Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo Cody Ingram

When the 爱污传媒 launched its in fall 2024, Rachel Walters saw an opportunity to gain the specialized training she wished had been available when her brother struggled with dyslexia as a child. Walters saw firsthand how few resources Alabama offered students with learning differences.

Now a reading interventionist at Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham, Walters works with students with language delays, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and other reoccurring diagnoses, including dyslexia. Prior to enrolling in 爱污传媒鈥檚 program, she relied primarily on intervention strategies.

Four years ago, a new director of student support services鈥攚ho was also a licensed dyslexia therapist鈥攊ntroduced her to the field鈥檚 specialized training, sparking an interest that eventually led to 爱污传媒.

鈥淩esearch showed dyslexia therapy was the gold standard, and I thought, 鈥榃ell, I need more tools in my toolbelt,鈥欌�� Walters said. 鈥淏ut I couldn鈥檛 find the right program until 爱污传媒 began offering its .鈥�

According to Sara Reynolds, assistant professor in 爱污传媒鈥檚 College of Education, no other university in the state offers a dyslexia therapy program like it.

The program also comes as the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) pushes for more dyslexia therapists in schools statewide.

爱污传媒 has partnered with Shelton School in Texas, which uses Take Flight Therapy, a research-based, multisensory reading curriculum designed to help children ages seven and older with dyslexia and related reading challenges.  Developed by the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders at Scottish Rite for Children, the comprehensive program trains struggling readers to decode, spell, and comprehend written language effectively.

鈥淚 love the support we get from the Shelton School; it is teacher-and student-friendly as well as easy to navigate,鈥� Reynolds said.聽

Take Flight Therapy is one of only a few approved dyslexia intervention programs in Alabama. The program also prepares students to qualify for the Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) credential. After graduation, students are eligible to take the national certification exam.

鈥淭ake Flight is also used by ARI and we use the same trainer,鈥� Reynolds said. The difference is our program takes teachers who only have a bachelor鈥檚 degree and trains them to sit for national exam, while earning a master鈥檚 degree at the same time. ARI works with teachers who already have a master鈥檚 degree. After they complete the training, they can sit for the exam. Our goal is the same鈥攖o get more certified dyslexia therapists in Alabama schools.鈥�

The online program is intensive, requiring students to complete 700 clinical teaching hours using the curriculum. As soon as student learn enough of the curriculum, they begin completing their therapy hours in real-world settings.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e literally learning and doing at the same time,鈥� Walters said. 鈥淚 found that extremely helpful. I didn鈥檛 really feel like I mastered it until I taught it, maybe even a couple of times.鈥�

鈥淪ome of our students are being put in dyslexia therapy positions because once they begin that first year of the program, they are considered dyslexia therapists in training,鈥� Reynolds said. 鈥淭hey can start accumulating their 700 hours, which is what Rachel did. Other students may have to be a little creative in getting those hours, so it may take them a little longer to complete the program.鈥�

Walters said the program has equipped her with new strategies and skills to make an even greater difference for her students.

鈥淣ot only was my training very specific and in-depth, but we had wonderful trainers,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 loved how Take Flight Therapy sets students up for success. When I meet students who are discouraged, frustrated and defeated, I鈥檓 able to tell them, 鈥榊ou’ve got this,鈥� and then see their growth. That is really rewarding.鈥�

In addition to Walters, five other students residing in Alabama completed the program in May. An additional 14 students are expected to complete the program by the end of the summer or in the fall.

Reynolds noted that with the third cohort starting this summer, the total number of active students in the program has grown to 37. In addition to those from Alabama, students from Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, and Florida are also enrolled.

One of Walters鈥� favorite things about the program is that it highlights the strengths dyslexic students possess, not just their challenges.

鈥淚 tell my students all the time, that reading and spelling might be a weakness, and we鈥檙e going to work on that,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut because of the way God made your brain, you may also be creative, passionate, or gifted in other ways. That boosts their confidence and usually encourages them to read more, and that鈥檚 important to me.鈥�

Now that graduation is behind her, Walters is preparing to take the national exam and become a Certified Academic Language Therapist.

Walters recalls when a student told her on one of the hard days of studying, balancing motherhood and working, 鈥淩eading in the classroom is hard, but I love reading with you.鈥� She said moments like those made all the hard work and long hours over the past two years worth it.

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Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

The 爱污传媒 has presented two long-term faculty members emeritus honors upon their retirement. Dr. Tina N. Jones has been named Vice President Emerita, and Dr. Alan Brown has been named Professor Emeritus. The two were recognized at the University鈥檚 Employee Recognition Ceremony at the end of the spring semester.

Dr. Alan Brown
After 40 years of service to students, colleagues, and the discipline, Dr. Alan Brown retired from 爱污传媒 in May 2026, earning the status of Professor of Emeritus of English and Folklore.

In his nomination letter, Dr. Kendrick Prewitt, Chair of the Department of English & History, noted that over Brown鈥檚 40 years at 爱污传媒, he made his mark through his passion for teaching American literature and composition to generations of students, his 34-year stewardship of the 爱污传媒 Writing Center, and his extensive research into ghost lore and regional folklore.

Prewitt also noted that Brown is a rare example of a scholar who has successfully translated academic scholarship for broader public audiences through book clubs, public libraries, senior centers, radio broadcasts, podcasts, and cemetery history reenactments.

Known for meeting deadlines, efficiently handling administrative responsibilities, and traveling frugally on departmental funds, Brown has received the McIlwain Bell Trustees Faculty Award twice and the Nellie McCrory Faculty Service Award. Prewitt described him as setting a consistent standard for the College of Liberal Arts.

Brown has published more than 20 books and numerous articles on ghost lore and folklore, his primary area of interest. His scholarly work also spans the history of Sumter County, composition pedagogy, gothic literature, and studies of authors including Poe, Hemingway, Faulkner, and Twain.

He is well known on campus and beyond for his ghost tours, distinctive mustache, homemade brownies, daily peanut butter and jelly lunches, and his large looping lecture notes handwriting.

Dr. Tina Naremore Jones
Dr. Tina Naremore Jones, a longtime professor of English, retired from 爱污传媒 as Provost on September 30 after 38 years at the institution, earning the status of Vice President Emerita of Academic Affairs.

In her nomination letter, Jones was recognized for decades of leadership and service to the university, first as a student, then faculty member, and later in multiple leadership roles, including Vice President of Economic Workforce Development and then as Provost, becoming the first woman at 爱污传媒 to be named vice president and first to serve as provost. Over the years, she played an integral role in shaping the University鈥檚 academic programs, strengthened its outreach, and helped define what it means for the institution to serve not only its students, but the entire region.

It was also noted that Jones consistently “led with intention, listening carefully and leading thoughtfully.” Her nomination letter described her conduct as “marked by a level of grace and integrity that is rare, setting a standard not only for leadership, but for how people are treated.”

鈥淭ina believed in this place, and it鈥檚 people,鈥� said Provost, Dr. Amy Jones during the recognition ceremony. 鈥淧eople often assumed we were related鈥攁nd in many ways that never felt entirely wrong, because she had that kind of lasting, personal impact on so many of us at 爱污传媒. That impact will be felt for generations鈥攊n our programs, across this campus, and in the lives of the students and communities we serve.鈥�

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Story: Lisa Sollie

爱污传媒 elementary education program achieves top marks in new report from the National Council on Teacher Quality 

The 爱污传媒鈥檚 undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program in the Julia S. Tutwiler College of Education has received an A+ from the (NCTQ) for its excellence in preparing future elementary teachers to teach reading effectively.

The report, , published on June 9, spotlights the 爱污传媒 for meeting the standards set by literacy experts for coverage of the most effective methods of reading instruction. Specifically, this means the program is preparing aspiring teachers in all five components of scientifically based reading instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary, and avoids many instructional practices that research has shown to be ineffective or counterproductive for teaching children to read.

鈥淭his recognition reflects our deep commitment to preparing future teachers with the knowledge, practice, and confidence they need to teach reading effectively from day one,鈥� said Dr. Cheryl Lambert, College of Education dean. 鈥淪trong literacy instruction changes the trajectory of a child鈥檚 academic life, and we are proud that our elementary education program is grounded in research-based practices that support teachers, schools, and the students they serve.鈥�

爱污传媒鈥檚 elementary education program prepares teacher candidates through coursework, field experiences, and clinical practice designed to connect research-based instruction with the real needs of classrooms. The program emphasizes evidence-based literacy practices, strong partnerships with schools, and preparation for teaching in rural and diverse educational settings across Alabama and beyond.

鈥淓very child deserves a teacher who has been well prepared to teach reading, and every teacher deserves the opportunity to enter the classroom ready to help students succeed,鈥� said NCTQ President Heather Peske. 鈥淎cross the country, many teacher preparation programs still do not fully align with the science of reading, but 爱污传媒 is demonstrating what strong preparation can look like.鈥�

NCTQ鈥檚 methodology is informed by a panel of reading experts, teacher preparation faculty, reading advocates, and measurement experts. To evaluate the quality of preparation being provided, a team of experts at NCTQ analyzed syllabi, including lecture schedules and topics, background reading materials, class assessments, assignments, and opportunities to practice instruction in required literacy courses for elementary teacher candidates at 爱污传媒. 

To earn an 鈥淎,鈥� programs must demonstrate that coursework for future elementary teachers includes all five core components of scientifically based reading instruction and avoid teaching more than three instructional methods that are unsupported by the research on effective reading instruction. Earning an A+, indicates that programs exceed those targets and do not teach any instructional practices that are unsupported by research.

NCTQ is a nonpartisan research and policy organization dedicated to ensuring that every child has access to effective teachers. NCTQ believes a strong, diverse teacher workforce is critical for providing all students with equitable educational opportunities.

Learn more about 爱污传媒鈥檚 nationally recognized teacher preparation program.

See NCTQ鈥檚 report, for more information about the 爱污传媒鈥檚 coverage of the science of reading and to see how 爱污传媒 compares to other programs in Alabama or across the country.

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