Becky Pallone Wins Goyen Literacy Fellowship
Washington D.C., Dec. 19, 2022—The Goyen Foundation announces that Becky Pallone, a kindergarten teacher at Richland Elementary in Quakertown, PA, has been named a Goyen Literacy Fellow. The award gives exceptional teachers a stipend to document their evidenced-based literacy teaching practices.
Through the fellowship, Pallone will share videos, student work samples, and photographs that demonstrate how she systematically and explicitly teaches phonics in her classroom. The Goyen Foundation will amplify this work for the education community and will compile it alongside other evidence-based best practices so that other teachers can learn from her expertise.
“Quakertown is my community. I live here. I grew up here. The students in my class are my neighbors, my friend’s sons and daughters, kids that I interact with not only at school but out in the community. For me, if I can change the trajectory of a student, it goes a long way for our community. It’s a slow process but we’re getting there.” Pallone explained.
“Becky Pallone is exactly the sort of teacher every parent should want for their children. Not only does she bring joy and excitement to the classroom, but she also knows how to translate the latest reading research into practice. We are thrilled that Mrs. Pallone will join this cohort of fellows,” said Goyen Executive Director Kata Solow.
“Teaching literacy is one of my passions,” Pallone said. “Ever since my daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia it has become a personal journey to educate myself, my colleagues, my district, and parents at my school. The sadness I felt at the time, knowing I was a 1st-grade teacher and couldn’t help my own child, was overwhelming. But the good thing is, science has proven the best methods to teach reading and there is now hope. This is what I love to share, that hope”
ABOUT GOYEN LITERACY FELLOW BECKY PALLONE:
Becky Pallone graduated from Quakertown High School and Muhlenberg College and has been teaching elementary school for 18 years. She was inspired to learn more about the Science of Reading when one of her daughters was diagnosed with dyslexia and struggled to learn how to read. Since then, Pallone has been devoted to translating reading science into evidenced-based classroom practices and supporting other teachers who are trying to do the same. Pallone shares much of her work on her Twitter account.
ABOUT THE GOYEN LITERACY FELLOWSHIP:
The Goyen Literacy Fellowship is a project of the Goyen Foundation. The fellowship recognizes exceptional teachers of reading and awards them a stipend to document their evidenced-based literacy teaching practices.
Goyen Fellows are chosen for their leadership in translating the Science of Reading into practice. The Science of Reading is a vast, interdisciplinary body of scientific research about how we learn to read and write. The research tells us that the most effective way to teach children how to read is through explicit, systematic instruction about the relationships between sounds and letters. All students benefit from this kind of instruction, but teachers often lack the tools and knowledge to implement it in their classrooms. Goyen Fellows have the expertise to teach children how to read, and they inspire other teachers to follow their example.
ABOUT THE GOYEN FOUNDATION:
Founded in 1995, the Goyen Foundation is a family foundation focused on amplifying the voices of students with learning differences and supporting the work of teachers, scientists, and parents doing the same.