A.T. Allen Elementary School Principal Melanie Raso and Assistant Principal Krista Eason were awarded the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Office of Early Learning Southwest Region “Science of Reading” True Trailblazer Award on November 21^st during a staff meeting.

Ms. Raso and Ms. Eason exemplify visionary leadership in driving a school-wide shift to the Science of Reading (SoR). Committed to continuous learning, they deepened their expertise through additional training. They used their knowledge to provide feedback, model effective strategies, and integrate best practices into Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings and school improvement plans. They implemented a Letterland reset with fidelity checks, teacher self-assessments, modeling, and intentional practice—alongside monthly professional development focused on Read Aloud and Vocabulary instruction.

Through regular data analysis and walkthroughs, they collaborated with PLC teams to refine instructional strategies, strengthen foundational reading skills, and promote differentiated instruction, yielding positive outcomes in student literacy growth.

Ms. Raso and Ms. Eason both credit the great work in literacy at AT Allen to their dedicated teachers and support staff who shifted to the Science of Reading “hands down, no excuses!”

Congratulations Ms. Raso and Ms. Eason!