Teaching tomorrow’s readers: OHIO Zanesville partners with Zane Grey Elementary

Ohio University Zanesville is partnering with Zane Grey Elementary School to strengthen literacy development among first-grade students through a hands-on, place-based learning experience supported by a Patton College of Education (PCOE) grant.

Led by Dr. Jen Lisy, assistant professor of elementary education, the initiative connects senior education majors enrolled in ECEE 3120: Reading Assessment with 21 first grade students at Zane Grey Elementary. Over six weeks, OHIO Zanesville students are conducting literacy assessments and providing individualized interventions tailored to each child’s needs.

ECEE 3120 focuses on a wide variety of reading assessments and instructional strategies for use at the P–5 level. Students in the course learn to interpret standardized and informal assessment results, identify authentic assessments that provide multiple indicators of student progress, analyze assessment tools, and create instruction to enhance reading strengths and address areas for growth. The Zane Grey collaboration gives students a rare opportunity to apply these skills in a live classroom setting, linking theory to practice.

“I am beyond excited for this partnership,” said Lisy. “I have dreamed of working directly with elementary students as a class since I came to Ohio University Zanesville. Being embedded within the school allows me to support our preservice teachers in real time as they work with small groups of first graders—providing immediate feedback to help them adjust their teaching and implement advanced strategies that preservice teachers rarely get to experience. The grant has provided the curriculum and resources needed to make this a success.”

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“This type of intensive, guided practice is typically reserved for master's-level reading clinics, so it's extraordinary to offer it at the undergraduate level,” said Lisy. “Beyond the benefits for our students, this direct partnership with a local school that hires so many of our graduates ensures our programs meet community needs. And most importantly, we get to help children gain crucial support during those critical early years when learning to read. Even a little extra practice can make a real difference for beginning readers.”

According to the State of Ohio’s 2025 school performance data, Zane Grey Elementary serves more than 900 students in grades PK–6 and continues to focus on strengthening student achievement in reading. Approximately 40% of students scored at or above the proficient level in reading. Districtwide, 45% of students reached proficiency in reading, while across the state, 57% of students met or exceeded the proficient level. These results highlight the importance of ongoing, community-based literacy initiatives and the value of partnerships that provide additional instructional support and hands-on learning experiences for both students and teacher candidates.

The Zanesville City School District directs its Title I funding, totaling $2.63 million in FY 2025, toward comprehensive literacy initiatives across all K–12 schools, including Reading Recovery, Supplemental Reading, and Literacy Collaborative Coaches.

“Zane Grey Elementary is thrilled to partner with the Ohio University Zanesville and the Patton College of Education to offer a unique opportunity for teacher candidates to learn alongside our students,” said Stephanie Hilliard, principal of Zane Grey Elementary. “Our school is a truly special place, and we are beyond excited to welcome this new collaboration into our learning community.”

“I am excited to work with Dr. Lisy to provide this unique place-based learning experience for our seniors,” said Dr. Teri Peasley, associate professor of instruction in early childhood and elementary education. “Teachers consistently assess their students and provide intervention when it is needed. Through our partnership, the Ohio University Zanesville students are able to apply their learning in the real world while also supporting young learners. Because of this experience, our students will be better prepared for their future as excellent educators. It is truly a win-win for everyone, and we are grateful to Zane Grey Elementary for the opportunity.”

For OHIO Zanesville students, the project offers hands-on experience that brings classroom learning to life.

“Having the opportunity to learn from and teach real children at Zane Grey has been so special,” said Haley Helber, a senior majoring in early childhood and elementary education. “During my time at Ohio University Zanesville, I’ve had many opportunities to be in classrooms, but this experience has been different. Instead of simply observing a teacher and their students, we are assessing and teaching based on what we learn from those assessments. This is a skill I’ll use throughout my entire career, and getting to practice it first-hand has been incredibly helpful.”

“Zane Grey providing us with our own classroom has also been amazing,” added Helber. “We get to have class in the elementary school, practice our lessons with classmates, and then teach actual students. Our professors are there the entire time to support and guide us, so we always feel prepared and confident. This opportunity has truly strengthened my future as an educator, and I’m extremely grateful for it.

Rylee Newlon, a senior majoring in early childhood and elementary education, said the experience has helped her apply classroom learning in powerful ways.

“Having the privilege of going to Zane Grey has helped me learn how to give assessments and brainstorm ways to help children learn best,” she said. “I’ve also learned how to group students and record data on each one. It has really shown me that each student and their needs are different.”

A faculty member at Ohio University Zanesville since 2022, Lisy has been preparing teacher educators for more than a decade. As one of Ohio University’s AI Faculty Fellows, she empowers students, colleagues, and other educators to use artificial intelligence ethically and effectively. Her work focuses on developing digital critical literacy skills so that educators can use AI to enhance teaching and improve work-life balance. She is dedicated to the equitable use of technology, improving literacy through the science of reading, and advancing social justice in education.

The Early Childhood and Elementary Education program at Ohio University Zanesville prepares students to teach children ages three through fifth grade in preschool and elementary settings. In addition to being qualified to teach in primary grades, graduates are also prepared to teach in pre-primary programs such as public-school preschools, private pre-kindergarten schools, childcare centers, and Head Start programs. 

The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Education includes comprehensive coursework in teaching methods, English, mathematics, and the sciences. This curriculum equips graduates with the skills and knowledge to foster learning across diverse educational environments.

Lisy earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction: Literacy, Language and Culture from the University of Illinois Chicago, where her dissertation examined the impact of technology on primary-grade students’ written work and the cognitive load differences between handwritten and digital revisions. She also holds an M.Ed. in Educational Studies from the University of Illinois Chicago and a B.S. in Elementary Education and Anthropology from Vanderbilt University. Her previous experience includes teaching and supervising literacy courses at Ohio Wesleyan University, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and William Paterson University, as well as early childhood teaching roles in both public and private schools.

The PCOE-funded initiative will conclude in November 2025, when students will present data-driven reflections on literacy progress and intervention outcomes.