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Stern Center for Language and Learning

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Programs and Support

For Schools and Districts

Professional Development
Consultations for Student Success
Coaching Options
Home » Programs and Support for Schools and Districts

Partnering With School Leaders to Improve Student Outcomes

School leaders want success for teachers and students alike. A trusted nonprofit partner, we help strengthen multi-tiered systems of support; provide flexible training and coaching for teachers; and offer guidance on interpreting instructional data and optimizing curriculum. We boost capacity for student instruction in reading, math, and speech therapy; expertly evaluate students*; and support neurodiversity-affirming teaching.

*on-site service in Vermont

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Only 31% of Students Are Reading on Grade Level—And the Gap Is Widening

2024 NAEP (National Center for Education Statistics) Grade 4 data reveals a troubling reality: just 31% of Vermont 4th graders are proficient or above in reading, and for students with disabilities, that number drops to only 5%. Even more concerning, the national picture mirrors this crisis—only 31% of students nationwide are reading proficiently, signaling an urgent need for action before more children fall further behind.

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Literacy and Learning Programs

Structured Literacy Training & Coaching

Our professional learning workshops and coaching services give educators the foundation, understanding, and support to implement structured literacy practices to meet the literacy needs of every student. A customizable partnership with the Stern Center for Language and Learning will help to strengthen your school’s multi-tiered system of support for literacy instruction.

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Orton-Gillingham Training for Schools

Ensure every child becomes a reader with this powerful, multisensory approach to teaching reading, writing, and spelling. The underlying foundation of all structured literacy instruction, Orton-Gillingham has been proven to help struggling readers, including students with dyslexia. The Stern Center is accredited by the Orton-Gillingham Academy.

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Wilson® Reading Programs

Wilson Reading Programs teach students how to read and write using a multisensory, explicit, systematic, and structured approach. We are a Wilson® Accredited Training Partner and provider of Fundations®,  Just Words®, and Wilson Reading System® workshops. We help schools launch these programs and offer school and district-specific training.

Explore Wilson Language Training

Social-Emotional Learning in Schools

The number of students struggling with trauma, anxiety, and dysregulation is on the rise and the need for comprehensive social-emotional learning programs is greater than ever. We partner with schools to create social learning programs that teach Social Thinking®, problem solving, persistence, and self-control. We also provide job-embedded SEL teacher training.

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Comprehensive Support for Schools

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Customized Professional Learning

We work with school leaders to create targeted, high-quality professional learning that builds classroom skills and strengthens capacity. Putting student achievement first, we tailor our recommendations, deploy data, and consult collaboratively on your plans, guided by the most current research on learning.

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Support for Individual Students

We collaborate with schools to customize support for individual students. Our instructors work with students through in-person and online instruction customized to IEP and 504 objectives. For multi-hour students (5+ hours per week) and those who need less intervention, we work with IEP teams to meet plan objectives.

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Female teacher working with middle school girl student

Independent Educational Evaluations

Our psychologists, special educators, neuropsychologists and speech language pathologists provide a deep bench of expertise when it comes to psychoeducational and IEP evaluations. If your school has a child who needs a specific assessment or a family that’s looking for a private evaluation, we offer specialized services and expert guidance.

Evaluation and Assessment Services

What School Leaders Have to Say

Our coach is always so positive and encouraging. She looks for things we do well and offers strategies or tips to help us rise to the next level of instruction.

Participant in a Structured Literacy Initiative

Every part of the course and practicum was well thought-out, allowing me to become a stronger diagnostic and prescriptive literacy teacher. The instructors were so knowledgeable of the OG approach and I always felt supported.

Becky Schaffer, Private Literacy Tutor Montreal, Quebec Canada

Nobody can do what the Stern Center does in literacy to get such good results.

Michaela Martin, Co-Director of School Transformation and Effectiveness, Central Vermont Supervisory Union

What I love about the Stern Center is the educator’s willingness to work with us. It’s such a collaboration, which is nice and convenient.

Kathleen Flynn, Kindergarten Teacher

“My coach has served as a virtual co-teacher to me. She encourages me, pushes me to dig deeper, and reflects on my lessons with me before, during, and after implementation to assist me in responding to students’ needs. I couldn’t have come this far without her.”

Middle School Interventionist, Vermont

I can say with confidence that the Stern Center Orton-Gillingham Institute has transformed my teaching. The training, practice, feedback, and guidance I received from mentors during the Associate Level practicum helped me learn how to tailor my instruction to each student’s needs and to maintain the principles of Orton-Gillingham instruction so that my students could learn to read and spell with dignity and confidence.

Marisa Thomas, M.S.Ed Literacy Interventionist, Barre, VT

This was one of the most organized, engaging, and informative courses I’ve ever taken, and I believe it will be one of the most practical and beneficial for my students.

Course Participant

Our teachers started with the Stern Center’s Comprehensive Reading Course and monthly coaching sessions. The content was so good and comprehensive. The ongoing coaching has been amazing, encouraging growth and accountability for everyone.

Kimberley McNamara, Director of Education, Baird School

My son was evaluated there and it has been extremely helpful to have such a thorough report from a well-respected place as we have navigated the education system in Vermont. I highly recommend it. If you can pull out a Stern Center report to back up your child’s needs people listen.

Parent of a child evaluated. Quote from Reddit.com

They are most definitely a trusted source and we were very impressed with the evaluation we received. We love the Stern Center and have seen massive improvements with my daughter.

Parent of a child evaluated. Quote from Reddit.com

I’m a special ed teacher here in VT and we use the Stern Center for students with more complex reading disabilities. They do an amazing job and will give you a more accurate and precise evaluation and diagnosis than most public schools. Their evals are also very expensive but also worth it.

Expect a lengthy evaluation report with detailed cognitive and academic scores. They also offer excellent suggestions for accommodations and tools to help a student who is struggling with reading. I find their evals to be invaluable when working with students and writing their IEPs.

Reddit

This partnership has helped us design a school that truly meets the needs of our students. The targeted literacy work has documented growth for 98% of students in reading and writing. Additionally, students are making great gains in social-emotional well-being and cognition measures.

Bobby Riley, Principal of OnTop and Horizons Schools

It’s been more than a decade since I attended, but as someone with undiagnosed ADHD and definitely diagnosed dyslexia, it was an enormous help to me. My memories are entirely of kindness, and my time there undeniably transformed my ability to learn for the rest of my life. It wasn’t the only thing my parents pursued to help me, but my time at the Stern Center stands out.

Client of our Evaluation team. Quote from Reddit.com

Literacy, reading, and writing are priorities for us. We are highly committed to closing gaps and having our students step away from us with more academic skills. We strive to make school a very positive experience and to get students excited about learning.

Sandra Limoge, Special Education Director, Baird School

I’m excited to bring what I’ve learned in this program to my daily classes. I’m currently using a number of reading comprehension strategies that we focused on in this class, which has been rewarding and motivating to see it in action!

High school teacher in VT

This is not just a small population of people struggling with reading in the U.S. We have a true crisis. We need to be coherent and strong in our messaging, and provide support for teachers. Every elementary teacher I’ve ever met wants to do the right thing—they are eager to get it right and actively participate in professional development. They just need the right support.

Sheila Soule, Superintendent, Addison Northwest School District
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Supporting Schools

Reducing Costs of Professional Learning

The Cynthia K. Hoehl Institute for Excellence reduced costs for individual educators and school cohorts seeking better outcomes for students through our programs. Learn more about Cynthia K. Hoehl, whose vision as an educator inspired a powerful legacy.

Meet Our Team

  • leigh buettler

    Leigh Buettler, M.S.Ed.

    Director of Professional Learning

  • Picture of Elizabeth Keenan

    Elizabeth Keenan, M.Ed.

    Structured Literacy Coach

  • Monica Crumback

    Monica Crumback, B.A., SLDI

    Structured Literacy Coach

  • Image of Jo-Anne Conant

    Jo-Anne Conant

    Professional Learning Registration Coordinator

  • Julie Erdelyi

    Julie Erdelyi, M.A.

    Director of Social Learning and Speech Therapy

  • Picture of Katrina

    Catrina Hays

    Wilson® Credentialed Trainer

  • Amy-ducey

    Amy Ducey, M.Ed., Fellow/OGA

    Assistant Director of the Orton-Gillingham Institute

  • SL Larspur

    SJ Larkspur

    Professional Learning Intake Coordinator

  • Shirley Bate

    Shirley Bate, M.Ed., Fellow/OGA

    Orton-Gillingham Coach

  • Kendra-Totman Padilla

    Kendra Totman Padilla, M.Ed.

    Structured Literacy Coach

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    Anne Schramm, M.E.d, Ed.S., CS/OGA.

    Orton-Gillingham Coach

  • Image coming soon

    Susan Nyman, M.Ed., Fellow/OGA

    Orton-Gillingham Coach

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    Kara Griswold, M.Ed.

    Professional Learning Instructor

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    Corbin Bettencourt, M.S., Clinical Supervisor/OGA

    Orton-Gillingham Coach

  • Laura Bryant

    Laura Bryant, M.A., Fellow/OGA

    Orton-Gillingham Coach

  • Marjorie Edwards, M.S.ED.

    Wilson® Credentialed Trainer

  • Picture of Louisa Moats

    Louisa Moats, Ed.D. 

  • Picture of Melissa Farrall

    Melissa Farrall, Ph.D., SAIF

    Affiliated Distinguished Scholar

  • Image coming soon

    Marcella Fulmer, M.S., Fellow/OGA

    Orton-Gillingham Coach

  • Aimee Picon

    Aimee Gandee

    Wilson® Credentialed Trainer

  • Image of Catherine Hagberg

    Catherine Hagberg, M.Ed., Fellow/OGA

    Orton-Gillingham Coach

  • Image coming soon

    Demetra Kontoulis

    Wilson® Credentialed Trainer

  • Image of Nancy Mather

    Nancy Mather, Ph.D.

    Guest Lecturer

  • Image of Blanche Podhajski

    Blanche Podhajski, Ph.D.

    President Emerita

  • Kristy Wysong

    Kristy Wysong, M.S.Ed.

    Wilson® Credentialed Trainer

  • Picture of Amy Desiderio

    Amy Desiderio

    Wilson® Credentialed Trainer

We Believe Everyone Has the Right to Read

When it comes to literacy and equity, it’s clear that our nation’s students need more from us all. Only 32% of U.S. fourth-graders are proficient readers. For fourth-graders whose families are income-eligible for free or reduced meals through the National School Lunch Program, the proficiency rate is just 19%.

Despite the hard work and effort of teachers to meet student needs, these statistics challenge us to take a closer look at what we can do to be more effective. 95% of students can learn to read using structured literacy principles, regardless of their background. Together, we can provide every student with a lifelong foundation of literacy.

Learn how you can help

Keep Learning

Resources for Teadchers

Resources for Schools

Explore evidence-based resources for teaching structured literacy, social-emotional learning, and more.

Explore Our Resources
Teacher Impact Stories

Schools Making Change

We celebrate the dedication of our fellow educators and share their commitment to helping every learner grow and thrive.

School Impact Stories
Course Registration

Courses & Workshops

We partner with school leaders to provide transformative training and coaching for teachers.

Courses & Workshops

Get in Touch!

For questions about Structured Literacy Training and coaching, or our work with schools and districts, email proflearning@sterncenter.org, call 802-878-2332 ext. 4, or fill out the form below.

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This website is made possible thanks to
the generous support of Deborah Schapiro & Louis Polish and Margie L. & Peter Stern

Stern Center

Because all great minds don’t think alike.

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Stern Center for Language and Learning

183 Talcott Rd #101
Williston, VT 05495
Phone: 802-878-2332
Fax: 802-878-0230
EIN:  222485793

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