Dist. 54 names Gorvett director of literacy

Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 board members have appointed current Instructional Mentor Julie Gorvett as the district’s next director of literacy.

Gorvett, who has been with District 54 for 28 years, will succeed Erin Knoll, who’s moving on to the position of assistant superintendent for teaching and learning.

Though District 54 is among districts putting stronger emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) instruction, literacy is still regarded as an even more basic skill for general learning, Gorvett said.

“You have to be able to read, no matter what the subject,” she added.

And even during her own career, educators have been working out more effective ways of teaching literacy, Gorvett said.

Though District 54 has 27 schools with some individual adaptations to their own student bodies, Gorvett’s new job involves coordinating literacy instruction among all of them — even those that feature dual language and bilingual programs.

As instructional mentor, Gorvett’s current job is to work with all first- and second-year teachers, which already takes her to 17 of the district’s schools.

Gorvett said she’s looking forward to her new responsibilities and glad she’ll still have access to Knoll’s experience with the job.

“I feel very lucky for the opportunities I’ve been offered,” Gorvett said.

Knoll’s appointment as assistant superintendent for teaching and learning was announced in December. She’s replacing Beth Erbach, who’ll be taking over the role of assistant superintendent of district improvement from the retiring Karen Hindman.

The district is now seeking someone to replace Gorvett as instructional mentor, spokeswoman Terri McHugh said.

All of the job changes will take effect on July 1.