West Virginia University Extension’s Energy Express program has been awarded a $50,000 Sparking Early Literacy Growth grant, a statewide initiative to enhance literacy instruction for elementary-aged children. The grant was made possible by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.

This funding will kickstart the creation of the Energy Express Literacy Leaders program. The Literacy Leaders program will engage up to 10 site supervisors who are certified teachers in an action research project that focuses on supporting and extending early elementary-aged students’ learning through a literacy activity plan.

“This grant will allow us to review and enhance our high-quality programming and instruction, as well as foster deep learning and creative exploration, thereby closing academic and opportunity gaps,” said Melissa Calabrese, director of Energy Express.

Throughout the grant cycle, Energy Express site supervisors will participate in monthly meetings and enroll in literacy education graduate coursework through WVU to become certified reading specialists. This initiative aims to empower site supervisors, deepen their understanding of effective literacy instruction practices, and foster community engagement and service learning within Energy Express.

Participants also will conduct a research project based on the Energy Express curriculum, looking at specific lesson plans. They will examine the plans to pinpoint activities that are effective and promote literacy, while also suggesting solutions to improve upon the current methods, to create the best possible learning environment. Each participant will cover a specific area of the lesson plan– like writing or art– and present their findings at the annual Energy Express conference next summer.

“Our site supervisors are already extraordinary teachers throughout West Virginia, and with support from this grant, they will become certified reading specialists, not only benefitting Energy Express participants but also their students during the school year,” said Calabrese.

Teachers must have their application endorsed by a school administrator or fellow teacher who will support their professional growth. Throughout the grant, this person will serve as a “thought partner” to exchange ideas and findings. This partnership will facilitate discussions and encourage feedback and research within and beyond their home schools.

Participants in this first cohort will share their findings during the June 2025 kickoff meeting with all Energy Express site supervisors and AmeriCorps members. They can then bring these insights to colleagues in their school to enrich the learning environment.

Energy Express is committed to addressing educational disparities in West Virginia. During the 2022-2023 academic year, only 44% of fourth graders in West Virginia achieved proficient reading levels, highlighting the urgency of comprehensive literacy interventions. This summer, Energy Express is hosting 48 sites in 26 counties, helping an estimated 2,000 children maintain and increase their literacy levels during the summer.

Energy Express is offered in various counties at select locations. To learn more about the program, visit extension.wvu.edu/energy-express. Contact your local WVU Extension office for more information about sites in your area.

If you want to learn more about WVU Extension, visit extension.wvu.edu or follow @WVUExtension on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.