Norristown Area School District -

By completing AIM Institute professional learning courses in the Science of Reading and English Learner Reading instruction, nearly 60 of our elementary educators are helping to strengthen literacy outcomes across the Norristown Area School District (NASD).

The AIM Institute for Learning & Research® is a nationally recognized professional learning organization whose vision is to create a bridge between the research on how children learn to read and classroom practice. They develop highly interactive evidence-based teacher training programs, including courses accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) that are used by thousands of teachers and education leaders across the globe. The AIM Institute is also based locally, in Conshohocken.

NASD first began working with the AIM Institute in the Fall of 2022 shortly after House Bill 1642 was passed by the Pennsylvania state legislature, which made changes to Chapter 49 regulations for teacher training. The new regulations, for the first time, required that Pennsylvania school districts provide professional development for teachers in explicit, systematic structured literacy instruction. Beginning in 2022, NASD began to offer training to administrators and teacher leaders in accordance with the new regulations. As the district developed their Literacy Comprehensive Plan (2023), District Comprehensive Plan (2024), and MTSS Framework (2025), high-quality evidence-based reading instruction became a key driver for improvement in student reading outcomes, and professional development for teachers a key action step for change.

Course 1 – AIM Pathways to Proficient Reading

The AIM Pathways to Proficient Reading course is an online IDA-accredited professional development program for educators that teaches evidence-based, "Science of Reading" (SoR) practices for language and literacy instruction. The course aims to improve student literacy outcomes by equipping educators with tools and strategies for implementing research-based instruction. Participants volunteered to participate in this course on their own time. They devoted 55+ hours of study, and an additional 6 hours participating in the Virtual Community of Practice sessions with an AIM facilitator. Participants had the option of receiving three graduate credits for this coursework.

NASD AIM Pathways to Proficient Reading Graduates (2023-2025, 43 participants):

There are currently 20 additional NASD elementary staff members taking this course with an expected completion date of June 2026.

Course 2 – AIM Specialized Knowledge: English Learners

The AIM Specialized Reading Knowledge for English Learners is an online professional learning course rooted in the Science of Reading that prepares educators to develop specialized knowledge of the processes and skills that accelerate language and literacy proficiency for English Learners (ELs). This three-module series includes tools and resources to support immediate instructional application specific to EL language and literacy development, word recognition, and language comprehension. Participants volunteered to participate in this course on their own time. They devoted 10 hours to completing the online modules and an additional 3 hours to participating in the Virtual Community of Practice sessions with an AIM facilitator.

NASD AIM Specialized Knowledge: English Learners Graduates (2024-2025, 28 participants):

NASD will be opening up another cohort of educators to optionally take this course in January 2026.

Our educators dedicated their time and effort to completing these rigorous AIM Institute courses, advancing their skills in evidence-based literacy instruction and instructional support for multilingual learners (MLs). Their commitment reflects the district’s focus on continuous professional growth and student success.

Through their commitment to ongoing professional learning, NASD educators are building the knowledge and skills needed to deliver high-quality literacy instruction, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to become confident, capable readers. The district is grateful for its partnership with the AIM Institute, whose expertise and collaboration are helping to make this important work possible.

Marshall Street Staff (from left to right): Stacey Odonoghue, Jann Quigley, Samantha McCann, Kris Conley, Nicole Houseal

Whitehall Staff (from left to right): Mary Mulligan, Alyssa Gravinese, Tami Kolbman, Meghan Sterling, Haley Arena-Miller, Katarzyna Schlimm, Amy Manchester, Kimberly Bailor, Terri Rosen

Davenport Staff (from left to right): Brina Brislin, Nicole Foley, Meghan Gauby, Savannah Brier, Sheri Rogers, Diego Taylor, Vitalia DeMarco

Paul Fly Staff (from left to right): Dr. Carrie Breyer, Michelle Demeno, Samantha Coleman, Kathryn Phillabaum, Jeanne Lunney, Christine Lagreca, Andrea McLaughlin, Jocelyn Homka

Cole Manor Staff (from left to right): Jennifer Galvez, Tori Evelyn, Thomas Norton, Diane Sasso, Natalie Shuler

Hancock Staff (from left to right): Katie Grannum, Joshua Soucie, Nicole Harmon, Jessica Bohen, Carrie Barnshaw, Shauna Cassidy, Carolyn Hardman, Anette Trejo-Mora, Lucy Castro, Christine Gartner, Lisa Lumpkin

Musselman Staff (from left to right): Rachel DeBlass, Kathleen McGinley, Tina Bergan