School of the Year

2023 Read Live School of the Year Award Winner

Upson-Lee Elementary School

Thomaston, GA

Submitted by Debbie Busbee, Reading/Literacy/Language Arts Teacher

Upson-Lee Elementary School receives a $2000 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Upson Lee Elementary School has used Read Live for the past 5 years. Students have demonstrated impressive growth working in Word Warm-ups Live, Read Naturally Live, and One Minute Reader Live four days a week. According to nominating teacher Debbie Busbee, Read Live has helped the students meet their goals on MAP Benchmark assessments, and "Students who have been in the bottom 20th percentile of their class are now performing in the upper part of their grade level." Congratulations, Upson Lee Elementary!

2023 Read Live School of the Year Award Runners-Up

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Highland Park Elementary School

Austin, TX

Submitted by Emily King, Dyslexia Interventionist

Highland Park Elementary School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Highland Park Elementary School has been using Read Naturally programs since 2004. The first through fifth graders using the program have made incredible strides, both in school and at home. Some students have improved up to three grade levels! According to Emily, “Many parents have shared that their child, who used to have to be forced to read, now reads willingly and with pleasure.” Keep up the great work, Highland Park Elementary!

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Rapid City Elementary School

Rapid City, MI

Submitted by Michelle Zamaites, Special Education Teacher

Rapid City Elementary School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Rapid City Elementary School was able to purchase Read Live using a grant this year after trying the program last spring. The students have made significant gains in fluency and comprehension, with a huge increase in confidence. Fourth-graders using the program said the following: "My mom and dad will be so proud of me, I can’t believe I can read these stories," and "I never thought I would be able to read, and I am actually reading stories!" Keep up the great work, Rapid City Elementary!

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Yorba Middle School

Orange, CA

Submitted by Jackie Vaca, Special Education Teacher

Yorba Middle School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Yorba Middle School has been using Read Live since 2020 as an intervention for students in Special Education. Nominating teacher Jackie Vaca notes that the program has sparked a love of learning for her students. "The students who participate in this Read Live class have all shown solid growth in their reading levels for both fluency and comprehension. Teachers also report observations that students who are in this program are growing in their classroom participation in other classroom settings, so their hard work in the program is translating to more success in their other classes and an overall confidence in themselves," Jackie said. Way to go, Yorba Middle School!

Cambridge School

Pennington, NJ

Submitted by Meghan Peters, Special Education Administrator

Cambridge School receives a $2000 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Cambridge School has been using Read Naturally since 2001. As a school that specializes in helping students with learning differences, Cambridge has experienced great success using Read Naturally Live to support students' reading growth in grades K-8.

2022 Read Live School of the Year Award Runners-Up

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Del Rey Elementary School

Del Rey, CA

Submitted by Traci Tucker, Special Education Teacher/Intervention Teacher

Del Rey Elementary School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Del Rey Elementary School has been using Read Naturally programs since 2012. This school currently uses Read Live with English Language Learners, students with IEPs, and students who need reading intervention. They were able to successfully integrate Read Live into a distance-learning curriculum during the pandemic and continued to see impressive growth.

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Violet Elementary School

St. Clair Shores, MI

Submitted by Mary VanNieulande, Para Professional

Violet Elementary School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Violet Elementary School has used Read Naturally programs for nearly 17 years. Read Live is now the backbone of the school's intervention reading curriculum. Violet currently uses Read Live with third, forth, and fifth grade students who have made substantial progress and gained confidence.

2022 Read Live School of the Year Award Honorable Mentions

The following schools will each receive a $100 Read Naturally gift certificate:

Daisy Gibson, Palmdale, CA
Elizabeth Academy, Salt Lake City, UT
Estrella Mountain Elementary School, Goodyear, AZ
Horizon Middle School--West, Moorhead, MN
Lingle-Ft. Laramie Elementary, Lingle, WY
Ogilvie School, Ogilvie, MN
Renaissance Academy, Lehi, UT

Crescent Elementary School

Anaheim, CA

Submitted by Lauren Caughren, Special Education Teacher

Crescent Elementary School receives a $2000 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

This was Crescent Elementary's first year using Read Live after upgrading from Read Naturally Masters Edition. Read Live was used with students in grades 2-6. Students using the program experienced growth in both their reading levels and personal confidence.

2021 Read Live School of the Year Award Runner-Ups

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Cottonwood Elementary School

Aguanga, CA

Submitted by Lynelle Juarez, Specialized Academic Instructor

Cottonwood Elementary School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Cottonwood Elementary School uses Read Live for both Tier 2 and 3 intervention, as well as support for English language learners. With school closed due to the pandemic, they were able to continue working with students remotely with Read Live. All students using Read Live made more than a year’s growth in reading.

De Zavala Elementary School

San Marcos, TX

Submitted by Nelda Reyes, Reading Specialist

De Zavala Elementary School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

De Zavala Elementary has used Read Live since 2011 to help their struggling readers, including those with dyslexia. Their students have always done well in the program, and the addition of Word Warm-ups Live and the recording feature really helped students soar this year.

Upson-Lee Elementary School

Thomaston, GA

Submitted by Debbie Busbee, Title I Teacher

Upson-Lee Elementary School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Upson Lee Elementary uses Read Live as a Tier 2 intervention in grades 3–5. The teachers and staff love the new features introduced this year, especially the ability for students to record themselves. Students using the program saw huge improvements in their fluency, comprehension and self-confidence.

2021 Read Live School of the Year Award Honorable Mentions

The following schools will each receive a $100 Read Naturally gift certificate:

Adams Elementary School, Santa Barbara, CA
Great Hearts North Phoenix Academy, Phoenix, AZ
Gilmore Elementary, League City, TX
Jackson Middle School, Lakefield, MN
Morningside Elementary School, Kimberly, ID
Peckham School, Newkirk, OK
Royster Middle School, Chanute, KS
Scott City Middle School, Scott City, KS

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School

Hastings, NE

Submitted by Becki Kulwiki, Title I Teacher

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School receives a $2000 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School has been using Read Live for over five years. They use the program as an intervention for their fourth and fifth grade English learners and SPED students with the greatest need. In the first half of the school year, all the students using Read Live increased their Academic Data Management scores.

2020 Read Live School of the Year Award Runner-Ups

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Corona Foothills Middle School

Vail, AZ

Submitted by Sarah Hammer, 7th/8th grade Resource Teacher

Corona Foothills Middle School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Corona Foothills Middle School is part of the Vail, AZ school district which has been using Read Live since 2014. Corona Foothills Middle School has made Read Live a daily fixture in their curriculum. They have been able to get those hard to please middle-school students excited about meeting their word correct per minute (wcpm) goal. Teacher Sarah Hammer uses the built-in reports to communicate progress to parents and identify individual student needs. Student progress in Read Live translated to increased scores in district formative assessment.

Upson-Lee Elementary School

Thomaston, GA

Submitted by Debbie Busbee, Title I Teacher

Upson-Lee Elementary School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Upson-Lee Elementary has been using Read Live since 2017, but it was the first year for experienced special education teacher Ms. Busbee. At first. Ms. Busbee was skeptical of a web-based reading intervention. That quickly changed after seeing Read Live students’ rapid progress, sometimes beyond grade level. She also noted the added bonus of seeing kids glow when they reached their word correct per minute (wcpm) goal.

2020 Read Live School of the Year Award Honorable Mentions

We recognize ALL EDUCATORS for 2019-2020 Read Live School of the Year Honorable Mention. This past spring was a challenging experience for everyone, and it was especially difficult for teachers transitioning to remote instruction. We are continuously impressed by teachers going above and beyond to care for and support their students. The upcoming school year promises many more challenges and educators everywhere will be working tirelessly to keep students safe and learning.

Read Naturally was founded by teachers and we continue to work for teachers. We understand the dedication and creativity necessary to be successful in the classroom. Your mission is our mission. Thank you for everything you do.

Pioneer Elementary School

Pierz, MN

Submitted by Miranda Hoheisel, SLD Special Education Teacher

Pioneer Elementary School receives a $2000 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Pioneer Elementary School has been using Read Naturally Strategy programs for the last eight years and started with Read Naturally Live in 2015. They use the program as an intervention for Tier 2 and 3 students in grades 1–3. Read Naturally Live is also used with their English language learners and dyslexic students. Of the students in grades 1-3 that are using Read Naturally Live, 80% will meet their fluency goals.

2019 Read Live School of the Year Award Runner-Ups

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The Summit School

Edgewater, MD

Submitted by Leslie Eget, Director of Program Supports

The Summit School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

The Summit School has been using Read Naturally programs since 2010 and began using Read Naturally Live in 2017. The number of students using Read Naturally at The Summit School has continued to grow since the implementation of Read Naturally Live. Students, teachers and parents are all requesting to use Read Naturally Live, especially after an informal study first semester. The study showed students using Read Naturally Live had growth rates in oral fluency and vocabulary that were at least 20% higher than the growth of their peers not placed in the Read Naturally Live program.

Harrison Junior School

Harrison, OH

Submitted by Katelyn Harm, Reading Tutor

Harrison Junior School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Harrison Junior School started using Read Naturally Live in 2015. Reading Tutor Katelyn Harm works with 69 students for one hour each day in Read Naturally Live, targeting students that scored in the bottom 8% on reading in the school. This year, 46% of her students are now reading on or above grade level. Read Naturally Live is implemented with fidelity at Harrison Junior School.

2019 Read Live School of the Year Award Honorable Mentions

The following schools will each receive a $100 Read Naturally gift certificate:

The Lumpkin County Elementary School, Dahlonega, GA, submitted by Stacie Gerrells
Chamisa Elementary School, Los Alamos, NM, submitted by Jenifer Thayer
Mary Lou Cowlishaw Elementary School, Naperville, IL, submitted by Michelle Hebenstreit
Crooksville Elementary School, Crooksville, OH, submitted by Helen Anderson
iForward Wisconsin, Grantsburg, WI, submitted by Colleen Trumper
Leonard Elementary School, Ovid, MI, submitted by Amanda Fruchey
​Tilton School, Haverhill, MA, submitted by Beth Perry

Richmond Street School

El Segundo, CA

Submitted by Lisa Haun, Reading Specialist

Richmond Street School receives a $2000 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Richmond Street School has been using Read Naturally Strategy programs for over 15 years. Reading Specialist Lisa Haun, who has worked with Read Naturally Live since 2012, and her lab assistants have implemented the program with fidelity for their targeted group of 3rd graders. Read Naturally Live is also used with 4th and 5th grade students and by the special education teacher in their learning center.

2018 Read Live School of the Year Award Runner-Ups

Olive B. Loss Elementary School

Bear, DE

Submitted by Veronica Daniel, Reading Specialist

Olive B. Loss Elementary School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Olive B. Loss Elementary, has been using Read Naturally Strategy programs for over 10 years. Resource Specialist Veronica Daniel, who has been working with Read Naturally Live since 2015, oversees a program that is used in grades 2 through 5 throughout the school, averaging about 60 students. The program is implemented with fidelity, with many groups meeting every day.

Hannah Elementary School

Beverly, MA

Submitted by Michelle Zampell, Reading/Literacy/Language Arts Administrator

Hannah Elementary School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Hannah Elementary School, has been using Read Naturally Strategy programs for nine years. Literacy Coach Michelle Zampell, who has been working with Read Naturally Live for a little over a year, oversees a program that targets 30 students in 2nd and 3rd grade who need a fluency intervention. During the course of the school year, educators saw great results even in Tier III students with reading disabilities.

Van Buren Elementary School

Van Buren, OH

Submitted by Mariah Hohman, Special Education Teacher

Van Buren Elementary School receives a $500 Read Naturally Gift Certificate.

Van Buren Elementary School has been using Read Naturally strategy programs for 15 years. Special Education Teacher Mariah Hohman, who has been working with Read Naturally Live since 2016, oversees a program that targets 45 students in kindergarten through 5th grade. Students are averaging a year and a half growth on reading levels, and their confidence has greatly improved.

2018 Read Live School of the Year Award Honorable Mentions

The following schools will each receive a $100 Read Naturally gift certificate:

Aberdeen Elementary School, Aberdeen, ID, submitted by Marina Taylor
Challenge Charter School, Glendale, AZ, submitted by Kathleen Mertler
Crystal Lake Elementary School, Benzonia, MI, submitted by Crystal Milne
Holdingford Elementary School, Holdingford, MN, submitted by Sue Ruprecht
Iditarod Elementary School, Wasilla, AK, submitted by Marilee Nufer
Leicester Middle School, Leicester, MA, submitted by Nikki O’Connor
Lutie Lewis Coates Elementary School, Herndon, VA, submitted by Jennette Leiva
Pioneer Elementary School, Pierz, MN, submitted by Miranda Hoheisel
Temple View School, Idaho Falls, ID, submitted by Luci Peck
Ubly Elementary School, Ubly, MI, submitted by Holly McIntyre