When educators from other school districts want to see excellent literacy instruction in action, they don't have to look far. They're coming right here to Sanford. Recently, teachers from Sebago and Yarmouth spent time in classrooms at Sanford Middle School and Sanford Pride Elementary, observing lessons and taking notes on what makes our reading program so successful.
The Sanford School Department has been using a comprehensive reading program designed to help all students become strong readers. The program uses research-based methods that teach reading skills in a structured, step-by-step way — from letter sounds and phonics to reading comprehension and building knowledge about the world.
The approach is working, and other districts want to learn from Sanford’s success. Educators from Sebago Elementary School and the Yarmouth School Department visited Sanford Pride Elementary and the Middle School to see our literacy instruction in action. They observed lessons, asked questions, and saw firsthand how our students are learning to read and write.
A big thank you to the Sanford teachers who opened their classrooms to visitors: Laurie Flannery, Lindsey Jenkins, Michelle Payeur, Hunter Brannan, Dan Fernandez, Kristy Peters, and Jessi Allaire. The visiting educators were impressed by both the quality of teaching and the engaged learning they witnessed.
This recognition reflects the hard work of our entire school community. We're proud that Sanford is becoming a leader in literacy education and helping other districts improve their reading instruction.