Reading Specialist Program
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Designed for Working Professionals
The Virginia Tech Reading Specialist Program is a state-approved Curriculum & Instruction program leading to the Reading Specialist Endorsement in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Students can pursue either a Master's (M.A.Ed.) or an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree along with the Reading Specialist endorsement. The program prepares teachers for positions as reading specialists, reading/literacy coaches, or reading/literacy teacher leaders at the elementary, middle, or high school levels.
INTERACTIVE, INNOVATIVE, ONLINE INSTRUCTION
Completely redesigned - now a 5-semester program! Since 2015, the VT Reading Specialist Program has delivered high-quality, interactive, online courses for working professionals. Our innovative approach to online instruction helps students focus deeply on one course at a time, while managing the demands of life and work.
RELEVANT, RESEARCH-BASED PROGRAM
As a student in the reading specialist program, you will develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to transform teaching and learning, conduct groundbreaking research, and lead learning communities within and beyond your school and district. Reimagining the future of education begins with instructional leaders who put educational excellence, innovation, and equity at the fore. Program faculty include widely published, nationally recognized authors and researchers with an average of over 15+ years of experience interfacing with K-12 educators (Amy Price Azano, Donna Fortune, Heidi Anne Mesmer, Trevor Stewart, Dana Robertson, Christine Christianson, and Nancy Bradley). (Google us!)
COHORT MODEL
The Reading Specialist program operates on a cohort model. Members of each reading specialist cohort, M.A.Ed. and Ed.S. students alike, attend all of the same classes in the same sequence and pursue common plans of study.
The benefits of a cohort model are many. It is designed to facilitate social interaction, collaboration, and the formation of a supportive learning community.
Students in cohorts learn from and help each other with the successful completion of coursework and professional networking. They report a strong sense of community and are more likely to complete their programs of study in a timely manner.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Virginia Tech discloses whether its educational programs leading to careers that require licensure meet educational requirements for professional licensure in each state, view the determinations for each state here.
Program Deadlines & Dates
Next cohort begins 2024
Deadline for 2024 cohort application: May 1, 2024
Cohorts limited to 20 participants to ensure personal attention for all students
Reading & Literacy Education News
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Reading & Literacy Education Events: Past, Present, and Future
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Article ItemEducational Leadership Programs & Reading Specialist Program Spring 2023 Information Session , article
Join us March 1, 2023 in person or online!
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Article ItemVirginia Educators Applying Reading Science (VEARS) Fall 2022 Session 6 , article
November 8, 2022 @ 5:00 pm, EST
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Article ItemVirginia Educators Applying Reading Science (VEARS) Fall 2022 Session 5 , article
November 1, 2022 @ 5:00 pm, EST
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Article ItemVirginia Educators Applying Reading Science (VEARS) Fall 2022 Session 4 , article
October 11, 2022 @ 5:00 pm, EST
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Article ItemVirginia Educators Applying Reading Science (VEARS) Fall 2022 Session 3 , article
October 4, 2022 @ 5:00 pm, EST
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Article ItemVirginia Educators Applying Reading Science (VEARS) Fall 2022 Session 2 , article
September 27, 2022 @ 5:00 pm, EST
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Article ItemVirginia Educators Applying Reading Science (VEARS) Fall 2022 Session 1 , article
September 20, 2022 @ 5:00 pm, EST
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Article ItemVirginia Educators Applying Reading Science (VEARS) Session 4 , article
April 26, 2022, @ 5:00 pm EST
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NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FACULTY
Our Reading Specialist program faculty include widely published, nationally recognized authors and researchers with considerable experience working with K-12 educators.
![dr. trevor stewart smiles confidently into the camera. he wears a tan jacket and blue striped shirt](/content/liberalarts_vt_edu/en/departments-and-schools/school-of-education/academic-programs/reading-specialist-program/_jcr_content/content/vtcontainer_98642592/vtcontainer-content/vtmulticolumn_130337/vt-items_1/adaptiveimage.transform/s-medium/image.jpg)
ACCREDITATION AND MEMBERSHIP
Our Reading Specialist Program is approved by the Virginia Department of Education. It is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.