A Unified Ascent: Transforming Early Literacy

At Liberty Elementary School, the walls are filled with more than student artwork; they are lined with the data, strategies, and collective commitment of a team dedicated to ensuring every child becomes a skilled reader. As part of Salem-Keizer Public Schools’ strategic focus on academic excellence, Liberty is proving that with the right structure, every child can thrive.

The transformation began when Principal DeLee Brown recognized that the traditional model of fragmented instruction was no longer yielding the results students were capable of achieving. Today, that culture of "solo treks" has been replaced by intentional collaboration where teachers share a full daily block to move between classrooms, mixing students from all classes within each grade level to provide highly individualized instruction.

Building the Schedule Around the Student

One of the most significant shifts is the school’s "intervention-first" master schedule. In order to support the district’s and board’s goals of third grade literacy proficiency, they established a Foundational Skills Block. This is their non-negotiable anchor of the day; the entire school schedule is built around this dedicated time for literacy interventions to ensure no student falls behind.

"Previously, like many schools, we had an intervention block and small-group reading time," said Principal DeLee Brown. "While those structures were helpful, students who needed additional support or special education services were often pulled from class to receive it. That made it difficult to fully meet every student’s unique needs and sometimes meant students missed meaningful parts of their day."

Vertical Alignment and the "Baton Pass"

The true strength of Liberty’s climb is vertical alignment—a relay race where each grade-level team hands off the baton with precision. Because every grade uses the same high-quality materials and routines, students build on a continuous foundation of skills rather than facing a "reset" each September. This consistency has led to a remarkable surge in student confidence. Third-grade teacher Stephanie DeLapp noted the shift during the first week of school.

"In the past, when asked to write even a single sentence, my 3rd graders have groaned," she said. "This last September, however, I asked my class to write three sentences about their summer and not one student groaned. Each of the 30 children in the room were actively writing about their summer without any help from me. Even with students at different levels, their confidence and preparedness to learn was there across the board."

Data as a Compass for Success

At Liberty, data is used as a compass to navigate rather than a label to stay. This approach ensures that every child is seen as a whole learner, allowing teachers to make real-time decisions and move students between groups as they master skills. This success is not about a single magic fix, but a disciplined, urgent approach that represents the district’s vision. As a pilot for the 2026 elementary literacy curriculum rollout, Liberty Elementary is making the path to the top clearer for every student in the district.