Write a commentOswego City School District Superintendent Dr. Dean Goewey is proud to unveil “Leaders in Literacy,” to promote skill-building and character education across all grade levels.
Each month, Dr. Goewey and several members of his administrative team will be invited into OCSD’s buildings to read aloud a book about kindness and discuss a literacy skill with students.
“Connecting with students, and subsequently hearing them connect with the message of the books has been inspiring,” he said. “There’s also added value in maximizing their learning potential with discussion of reading practices and exercises. Interacting with students is why we’re all here.”
Each month for the remainder of the 2018-2019 school year, a book will be launched on the Oswego High School student-produced WBUC “Dean and Dane Show.” For November, Dr. Goewey and designated OCSD administrators read “Each Kindness,” by Jacqueline Woodson about a group of friends who won’t play with a new girl who ends up leaving the school. The book provided lessons in lost opportunities, spreading kindness and making a difference in the world.
During a reading to fourth-graders at Fitzhugh Park Elementary School, Dr. Goewey educated the students on how to make inferences, or conclusions based on evidence within the story, about how the absence of inclusion can negatively impact others. Fourth-grade teacher Nick Little told Dr. Goewey that his reading and insight “was very powerful” and that he planned on further discussing the message with his students.
A former SUNY Oswego graduate professor of literacy education, Dr. Goewey said “Leaders in Literacy” has been a wonderful way to connect with students. He credited OCSD Director of Technology Jamie Sykut for approaching him with the idea and for volunteering to read.
Having district-wide support for literacy initiatives is the cornerstone for the foundation of education, Dr. Goewey said.
