Larry Krueger, Information Technology Manager
Gary Maynard, Math Program Manager
Mary Maynard, Finance Assistant
JoEllen Mogelgaard, Reading Specialist
Dan Rubenstein, Development Director
Laura Conlin, Vice Chair, Edwards Brothers, Inc.
Stephen C. Ingram, Treasurer, community volunteer
Brandy Ellison, ACE Consulting, University of Notre Dame
Scott Holda, Materialise
Judith Hommel, Washtenaw Community College (ret.)
Mary Maynard, community volunteer
Jennifer Melchi, Jennifer Melchi Design Co.
The Family Learning Institute (FLI) was created in response to the 1998 Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) statewide, standardized test. 35% of 4th graders scored below grade level in reading; among African Americans, 71% did. Concerned citizens formed the Community Academic Success Team (CAST) to support The Ann Arbor Achievement Initiative.
In February 1999, several members of CAST met to plan a reading conference, but decided it wouldn't be enough. They left with agreement to create a more sustained, community-based, long-term strategy to help students close the achievement gap.
Doris Sperling, a retired teacher and evaluation expert, and Lefiest Galimore, a community organizer, developed the concept for and established FLI in late 1999. The program design incorporated recommendations from focus groups representing area colleges and universities, the Ann Arbor Public Schools, and diverse members of the community. Recommendations included targeting students in grades 3 through 8, involving students, parents, teachers, and tutors, and providing a curriculum that develops reading, writing, thinking, and contextual interpretation skills. FLI was begun with grants from Washtenaw County and the city of Ann Arbor, and a generous start-up donation from a local entrepreneur. Over the years, these tenets have evolved (e.g., presently, we focus on 2nd-5th graders), but the concept has proven remarkably effective.
The essence of FLI's program is simple. Professional teachers test students on intake, develop individualized lesson plans that target their weaknesses, train volunteer "coaches," pair each student with a coach in a long-term, continuous relationship, and conduct regular follow-up testing to gauge progress and refine lessons as needed. Coaching is done in private rooms away from school to maintain anonymity, minimize embarrassment, and remove students from any negative associations they may have with school. FLI has demonstrated consistent success, regularly raising most students' reading levels by one, two, or three grades within one year -- students who, without intervention, would be expected to fall farther behind.
Amy Rolfes -- Amy is an Ann Arbor native and attended Ann Arbor public schools. She has been a classroom teacher in both regular and special education. Amy holds a B.A. and M.A. in Education from the University of Michigan, and was Lead Teacher at FLI for two years. As executive director, Amy manages the educational program as well as advocates for students and informs and educates the community about FLI.