Mrs. Center and her Literacy Team include Cindy Lord, Missy Lark, Briana Wright, Principal Erika Center, Ashley Cloonan and Tiffany Brown.

District One took top honors at the South Carolina International Reading Association’s Exemplary School Awards for the sixth consecutive year.

Erika Center was named the Reading Administrator of the Year. Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary School was named State’s Best Reading School.

For the sixth consecutive year, the top finalists for the South Carolina International Reading Association’s Exemplary Reading Schools Award were schools from Spartanburg School District One. This is an outstanding accomplishment that indicates the high level of literacy instruction that is practiced by District One educators.

Since 2011, a District One school has been named the top reading school in the state. During that time, two District One principals have been named the top reading administrator by SCIRA.

Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary School was named the SCIRA Exemplary Reading School for 2016.

Principal Erika Center said, “With high expectations set in place for teachers and students, we are reminded that we do whatever it takes to help students become successful readers. We know that reading influences success in all areas of life and we are charged to prepare all students to be college and career ready. Reading in every classroom is differentiated in that each student reads books that are at his or her ‘just right’ reading level. We are so proud of this award!”

Inman Intermediate School was named an honor school at the event. Mrs. Karen Bush is the principal at Inman Intermediate School.

She stated, “The application process and the visits to our school by the SCIRA team validated the hard work our teachers do. We know that excellent reading instruction is the key to students’ success. We are very proud to be recognized by SCIRA.”

Holly Springs Motlow Elementary School will be recognized at the International Reading Conference in Boston later this year.

Dr. Ron Garner, superintendent of District One Schools, had this to say about the awards: “We are so proud of these schools and their faculty, staff, students, and communities. These awards just don’t happen. They are the affirmation that a school is doing its best to provide a high-quality program of literacy instruction where every child is afforded an opportunity to develop that most critical skill of reading and the love of reading. I applaud these schools!”

Spartanburg School District One had several teams of teachers presenting workshops on strategies for successful reading schools. Schools must go through a rigorous application process and site visit(s) in order to be considered for the SCIRA Exemplary Reading Award.

“The Exemplary Reading Award validates the intentional hard work and dedication of our teachers and students in placing top priority on literacy at Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary School. Our entire community can celebrate what this award represents—children receive the highest quality, student-centered instruction around a sound literacy base,” said Erika Center, principal and SCIRA Reading Administrator of the Year.

– Submitted by Paula Brooks