GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – Governor Gretchen Whitmer visited Mulick Park Elementary to see firsthand how scholars are strengthening their reading skills through LETRS science of reading instruction.
During her visit, the governor observed a reading lesson in Cassandra Greig’s first-grade classroom, where scholars are learning how to break down and understand words using structured literacy strategies.
“It's so cool to see why words are the way they are - and then for them to understand - so when they get to a word they don't know they can attack it,” Greig explained to Gov. Whitmer.
Mulick Park Elementary is serving as a schoolwide pilot site for HMH science of reading curriculum this school year, and early results show promising growth. Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth reading scores increased their median score by 14% this winter, highlighting the impact of this instructional approach in just the first semester. The district plans to expand the curriculum to all schools beginning in the 2026–27 school year.
In addition to observing classroom instruction, Gov. Whitmer met with Greig and first-grade teacher Jennifer Delgado, both of whom have completed LETRS training - an evidence-based professional development program grounded in the science of reading. Currently, more than 200 GRPS teachers have completed or are in the process of completing this valuable training.
“I think it's made us much more intentional about our data,” Delgado said.
“We had some reluctant writers that now - they're sounding out and building words and spelling them,” Greig said. “They're really blossoming and writing.”
