Educator Spotlight: Systematic and Explicit Instruction Yields Results
The Fox Chapel Area School District near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is committed to meeting the needs of its diverse population. Jackie Koziatek, reading specialist at Kerr Elementary School and K-5 district coach, plays a key role supporting this mission. Below, Jackie shares how systematic and explicit phonics instruction is producing meaningful results for her Title 1 students.
What has your journey in education looked like?
This is my 29th year in education, with the past 23 years spent serving as a reading specialist in a Title I school. Prior to working as a reading specialist, I spent time teaching kindergarten, third, and fifth grades.
What prior challenges did your school face and how has Fundations® helped?
Before implementing Fundations, we struggled to provide systematic phonics with consistency and fidelity. Since introducing Fundations in our PreK through second grade classrooms, we have made strong gains in early reading development. Our teachers now feel empowered and confident in their phonics instruction. Students share a common language around literacy, and this continuity extends across grade levels.
What sets Wilson programs apart from other foundational literacy programs you’ve used?
In my 29 years in education, Fundations is the first program I have used that is truly systematic and explicit. It is highly engaging and consistently produces strong results for our students.
Can you share a success story?
Last year, I worked with a group of five multilingual learners, each speaking a different home language. I began instruction using the Level K program, and by the end of the first semester, every student was reading. It was an incredible experience.
How would you sum up your experience with Fundations?
Fundations has been transformative for our students and teachers. It provides a clear, consistent framework for literacy instruction and has significantly strengthened reading outcomes across our school.