Jen Letcher

Ed.M. L&L '03

After graduating from HGSE in 2003, I returned home to Chicago to work for the Chicago Reading Initiative. The CRI is a program sponsored by the Office of Literacy of the Chicago Public Schools. I spend most of my time at Carpenter Elementary School on the city's west side, serving there as a reading specialist and as the director of the school's academic after-school programs. This year I am also a member of the citywide training team for the Illinois Reading First program, an early literacy initiative that provides professional development and support for over 100 CPS schools. I love the work that I do, and feel incredibly fortunate to have gone through the Language and Literacy program before beginning this work. My time at HGSE not only provided me with excellent practical experience and theoretical knowledge, but also allowed me to develop my skills as a member of a small, supportive, and incredibly knowledgeable group of students and faculty. This combination of experience and support gave me the confidence I needed to take on the challenge of working in a struggling urban school.