As part of our Stories of SuccESS series, we’re highlighting moments from the field that reflect how communities across Oregon are strengthening early learning systems. This story focuses on a recent K-5 literacy workshop on Oregon’s South Coast.
In classrooms across Oregon’s South Coast, educators are asking urgent questions about literacy and what students need to succeed.
This Spring, teachers from Driftwood Elementary and Riley Creek Elementary came together for a K-5 literacy professional learning session led by Children’s Institute Early Literacy Specialist Erin Lolich. Over the course of the two-hour workshop, educators explored the science of literacy, reflected on current classroom practices, and began drafting shared early literacy vision statements for their schools.
At a time when Oregon continues to face some of the nation’s lowest reading scores, literacy support and professional learning have become increasingly urgent for schools and educators across the state. The work is specially important in the early years, when strong literacy instruction helps build the foundation for children’s learning and development.
For educators at Driftwood and Riley Creek, the urgency of this work is deeply connected to the needs of their students and community. Last year, 16% of Riley Creek third graders and 20% of Driftwood third graders were reading on grade level. In a close-knit school communities, those numbers are not just data points. They are a call to strengthen alignment, collaboration, and consistency across classrooms so every student receives the support they need.
The workshop invited educators to move beyond isolated solutions and examine both the strengths already present in their schools and the needs still emerging. Teachers completed an in-depth literacy strength and needs assessment; while also sharing practical ideas and classroom routines they could immediately bring back to students.
One educator reflected on that sense of momentum, “There was time to reflect and focus on the need for change, for evolution, and for the needs to be met to make more effective literacy learning.”
For Lolich, one of the most meaningful parts of the day was learning directly from teachers and hearing how previous professional learning was already shaping school communities. Driftwood educators shared how they had applied learning from the Fall session of the Early School Success (ESS) Academy to host a family literacy night. It was a reminder that meaningful professional learning continues long after a workshop ends.
The day also created space for connection and trust. After the session, one teacher even approached Lolich to share a literacy joke – a small but memorable moment that reflected the openness and engagement in the room.
Educators described the session as both practical and accessible.
“Erin did a fabulous job of sharing complex information in a very digestible way,” one participant shared. “I appreciate the active participation and numerous resources that we can immediately put into practice.”
This year marks beginning of literacy partnership with Driftwood and Riley Creek. Based on the results of their strengths and needs assessments, Children’s Institute has designed four literacy workshops for Driftwood and Riley Creek to be delivered during the 2026-27 school year. For school leaders like Wendel, the partnership is about building long-term instructional support and shared commitment across the school community.
Our partnership with The Children’s Institute will assist with providing my staff with effective tools and practices they can deploy beyond the traditional pull out instructional model. Our Driftwood students thrive in a small group instruction model and demonstrate amazing growth, and this can be accomplished in the general education classroom. As our staff sees student growth, members of the staff and community will support and embrace the instructional and school culture shift that I am asking of them.– Lisa Wendel, Principal, Driftwood Elementary
For the 15 educators participating, the work is anchored in something simple and powerful: educators deserve professional learning that responds to their realities, and students deserve strong literacy instruction in every classroom.
Across Oregon’s South Coast, educators are already doing the work of building that future together.
Learn more about Children’s Institute’s Early Literacy offering!
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