Multiple districts — Three Kent County elementary schools recently held celebrations — complete with mascot appearances and sugar cookies — in recognition of a special honor that wrapped up National Reading Month in March.
Paris Ridge Elementary in Caledonia, Zinser Elementary in Kenowa Hills and Murray Lake Elementary in Lowell received the TalentFirst Literacy Leadership Award for their schools’ commitment to help students grow as readers and increase literacy rates.
TalentFirst is an alliance of West Michigan CEOs, joined by educators, human resource and workforce leaders, and policymakers.
Last week at Paris Ridge, more than 200 students and their teachers gathered in the cafeteria with district and community leaders. Principal Lance Jones reflected on the work happening every day inside classrooms to develop a love of reading and the impact of strong, consistent literacy instruction.
“If you know how to read, you can learn to do anything,” he said. “Your success is not by luck; it’s not by accident. You’ve worked really hard to get there, and people have recognized that.”
TalentFirst representative Lisa Hungerford presented the award along with a $1,000 donation to support continued literacy efforts.
She told students how she reviewed state testing data and conversed with school leaders and literacy coaches to understand and identify the “secret sauce” that makes for strong readers.
The awards program is sponsored by TalentFirst members Autocam Medical, AMDG Architects, 42 North Partners, Metal Flow Corp., Lorin Industries, MKO Holdings, Key Bank and Meijer. Lakeview, Holmes and Dorr elementaries were also recognized across a 13-county West Michigan region.
‘If you want to be an engineer or a nurse, a doctor or an astronaut, whatever you want to do starts with being a great reader.’
— TalentFirst President Kevin Stotts
The ‘Secret Sauce’ of Strong Readers
TalentFirst developed the Literacy Leader Awards program following the publication in 2023 of a dashboard that tracks third-grade M-STEP reading scores, cross-referenced to economic status, for nearly every elementary school in the state.
Award-winning schools demonstrated strong M-STEP reading performance and/or growth compared to peer schools with similar economic profiles, ongoing professional learning grounded in the science of reading and literacy coaching in each building, according to their website.
Although statewide 2024-25 M-STEP results showed only 39% of third-graders scored proficient in reading, Paris Ridge Elementary’s M-STEP results showed that nearly 78% of their third-graders were proficient.
Approximately 44% and 77% of third-graders tested proficient at Zinser and Murray Lake elementaries, respectively.
Speaking to staff and students at Paris Ridge, TalentFirst President Kevin Stotts shared why the work matters beyond the classroom.
“(Being a great reader) unlocks all the possibilities in life that you can look forward to,” he told them. “If you want to be an engineer or a nurse, a doctor or an astronaut, whatever you want to do starts with being a great reader.”
He also highlighted the connection between research-based early literacy practices and future career opportunities.
Zinser Elementary Principal Brooke Johnston said her staff has worked “incredibly hard this past year to deepen their understanding of the science of reading and to adapt their instruction based on research.”
This school year, all K-5 teachers and administrators in Kenowa Hills embraced the science of reading philosophy and completed Lexia LETRS training.
“The recognition from TalentFirst validates and affirms the countless hours our elementary team has put (in), and the support from our parents to make reading a priority,” said Jerry Hopkins, Kenowa Hills Superintendent.
In a press release, Murray Lake Principal Molly Burnett said the award reflects a lot of hard work at her school.
“We are incredibly proud of this recognition, which reflects the dedication, persistence, and heart our staff and students have poured into improving early literacy achievement,” she said. “Every day, our team has worked tirelessly to ensure all students build strong reading foundations, and our students have risen to that challenge with determination.”
Burnett added: “This award is more than an honor — it is a celebration of our shared commitment to growth, equity and the belief that every child can reach their full potential.”
Read more from our districts:
• School partners with GVSU for literacy event
• Lowell grad who has autism pens folly-filled comedic play
