Speaker Recap for January 9, 2012

Ms. Jean Irwin

What a privilege to hear from Monday’s keynote speaker, Ms. Jean Irwin.  Jean is a member of the Rotary Club of Folsom and is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.  Jean is a retired Teacher of the Deaf from the Washoe County School District in Reno, Nevada.  She has taught in grades pre-school through 12th grade in 12 schools. Jean was an Ambassadorial Scholar in 1989. The scholarship Jean received allowed her to do research into reading and deafness almost 25 years ago which earned her a Masters Degree from Nottingham University in England. Jean was previously chosen the "Reading Teacher of the Year" in 1992 by the International Reading Association. She was also selected for the “Best of Education” award by the Reno Gazette Journal, her local newspaper, in 2004.  Jean is currently District 5180's “Literacy Chair” and wants to use what she learned about reading to help encourage and foster more literacy involvement from clubs.

Jean spoke emphatically about the long term effects of improving the literacy of our children, especially upon completion of the third grade learning level.  Unfortunately, as we recently learned during Mayor Johnson’s presentation as well, only around 45% of students in our county’s public schools are reading at grade level when they complete the third grade.  Educators have found that children who lag behind expected literacy levels as they progress past the third grade have a very difficult time bridging the “gap” in the upper grades.  Jean spoke of the need for our children to spend more time in school, and for more of that time to be spent in small groups reading “out loud.” 

Jean stressed the importance of hearing and reading the words at the same time which helps children retain the vocabulary and vital reading skills during their formative years.  She noted that she has been visiting many Rotary Interact Clubs to encourage the members to try to volunteer at their local primary schools to provide assistance with literacy programs by reading and listening to the younger students.  We wish Jean the very best in her efforts and thank her for her ongoing contributions as an inspiring role model of “service above self.”