Patti Smith Named 2018 ARA Administrator in Reading

Patti Smith was recently named ARA's Administrator in Reading for 2018.  Patti is currently the Principal of Drew Central Middle School in Monticello, Arkansas and is her third year in this position. She has a MEd in Educational Leadership from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, 21 additional hours in English and reading from Harding University and the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and a BS in Elementary Education from Delta State University.  

The students' literacy scores at Drew Central have increased each year that Smith has been principal. Through her leadership, professional development initiatives, and her support for high quality literacy instruction, teachers have gained and used best practices in the classroom to increase literacy achievement.  

In addition, she wrote, created, and implemented a "Boot Camp" at Dermott and Drew Central to prepare students for the stare testing. She also implemented a twenty-minute mandated reading rime for all students in the middle and high school, helping to build a culture of reading. 

Patti was nominated by SEARK Reading Council. 

School-Based Literacy Grant Awarded 

Congratulations -  Kelly Hogan

Kelly Hogan, a member of Crowley’s Ridge Reading Council and a school library media specialist at Fox Meadow Elementary in Jonesboro is the recipient of the 2018 Arkansas Reading Association’s School-Based Literacy Grant. Kelly will receive $500 to spend on her project “Deweying It My Way.” The goal of Kelly’s project is to increase her K-2 students’ independence and efficiency of locating and selecting nonfiction library books by implementing a book box system in which the books are arranged by topic.