Cumberland County Schools (CCS) has been awarded the prestigious Sandhills Region's Science of Reading True Trailblazer Award from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). During a Leadership meeting held on Oct. 2, Amy Rhyne, senior director in the Office of Early Learning at NCDPI, presented the award to district leaders. She praised Cumberland County Schools for its intentional and systematic approach to improving literacy outcomes.

According to Rhyne, this honor reflects the hard work and dedication of the district’s leadership, particularly Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr., Chief Academic Officer Dr. Mellotta Hill and Assistant Superintendent of K-12 Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Christine Catalano, in implementing the Science of Reading framework across its schools.

Rhyne highlighted the district’s comprehensive Literacy Intervention Plan, which was developed with input from stakeholders. “Every system starts with strong leadership,” she emphasized in a press release. “Cumberland’s district leadership values their stakeholders, providing months for them to review the plan and offer feedback before making final revisions. This kind of collaborative effort is crucial for successful implementation.”

State Superintendent Catherine Truitt expressed her congratulations in a letter, writing, “Your leadership and dedication uplifted colleagues through the shift to the Science of Reading with a positive attitude and determination. Your persistence, hard work and passion did not go unnoticed by those around you who nominated you for this award. Thank you for your commitment to improving literacy outcomes for all North Carolina students.”

Rhyne noted the progress the district is making, stating that Cumberland County Schools is seeing evidence in data outcomes as a result of their systems approach through a continuous improvement mindset:

• First Grade: 20% increase from Beginning of Year (BOY) to End of Year (EOY) on DIBELS ® (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessments
• Second Grade: 12% increase
• Third Grade: 11% increase (highest growth in the region)
• Third Grade End-of-Grade (EOG) scores continue to show increases each year
• Each grade performed above state averages, with third grade significantly exceeding state averages
• The district has reduced the number of low-performing schools from 27 to 15

Dr. Marvin Connelly Jr. expressed his enthusiasm for the award, stating in a press release, “We are thrilled to receive this recognition, which inspires us to continue our journey of continuous improvement. Our commitment to leveraging the PASE framework—Performance, Accountability, Support, and Empowerment—ensures our schools receive the tailored support they need. Schools identified as low-performing (Tier I) are benefiting from focused interventions and deeper engagement with staff, driving meaningful growth and enhancing student outcomes.”

Dr. Mellotta Hill added, “This recognition is a wonderful affirmation of the leadership at both the district and school levels. It celebrates the hard work and dedication of our premier professionals and successful students, aligning perfectly with our strategic plan and PASE initiatives. Together, we are making significant strides toward providing exceptional educational opportunities for every student.”