a week-long training:
In the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) we believe in powerful teaching and learning. Our partnership with the Chartwell Teaching Institute is a proven game-changer in foundational literacy practices for the MPUSD educational community. Together we have collaborated in multiple professional development sessions to provide our teachers, interventionalists, and school leaders engaging, rich content, and invaluable tools and strategies rooted in the science of reading.
The positive impacts of this collaboration are exemplified in the feedback we’ve received from educators across the district. One school leader noted, “The structured literacy approach has given me a new perspective on how to support teachers in tailoring instruction to meet individual student needs effectively.” A classroom teacher remarked, “I find myself better prepared to address the diverse learning needs of my first grade students. With our new district phonics curriculum, I can ensure that each student is building on a strong foundation.”
These testimonials underscore the significant impact of the Chartwell Teaching Institutes professional development on MPUSD’s teaching community. Our educators not only appreciate the depth of knowledge shared, but also the practical application of evidence-based strategies in their classrooms while still being able to utilize our core adopted phonics curriculum.
As we look to the future, our optimism for growth is grounded in the continued support and resources provided by the Chartwell Teaching Institute. We firmly believe that the strategies imparted through this collaboration will contribute significantly to our overarching goal of reading proficiency for all 3rd graders. This partnership lays a solid foundation for sustained success for years to come.
