Arizona Literacy & Learning Center
Historical Highlights
1987
Scottish Rite Foundation and Learning Center formed
Site : Masonic Building (Monroe & 4th Ave, Phx)
Purpose: Speech/Language Center - Specializing in Early Childhood Development Screenings & Speech Therapy
Founders of the Phoenix Scottish Rite Foundation & Learning Center:
Founding Board Members:
Thomas Davis
Russell Cloud
Charles Casey*
Gene Brown
Boyd Clements
Others participating as Directors during 1990-2000:
Sam Madsen
Bill Robertson
Jack Beck Jr.
Jerry Angle
Mark Hester
John Amidon
Advisors:
Barry Casey *
Robert Hannon
Larry C. Schafer, Esq.
Secretaries to the Board:
Ted Shima
Don Wymer *
Pat Nelson *
Treasurers:
Tom Whisler
Gene Brown
The Founding Executive Director:
Dr. Marj Jones
* Deceased
1988
Developed relationship with the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for use of their Dyslexia and Literacy curriculum
1989
Developed Partnership with the Arizona Department of Health to combine developmental screenings Vision and Hearing services with the Center
1990
Center staff invited by Arizona Department of Health to participate in the development of Maricopa County Early intervention Policy Development
1991
Kick off of the Annual Kilts for Kids Golf Tournament
Developed the Bethune, St. Matthew’s Elementary, and Central High Schools’ Dyslexia Programs.
1992
Developed relationship with Dr. Drake Duane and the Institute of Developmental and Behavioral Neurology connecting Center to cutting edge Learning Disabilities Research and practice through the National Center for Learning Disabilities, the international Academy of Learning Disabilities, and the National Institutes of Child Health and Development.
1993
Center participated with National Center for Learning Disabilities & the Arizona Department of Education in hosting the first Arizona Dyslexia Conference
1994
Began adult Texas Scottish Rite Hospital’s (TSRH) Dyslexia/Literacy program with Metro Tech GED programs, later to become the Rio Salado College pre-GED program. Center Staff appointed to the Arizona Department of Education Learning Disabilities Review Task Force
1995
Expanded TSRH’s Adult Dyslexia/ Literacy program into Learning for Life Program with its own advisory committee
Added United Way Targeted Partnership for Adult & Teens Literacy & Dyslexia
Added Statewide Dyslexia Programs in Schools and Home Study Programs including one at Rockpoint, AZ (Navajo Reservation)
Began Capital Campaign with Scottish Rite for new building
Center Opens Dyslexia Treatment Satellite programs: North Scottsdale Boys and Girls Club, Lutheran Church , Chandler, AZ
1996
Center site moved to Shrine Building (44th Street, Near Van Buren, Phoenix)
Expanded Psycho-educational - Dyslexia Evaluations
Began first adult/children’s combined classes
Began Ottawa University Intern program in Assessment & Treatment for no pay, but college credit
Field Tested NCLD’s Every Child is Learning Teacher Training with 3 school districts
1997
Center moved to 77 East Columbus, Suite 215 (Phoenix)
Separated children’s and adult classes
Began using ASU Speech BA interns and after school Teacher Volunteers for no pay
Center opens Apache Junction Dyslexia Treatment Satellite in the Apache Junction Masonic Lodge Building
1998
Center Staff appointed to the Arizona State Joint House/Senate Legislative Reading Success Task Force
1999
Incorporated as the Phoenix Scottish Rite Learning Center to allow for more community participation and board members
Williams Syndrome child attending the Center for several years wins the City of Phoenix Special Needs Mayor’s Award for accomplishments beyond all odds.
Apache Satellite produces two students achieving school Honor Roll status and one recognized as the Outstanding 8th grade student in her school.
2000
Expansion of Kilt for Kids Golf Tournament with new board emphasis
2001
Began field study work on Predictive Assessment for Reading with Wake Forest University Medical School-stepped into cutting edge National Institutes of Health Research connections
Developed relationships for field testing research with National Center of Learning Disabilities Get Ready to Read Screening research and dissemination
Center recognized as a member of the Dyslexia (Research) Foundation’s Dyslexia Center of America
Adult Literacy program began federal evaluation of techniques
Center staff member selected for National Adult Literacy Board
Participated in research of best practices using TSRH’s
United Way selected Center to be Primary Partner for both developmental Screening & Adult/Teen Dyslexia/ESL programs
Scottish Rite Learning Center Name changed to Arizona Literacy & Learning Center to better reflect our Mission, our Community Board of Directors and community activities
2002
Began research and direct services partnership with ASU Speech Department through Motorola Grant (3 yrs) to provide speech pathologist, Kindergarten & first grade teachers with screening & intervention training through a Literacy Leap Camp for at-risk children in the Tempe School District
Center’s First Website created
Center staff appointed to Arizona State Department of Education Reading First Steering Committee; Grant Review and Publisher’s Curriculum Review Committees
The Center’s Early Childhood Screening Team work at Hamilton School results in finding a child with serious vision and pre-literacy problems; following a referral to a doctor, immediate brain surgery resulted in a tumor removal
Phoenix Scottish Rite began paid Intern-Fellowship for Center work program for 3 University students
2003
Federal Adult Basic Education research study found Center’s program to be effective
Pilot satellite screening programs tied with Scottish Rite Members in Kingman, Bullhead City, & Prescott (Kingman expanded into a City Wide Project known as the Literacy Council of Kingman. Bullhead City continued to develop an annual screening program.
Began (5yr.) federal grant with Arizona State Department of Education, State Improvement Grant and the National Center for Learning Disabilities emphasizing teaching preschool teachers to use the Get Ready to Read! Screening tool and provide interventions for at-risk children
Expanded Hearing and Auditory Processing evaluation and treatment
Navajo Nation continued partnership screening development through Head Start Conference Presentation
2004
Moved into new site: 14001 North 7th Street, Suite F-112, Phx. The building, a gift to ALLC from the Phoenix Scottish Rite Members
Received 2nd federal grant with ASU (3yrs.) Early Reading First: Emphasis teaching preschool teachers to improve quality of instruction with a 3 Tier Assessment Drives Instruction Model for Head Start, public and private school providers in the Tempe School District area
Received an ASU partnership grant to extend Assessment Driven Instruction Model and mentoring instruction for at-risk children in the Murphy District Head Start Program
Received federal Department of Health & Labor Early Learning Opportunities Grant through the Valley of the Sun United Way partnership to provide screening and intervention support to Preschools and parents in the Cartwright, Pendergast, and Fowler School Districts
Center recognized by NCLD as a strong entity in the Early Childhood work; staff invited to Washington, D.C. to present at the NCLD Early Childhood Summit
New relationships developed with Arizona State School Readiness Board Screening Director; also invited to present with Center’s Dr. Jones
Tremaine Foundation recognized Center’s value in the West and appointed staff to a national “think-tank” on Early Childhood Screening, possibly resulting in additional Center funding.
Expanded awareness events due to Valley of the Sun United Way’s support and Center’s reputation growing
Center Web site professionally developed by new staff
Continued expansion of Kilts for Kids Golf Tournament at new course
2005
Center selected to be the NCLD Southwest Regional Center for Get Ready to Read Screening and early learning disabilities training and intervention
Bullhead City Satellite kicked off community screening and a Literacy Leaps Camp for at-risk children
Inter-tribal Council Screening partnership for (19 tribes)
Redefined ALLC/ASU’s Assessment Drives Instruction Model for the Murphy District’s Head Start Program through new partnerships with the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation and the Frank Porter Graham Childhood Institute (UNC) selecting ALLC to be its western partner in its Early Childhood Recognition & Response Model to prevent or intervene when children display at-risk learning problems
Staff appointed to the Arizona State Department of Education Early Childhood Assessment Policy Development Committee, Phoenix Advisory Council for Early Learning
Dissolved Learning for Life Advisory Committee and folded in the Community Literacy Programs into the Center’s Assessment and Treatment Initiatives refocusing with VSUW on Center and Community College Programs
Back to Childhood Road Rally kept alive by founder, but no committee
Fabulous staff teams, passionate, loyal, with small staff turnover; willing to work well beyond traditional hours, traditional settings, part time, and without benefits
2006
ASU Recognizes ALLC’s work with the “ASU President’s Community Embeddedness Award”
ALLC opens the Thunderbird’s Charities Hearing Center with a gift of the state- of-the-art diagnostic and treatment equipment.
ALLC’s Get Ready to Read Center continued to involve over 10,000 children and 700 parents and teachers annually
Staff certified to develop statewide and regional professional development workshops for Early Childhood Licensure S*CCEEDS and/or college credits through ASU & NAU
Some ALLC Dyslexia students excel in achievements: enrolled in regular school classes (special education label no longer needed); inducted into the National Junior Honor Society; wins first place in the International Dyslexia Art Show; graduates from high school, gets AA Degrees, graduates as the outstanding student in the Junior College
Valley of the Sun United Way and the Business Journal publish ALLC screening pictures
ALLC & Scottish Rite Foundation expands Fellowship program to include ASU’s Vision & Reading Decoding Project
ALLC’s Community Awareness hits 6,575 contacts at community and corporate fairs, through the VSUW speaker bureau, college instructional classes
Staff presents Recognition and Response Model at the Arizona State Department of Education’s Early Childhood and the Response to Instruction Conferences
ALLC’s financial statements reflect hitting the 1 million dollar worth level! What a team from Scottish Rite’s members gifts, local and national funders, Board Members, supporters, parents, clients and staff all making things happen
Staff works with Frank Porter Graham Childhood Institute on the Recognition and Response Observation (Learning Disabilities) Tool Development
ASU includes ALLC in its Early Childhood Community of Practice Coalition
Bullhead City satellite offers summer Get Ready to Read! Camp
Partnership with Mesa United Way in providing services on their Family Fun Van
2007
ALLC & Jacobson School (Chandler District) celebrates their 10 year Dyslexia class partnership
New ALLC East Valley Satellite opens while looking for a permanent home; offers community Get Ready to Read! Screenings, Screening Training Workshops, begins Professional Development and Community Workshops at ASU, NAU, and Council for Exceptional children
ALLC’s East Valley Director appointed to the International Dyslexia Association – Arizona Branch Board of Directors and Arizona Early Education Fund- East Maricopa Regional Partnership
ASU’s Community of Practice Team partners with ALLC to target the Murphy Head Start as a demonstration site for Recognition & Response.
Staff presents Hispanic Parent Involvement in Recognition & Response Model at the Arizona State Department of Education Early Childhood Conference
Several staff inducted into the Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Honorary Society
Several staff members elected to the Arizona Early Education Fund Maricopa Regional Partnerships scheduled to articulate with the First Things First Early Childhood Health and Education Councils Dr. Jones chairs the South Central Partnership.
Bullhead City continues Get Ready to Read! Screenings with community and Kindergarten roundup and Summer Get Ready to Read! Camp
Staff members selected to present at the National YMCA, International Dyslexia Conferences
ALLC partners: John C. Lincoln Learning Center and Murphy Head Start parents and students became STARS in the National Center for Learning Disabilities Get Ready to Read!/ Recognition & Response Video
ALLC/ASU’s Tempe Early Reading First Grant at Frank School with a high ratio of ELL learners had 100% of the children involved meet Kindergarten Readiness Benchmarks. Dr. Laura Justice, Department of Ed Evaluator found the TERF professional development partnership provided an exemplary program that clearly achieved excellence in early childhood education.
National Center for Learning Disabilities, CISCO Learning and Pulliam Foundation grants ALLC continued dollars for Get Ready to Read! and Recognition and Response dissemination.
Assessment & Treatment programs expand with emphasis on auditory and visual processing along with off site mentoring in classrooms
New ALLC youth and adult Literacy sites open at Montecito Elementary School and Chicanos Por La Casa.
ALLC encouraged to expand its parent training program to include the Learning Basket Model with emphasis on language development and school readiness. Cartwright, Early Childhood Resource Center Principal, “Wow! What a difference this training makes for our parents. How do we put this in the budget for next year?”
Over 10,599 children, youth, and adults involved in ALLC programs
2008
ALLC Scales up Recognition and Response preschool model to 7 new sites
ALLC East Valley Satellite opens at 33 N. Lindsey, Gilbert, AZ; Linda Barr, Director & Academic Therapist, Danielle Bourgault, Psychologist; Offers: Get Ready to Read Screenings, Psycho-educational/Dyslexia Evaluations, Dyslexia Treatment, Mesa United Way Family Fun Van Literacy Coordination for parents and children, Community Awareness presentations on Dyslexia, Professional Development: Rio Salado Early Childhood Degree Class, Get Ready to Read Screener Training, ASU Guest Lectures: Dyslexia and Early Childhood.
ALLC’s West Valley Satellite Development underway with Dyslexia classes held with two new partners: Radiant Christian Church (Surprise, AZ) and at Bourgade High School (Phoenix, AZ.)
ALLC adds Rio Salado Professional Development, Early Childhood Degree cohort credits for classes in Observation and Assessment of Typical and Atypical Behaviors and Early Literacy Development
ALLC selected by Rio Salado College to add the Mind in the Making classes to its menu of professional development educational training opportunities.
Learning Basket Language, Literacy, and School Readiness parent training offered in the Murphy School District; Parents trained to be Get Ready to Read! Screeners hold first community screening of children 3-5.
ALLC staff again recognized as leaders in education; staff invited to participate in the 92nd Arizona Town Hall’s “Who will teach our Children? Educational Summit and the State of North Carolina’s Smart Early Childhood Conference
Arizona State and Argosy Universities Interns and Scottish Rite Fellows program produces highly qualified ALLC staff.
Arizona Governor, Janet Napolitano, declares April 12, 2008, as ALLC’s statewide Get Ready to Read! Screening Day
ALLC Thunderbird & East Valley Sites: Taking appointments for Assessment and starting new Dyslexia Treatment Classes
ALLC Thunderbird Site: Recognition & Response Preschool Teachers: Professional Development Classes Early Childhood Classes for degrees or licensure
Prevent Blindness Vision Screeners Training: ALLC Thunderbird Site
Get Ready to Read! Screenings: Northwest Maricopa County Regional Partnership Area
Get Ready to Read! Screenings: West Maricopa County Chick–Fil-A Restaurants
Get Ready to Read! Screenings: with Daughters of the American Revolution Volunteers @ Mesa and Central Phoenix Borders Book Stores
Get Ready to Read! Screener Training: YMCA Tucson, Arizona & La Paz/Mohave Regional Council: Colorado River Native American Partnership
Developmental Screenings/Get Ready to Read Post Screenings: South Mountain YMCA, Homeward Bound, Golden Gate Head Start
Arizona State Department of Education Early Childhood Conference. ALLC Audiologist, Julie Lukas, selected to present on Hearing and Auditory Processing
Selected staff members attend the Tremaine Foundation’s Recognition & Response 5-State planning & review meeting, Chapel Hill North Carolina
Bullhead City Satellite registering for Preschool Get Ready to Read! Camp