Fostering Readers: Our Story

Our Story

The idea for the Fostering Readers project was first devised in February of 2016 by Katie Anderson (State Library of Oregon) and Bryce Kozla (Washington County Cooperative Library Services [WCCLS]). They were able to secure a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant administered by the State Library to fund the project.

In early 2017, the State Library of Oregon, WCCLS, and OregonASK agreed to partner on the Fostering Readers LSTA-funded project. In October 2017, Katie left the State Library and joined WCCLS. With the Youth Services Consultant position vacant, the State Library could no longer be a partner and asked WCCLS to take over the project. WCCLS agreed!

WCCLS and OregonASK recruited four experts (two Reading Specialists and two Youth Services Librarians) to work on the research and development of the Fostering Readers materials. WCCLS was the fiscal agent on this project, with Katie and Bryce acting as co-project-managers. OregonASK created a training certified with the Oregon Registry, prepared the materials for publication, and provided expertise on curriculum development and the afterschool experience. OregonASK also volunteered their space for numerous meetings throughout the year.

Thanks to enthusiastic support from libraries and afterschool programs, the Fostering Readers team was awarded LSTA funding for a second year of development. As a result, the team was able to run a pilot project to try out and strengthen the materials.

Fostering Readers provides the information and resources public library and afterschool program staff need to plan, implement, and evaluate research-based literacy programs for K-3rd grade children who are learning how to read.

We hope that these materials will help library staff and afterschool providers:

Increase their knowledge of the reading process
Feel more confident in supporting beginning readers and their families
Plan, implement, and evaluate research-based literacy programs for children in K-3rd grade

Libraries and afterschool programs are essential community partners in the effort to increase the number of children reading at grade level by the end of third grade, which is a key indicator for high school success (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2012).

We are proud to provide you with Fostering Readers materials to support this important work, thanks to support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon.

Meet the Fostering Readers Team

Deborah is smiling at the camera in front of green and yellow foliage

Deborah Gitlitz, Community Librarian/Bibliotecaria Comunitaria, Wilsonville Public Library, Early Literacy Master Trainer, Library Consultant

I have over 25 years of experience as a bilingual community/youth librarian, accompanying families through the joyful skill-building of storytime and the complexities and excitement of learning to read. As manager of a bilingual family literacy grant at Multnomah County Library and as a certified Oregon Registry Trainer, I've taught both national curricula and my own customized trainings in support of family literacy and teacher education. Both in and out of the schools, as a librarian, educator and mentor, I've developed and led hundreds of literacy-supporting programs for children of all ages, striving to nourish that potent connection between curiosity and reading. Travel is a passion and I try to spend part of every year working and visiting with family in Mexico.

Kelli Scardina, Senior Advisor for Equity and Systems Improvement for Emergent Bilingual Students, Education Northwest

As a dual language teacher I have always worked closely with school and public librarians to bring high-interest literature and non-fiction texts in both English and Spanish to my students. I am excited to combine my love of literacy and language learning in a broader setting, exploring additional ways to meet the diverse needs of our community. I bring my passion, skills and vast experience as a bilingual educator--teacher, literacy specialist, curriculum developer, collaborator, leader, presenter and family advocate--to the Fostering Readers project.

Susan is sitting with a closed-mouth smile. The background is blurry but some white porch furniture is visible.

Susan Zundel, former Quality Improvement Coordinator and Master Trainer, OregonASK

I have been working in afterschool in a variety of ways for 20 years including community children's theater, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and at the Oregon Afterschool Network, OregonASK. I hold train certifications for the Beyond the Bell Program Management Toolkit, Science Action Club, InventionX, Techbridge, Crypto Club, Code.org, and am a Click2Science Coach/Trainer. I served for several years in state Parent Teacher Association (PTA) leaderships, ultimately serving as the Oregon PTA State President from 2013-2015. I bring my dedication to parent and community engagement in education to my work in afterschool.

Jen is smiling in focus in front of a blurred out background

Jen Burkart, District Literacy Specialist at Beaverton Public School District, Adjunct Professor of Reading Endorsement and Special Education programs at Lewis and Clark College

I design and deliver customized staff development on literacy best practices, collaborate with administration to pioneer complex change initiatives, support school-based literacy specialists to ensure quality coaching practices are in place and specialize in developing effective individual and school-wide reading interventions for our most tangled readers. My husband and three boys keep me happily adventuring around the beautiful Pacific Northwest in my free time.

Chad is smiling in front of a brick wall

Chad Rodi, Senior Associate and Director of Education and Child Well-being, NPC Research

During my time as a teacher of students with disabilities and later as a school administrator, I was witness to the importance of equal access to educational and social resources. In my current role as a researcher and program evaluator, I focus on services and supports that are effective in addressing these inequities. My specific interests lie in supporting programs designed to improve the lives of children and youth at the intersections of education, child welfare, and public health. NPC Research completed a four-year evaluation for Reading for Healthy Families (RFHF), a partnership of the State Library of Oregon and Oregon Commission on Children and Families (now the Early Learning Division). The goal of the RFHF project was to train Healthy Start/Healthy Families Oregon home visitors and children's library staff to implement the Every Child Ready to Read early literacy curriculum in their work with parents.

Bryce is smiling in front of an open door.

Bryce Kozla, Youth Services Librarian, Washington County Cooperative Library Services
When studying elementary education as an undergrad student at Michigan State University, what kept me interested was the science of learning. Our brains are amazing! I worked as a teacher, reading coach, and reading intervention/ training developer before becoming a Youth Services Librarian in 2011. While working full-time, I went on to obtain Master's degrees in Reading Education and Library Science from Florida State University. I never dreamed my background would dovetail in the way it has with this project!

Kari is smiling a closed-mouth smile in from of a plain, eggshell-colored wall

Kari Kunst, Senior Librarian for Early Learning, Fort Vancouver Regional Library

Prior to becoming a Youth Services Librarian, I worked with struggling young readers and their families as the education and literacy supervisor with the Boys & Girls Club. Through this work I learned what happens when kids struggle, and what happens when they begin to get the support they need to succeed. As a Youth Services Librarian I get to see and be a part of the work that libraries do to help build strong readers through early literacy programming, community partnerships, afterschool activities, collection development, and interactions to help young readers find just-right books.

Black and white picture of Katie, who is smiling in front of a plain background

Katie Lakey, Data and Grant Coordinator, OregonASK

As a preschool instructor, a camp counselor, and a facilitator teaching first and second graders in afterschool, I've witnessed the meaningful, supportive learning that can take place outside the classroom, whether it's at a library, an afterschool program, or a community organization. Now, as an employee of the Oregon Afterschool Network (OregonASK) I've dedicated the last four years to creating and evaluating the resources that informal educators need to create dynamic, engaging learning experiences that support children of all backgrounds.

Katie is smiling in front of a black background

Katie Anderson, Youth Services Librarian, Washington County Cooperative Library Services

As a teacher, I saw first hand what happens when kindergartners lack early literacy skills and 4th graders are not reading at grade level. In Early Childhood Resources at Multnomah County Library, I learned about the positive impact public library early literacy and summer reading programs can have on reading readiness and summer learning. At the State Library of Oregon, I delved into brain and social emotional development, public-school library partnerships, and the impact library programs and other afterschool programs have on student success. At WCCLS, I work with a team to provide an overlay of support and technical assistance to member library staff who work with children and teen patrons.

Row of various sizes and colors of books. One is lying flat in front of them, open.

Fostering Readers by Deborah Gitlitz, Jen Burkart, Kari Kunst, Kelli Scardina, NPC Research, OregonASK, and Washington County Cooperative Library Services is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Fostering Readers is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon.