Nothing makes Tammy Brewster happier than to see her students succeed! As a reading and dyslexia specialist serving the Parkwood Elementary School in Deer Park, Tammy knows what works. She has been teaching for over 21 years and has used her Neuhaus curricula for 11 of them. Her enthusiasm and her students’ achievements inspired the other 16 second-grade teachers in the K-2 Title I school to attend Neuhaus professional development, including the ESL specialists. The principal, Mr. Allan Myers, wholeheartedly supports this education that has made such a tremendous improvement in the predominantly Hispanic (80%) student body. Ninety-eight percent of the children in this school are on the free- or reduced-meal plan, and most come in with a deficit in their reading ability. Measured on the DRA scale, students in the second grade should begin the year at level 18 and finish at level 28. At Parkwood, many students enter second grade at levels 10, 12, and 14. Using the knowledge and skills gained at Neuhaus, the teachers apply an intensive, accelerated methodology to get each child up to level by the end of the second grade. With an improvement in their reading ability, the children are more confident, happy, and have improved self-esteem. Tammy lights up when talking about her students’ success and believes Neuhaus professional development is valuable for all teachers, from the novice to the very experienced. Deer Park ISD parents want their children to attend Parkwood in large part due to the successful reading program.

 

 

 

 

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