New VVSD Director: Reading is the Key to Learning

Editor's Note: The following article is a release from the Valley View School District.

Pam Pritchard knows reading holds the key to success in all facets of life.

“In order for students to succeed, they must understand what they read, which means to infer” said Valley View School District 365U’s new Director of 6-12 Literacy and Social Studies.  “Literacy is embedded in everything we do in our society.  I have often shared with students that the actors, artists, and athletes they have come to love are also good readers.  For those who aren’t, someone is doing it for them.” 

Pritchard, who moves into her position following five years as English Department Chair and nine years of teaching English at both BHS and RHS, summarizes her new role in 10 simple words:  “help teachers educate students to the best of their ability.”

“We have to believe that our kids can succeed and go about making that happen.  If we raise the bar, most of them will rise to the occasion.  For those who don’t, we need to figure out why and give them the necessary supports to make it happen.”

A recognized expert in researching and teaching reading principles, Pritchard has been working with , since Mitchem was principal of Romeoville High School, which is why she feels she is “in synch” with Mitchem’s : accountability, assessment, instruction, curriculum, and beliefs.

Pritchard is confident her classroom experience will be a valuable asset because she firmly believes classroom teachers are “the key factor” to student success. 

“Good teachers not only know their content well, but should be able to provide effective instructional delivery to students,” she said. “Research says many times when good instruction is lacking, it’s due to some teacher’s inability to teach 21st century skills that extends beyond their own learning and college experiences. 

“Just as we plan to provide the necessary supports to our students, we

will do the same for our teachers.”

And, she says, the fact that social studies curriculum is also under her tutelage is “an added bonus” because “social studies is all about reading and writing; in short, literacy.”

The bottom line, she added, is “we have a plan to increase the academic culture in Valley View and we will see that plan to fruition.”