Congratulations to WBH Literacy Coach Val Falco, who will be honored with the Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA) Friends of Education Award! CASDA presents this award to recognize the selfless contributions of individuals who dedicate themselves to serving students and enriching their school communities.
Ms. Falco has been educating students and fellow teachers for nearly four decades throughout the Capital Region. The WBH community has had the privilege of working with Ms. Falco for the last two years as a literacy coach. Val has a true passion for literacy and helping children find a love for reading and writing. Through her years as an educator and staff developer, Val has mentored and inspired many teachers and helped them develop units and lessons that not only teach students to read and write but to do so in a way that makes literacy enjoyable and exciting. While working with teachers at WBH, Val has helped them design lessons, incorporate phonics, create assessment tools, develop spelling practices, and so much more. While coaching teachers in literacy, she was determined to help the “1,000 Book Project”. This project will allow children starting in PK to bring bags of books home to read with their families, with the goal of reading all 1,000 books. The more a child is exposed to literacy the better reader they will become.
New Lebanon Central School District Superintendent Andrew Kourt, stated, “I have had
the privilege of working and learning from Val Falco for over 20 years. She is a true inspiration and advocate of education, students, and learning. Val has a gift of supporting teachers in literacy, looking at best practices, and guiding teachers to create units and lessons that help students become better readers and writers. I am thrilled Val is now coaching and making a difference in our literacy programs at Walter B. Howard Elementary School”.
Ms. Falco will be awarded at the CASDA Annual Awards and Friends of Education Celebration on Thursday, April 20th at Franklin Terrace in Troy, NY.