Literacy education professor receives prestigious educators award

The Delta Kappa Gamma International Society (New York Chapter) presented its 2022 Frederica Hollister Professional Educators Award to literacy expert Carol Anne St. George, a professor in teaching and curriculum at the Warner School of Education and Human Development. In April, she was recognized for her contributions and commitment to education in New York State and nationally at an awards luncheon in Utica, New York. 

St. George, who directs the literacy teacher education program at the Warner School, leads efforts to help children read and write better and ultimately improve their school success. Nearly a decade ago, she created Project READ, a long-standing, successful partnership program that continues to have a local and global impact today. 

Established in 2011 with funding and support from the William & Sheila Konar Foundation, Project READ is a partnership program with Rochester’s School 33 and East High School’s upper and lower schools. It was designed with two goals: to support Rochester City School District students’ literacy learning and help prepare exceptional literacy educators. St. George leads the community engagement initiative today that involves young learners, pre-service and practicing teachers, literacy specialists and community members. 
 
Project READ has helped strengthen the literacy learning and skills of hundreds of elementary school students through powerful reading, writing and speaking opportunities over the past decade. But they are not the only ones who learn and grow from this reciprocal community engagement program. For graduate students at the Warner School, Project READ connects instruction to real-life literacy and opportunities in the real world. Through Project READ, the team of educators and Warner interns provide direct-targeted tutoring services, in-class support and modeling of best practices for teachers, literacy professional development for teachers and family literacy activities.

St. George received a doctorate in teaching and curriculum from the Warner School in 2009. A veteran educator, she brings extensive experience as a teacher, ranging from preschool to graduate school. Her research examines how teachers can more effectively collaborate with families to support student literacy and learning. In addition to her academic role at Warner, she continues to lead an annual campaign in February that promotes the importance of reading aloud to children of all ages. The social media push has garnered support from individuals worldwide who participate by sharing and tagging photos of books they are reading aloud to children during the month-long campaign.

The Frederica Hollister Professional Educator's Award was established in 1988 from a bequest of Past NYSO President Frederica Hollister. Along with honoring the recipient of this Award, it also honors the memory of Frederica Hollister, whose contributions to education and women educators were exceptional. The Delta Kappa Gamma International Society has more than 100,000 members, roughly 2,000 representing the local New York Chapter.

In addition to receiving the prestigious award, the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society presented St. George with a donation check, and Project READ was selected as her charity of choice.