Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Dr. James Schwarz is loyal defender of the district’s reading recovery program.
For his efforts, he was the recipient of the Reading Recovery Council of Michigan Administrator’s Award for 2010.
Schwarz was presented with the award in front of a packed banquet room at the Reading Recovery Council of Michigan Conference on Thursday, Nov. 18, held at the Somerset Inn in Troy.
‘I am honored to receive an award from that foundation,? he said. ‘To be nominated by that organization means quite a bit.?
The award recognized and honored administrators who are engaged in activities contributing to the promotion of reading recovery.
Darlene Harsant, the reading specialist at Lakeville Elementary, introduced Schwarz to the audience. She said that Schwarz was nominated on the behalf of the young readers who benefitted from reading recovery and their parents.
‘He consistently supports the implementation and expansion of the reading recovery intervention system in Oxford Elementary Schools,? Harsant said.
‘He is unwavering in his belief in the efficacy of reading recovery and the importance of early intervention and the benefits this intervention can have at the secondary level,? she added.
Even though he accepted the award, he pointed out that it was the teacher efforts that make the reading recovery work.
Schwarz said that he has seen tremendous growth from the students who have gone through the reading recovery program and stayed away from mediation programs.
That is why Schwarz fights so hard to keep reading recovery from the chopping block in these economic times.
‘It has done wonders for us and it has done wonders for our children…if we are not investing monies in these types of programs at the lower elementaries, we are just turning around and investing them in special education and upper grade level intervention programs,? he added.