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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
March 24, 2025




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Governor and First Lady DeWine Honor Harold Schnell Elementary School as Part of Science of Reading Recognition Program
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Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine presented students and teachers at Harold Schnell Elementary School, as well as district leaders from West Carrollton City School District with a banner honoring the school’s selection as one of the inaugural awardees of the Governor’s Science of Reading Recognition Program.

(WEST CARROLLTON, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin visited Harold Schnell Elementary School in West Carrollton today as part of a new program celebrating schools across Ohio that are using the Science of Reading to raise literacy achievement for their students.

Harold Schnell Elementary was among the inaugural group of schools [ [link removed] ] to be honored though the new Governor’s Science of Reading Recognition Program.

“We want to celebrate the schools across Ohio that are being proactive and innovative in how they are helping their students become better readers,” said Governor DeWine. “Harold Schnell Elementary is a great example of school leaders and teachers who have really embraced the Science of Reading and are going above and beyond to help more of their students build a solid foundation for reading – a foundation that will allow them to thrive in the classroom and throughout life.”

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Students at Harold Schnell Elementary School greet Governor DeWine and First Lady DeWine during their visit Monday.

Part of West Carrollton City School District, Harold Schnell Elementary School has fully adopted the Science of Reading. The school strategically utilizes data to enhance literacy outcomes. They use screening tools to identify students who may need literacy interventions. The school then organizes students needing similar interventions into smaller groups. These groups then get additional instruction tailored to their needs in the school’s “literacy lab.”

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The Governor and First Lady also took time during their visit to tour Harold Schnell Elementary School’s “literacy lab.” A place for students to get supplemental and personalized literacy instruction. The literacy lab is part of the work being done at Harold Schnell Elementary School to improve literacy achievement for more students.

Additionally, the school’s teachers and administrators have completed professional learning on evidence-based literacy instruction and have support from a literacy coach.

Within just one year of embracing the Science of Reading and employing these strategies, their number of third graders reading at grade level improved by 7.9%.

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Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine met with West Carrollton Schools’ Director of Student Services Becky Yerman (left), Harold Schnell Principal Brad Thobe (right), and several other school and district leaders to discuss their work to implement strategies that are improving literacy achievement.

On Monday, Governor and First Lady DeWine met with West Carrollton Schools’ Director of Student Services Becky Yerman, Harold Schnell Principal Brad Thobe, and several other school and district leaders to discuss their work to implement strategies that are improving literacy achievement.

The Governor and First Lady toured the school’s literacy lab before visiting multiple classes of second and third grade students to observe literacy instruction in action. After that, First Lady DeWine read a book to one of the classes, before the Governor presented a congratulatory Science of Reading Recognition Program banner to school and district leaders.

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First Lady Fran DeWine read “The Giving Tree” to a combined class of second and third grade students at Harold Schnell Elementary School during Monday’s visit.

Governor DeWine first announced the Science of Reading Recognition Program as part of his 2025 State of the State Address [ [link removed] ] on March 12.

A total of 47 schools were recognized for their exemplary work aligning their curriculum with the Science of Reading, embracing professional development for teachers, and raising literacy achievement among their students.

Harold Schnell Elementary was one of six elementary schools in the Miami Valley to receive the recognition. Others include Charles Huber Elementary School, Monticello Elementary School, and Valley Forge Elementary School of Huber Heights City School District; Milton-Union Elementary School of Milton-Union Exempted Village School District; and Northridge Elementary School of Northridge Local School District.

Click here to view full list of recipients [ [link removed] ].

The Governor’s Science of Reading Recognition Program [ [link removed] ] will honor a new group of schools each year.

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Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine presented students and teachers at Harold Schnell Elementary School, as well as district leaders from West Carrollton City School District with a banner honoring the school’s selection as one of the inaugural awardees of the Governor’s Science of Reading Recognition Program.

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*About the Science of Reading:
*
Based on decades of brain research and literacy development, the Science of Reading informs the most effective strategies for teaching students how to read. Governor DeWine has long supported the implementation of Science of Reading practices in all Ohio educational settings, including early childhood education, K-12 education, and higher education.

Every day, more schools are becoming fully aligned with the Science of Reading and the results are noticeable. This past year’s School Report Cards showed significant improvement in English Language Arts proficiency among elementary students, climbing by 2.2 percentage points among Ohio third graders, 5.2 percentage points among fourth graders, and 3.1 percentage points among fifth graders.

Science of Reading FAQs [ [link removed] ] – Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

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*_Additional Media Contact:_*

*Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
*Lacey Snoke, Chief Communications Officer
614-995-1855
[email protected]

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