Acushnet Elementary School Principal Leah Chesney speaks to the assembly on 1/25/23 to celebrate the school’s designation as a “Distinguished School” by the National ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) Program for 2022. Photo by Beth David.
Press Release
Acushnet Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Paula Bailey, is pleased to share that Acushnet Elementary School Principal Leah Chesney has been recognized by the Ignite Reading organization during National Principals Month.
Ignite Reading chose Principal Chesney because of her commitment to providing advanced, modern reading programs for students.
Ignite Reading is a high-dosage reading tutoring program supported by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). It is specifically designed to aid students within the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework. Students needing additional reading support participate in daily 15-minute online sessions with a dedicated Ignite Reading tutor during school hours throughout the year.
Specifically, Principal Chesney has been working with the Ignite Reading program for two years, during which time the district obtained an Early Literacy High Dosage Learning grant from DESE. This grant provided Acushnet Elementary School with 75 high-dosage tutoring spots in the 2023-24 school year and 55 high-dosage tutoring spots for the 2024-25 school year.
Throughout the district’s implementation of the Ignite Reading program, teachers and administrators have met with tutors regularly and have access to data that can improve teaching strategies and provide parents with progress updates. It has proven to be a powerful tool for improving reading among many students at Acushnet Elementary School.
“It’s an honor to receive recognition in an area like reading that I’m incredibly passionate about,” Principal Chesney said. “’Ignite has been very helpful for our reading program and I applaud everyone involved for their commitment to benefiting our students’ literacy skills.”
Principal Chesney has worked in education for over 25 years and encourages other principals to create a culture where reading is celebrated, supported and carefully monitored.
Ignite Reading recognizes that Principal Chesney always ensures that she has the right tools: a well-designed curriculum, engaging books and a system to track progress.
“We are very proud of Leah, she is so deserving of this wonderful recognition,” Superintendent Dr. Bailey said. “Principal Chesney has helped cultivate a positive environment in our elementary school, and she is incredibly passionate about helping students become confident readers.”
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