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After school was out last summer, Dawson, along
with Dr. Kim White, clinical associate professor
in Curriculum and Instruction, worked with UK
graduate students to arrange a two-week transition
camp for William Wells Brown’s fifth-grade students
to help acclimate them to middle school, with a
special focus on reading and math.
The College’s impact at William Wells Brown is not
limited to the elementary education program.
A group of graduate students studying applied
behavioral analysis, led by Dr. Allan Allday, associate
professor in the College’s Department of Early
Childhood, Special Education, and Rehabilitation
Counseling, now partners with the school to observe
behavior, collect data and support the school’s staff
with behavior interventions.
“Allan Allday has supported our teachers through
observations and feedback on classroom management
strategies,” Jones said. “This support has been very
helpful for our newer teachers as they work to
establish strong classroom structures. The College
of Education is definitely one of our strongest
community partners.”
In the summer of 2016, a group of seven students
in the master’s degree program in literacy education
at the UK College of Education completed their
clinical practicums at William Wells Brown. There
they worked with nine children who have been
identified by school faculty and staff as needing
further assistance in literacy. They designed and
implemented 36 hours of personalized instruction
which utilized the children’s strengths and interests
to overcome their challenges. Dr. Janice F. Almasi,
the Carol Lee Robertson Endowed Professor of
Literacy Education in the Department of Curriculum
and Instruction, led the students, assisted by three
clinical supervisors: Stephanie Hilton, Lyuda Ivanyuk
(both graduate students in literacy education in the
Department of Curriculum and Instruction), and
Stacy Farr.
Almasi noted, “This is the first year in which our
clinicians completed their clinical practicum in a
school-based setting in the summer. We chose to
work with the children at William Wells Brown in the
summer because the issue of summer reading loss
is profound. Research has consistently shown that
students, particularly those of lower socioeconomic
status, lose ground each summer to students from
middle-class backgrounds.
“Studies have also shown that the achievement gap
between these students is almost entirely accounted
for by an accumulation of summer reading loss from
first through fifth grade, “ Almasi continued. “Our
goal this summer was to provide individualized
literacy instruction designed to assist students who
struggle with literacy in hopes of reducing summer
reading loss for these children.”
The school has inspired collaboration from across
the UK campus, including the UK College of Nursing.
With assistance from the United Way and support
from Dean Janie Heath, Elizabeth Salt, a professor
in the UK College of Nursing, organized a cohort of
faculty members from her department to spend one
hour a week working with students at the school.
“It occurred to me that the incredible resources
available at the university were likely not being
accessed at their maximum capabilities,” Salt said.
“I started to brainstorm on what I could do to help.
I thought I could likely recruit my colleagues in the
College of Nursing — the College has an awesome
group of faculty and staff with so many unique talents
and an incredible capacity to give and care for others.”
Students and directors from LEXengaged, a UK
Living Learning Program, work with William Wells
Brown students in its after-school program. Visiting
the school about once a week during the academic
year, the group is focused on helping William Wells
Brown students develop an appreciation for their
neighborhood.
“Bringing back the incredible, African-American
history of the area can give new insight into what
Lexington has been built from,” said Jacelynn Sturgill,
a LEXengaged student and biology major from
Jessamine County, Kentucky.
The group also provides homework help and
tutoring during their visits, as well as friendship.
“Every week, I get excited to see them; they greet
me with smiles and hugs, and before we can begin to
get anything done, we have to ask one another how
each of our days/weeks have been,” Sturgill said.
YOU can make an impact!
At the College of Education, faculty
hope to raise further financial support
so that the College can expand
its impact. To learn more about
supporting this effort, please contact
Jeff Francisco at (859) 257-2479.
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