DATE:
November 5, 2026
TO:
All Secondary Principals
FROM:
Lisa Robinson, Administrator of Schools
Brian King, Ph.D. Director of Special Education
Maddie Karanevich, Assistant Director of Special Education
Katie Mintiloglitis, Program Administrator, Elementary
SUBJECT:
Professional Development Opportunity for Secondary Special Education Teachers - Using UFLI Resource for Struggling Readers
As secondary educators, we frequently encounter older students who face significant barriers to reading independence because of missing critical, foundational literacy/phonics skills. In response, we are teaming up with Teaching & Learning to introduce concrete tools to support these low readers, including UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Initiative).
While originally designed for elementary settings, UFLI's explicit, systematic approach to word recognition can be powerfully adapted to close gaps for middle and high school students. This brief session will introduce the program's core principles and offer a quick overview of Scarborough's Reading Strands to show how decoding bridges directly into higher-level comprehension.
We have also pulled together some resources that help with the specially designed instruction in your classrooms.
Attendance is optional.
When: November 13, 2026
Time: 1- 3 p.m
Where: Transportation PD room (8480 S 4361 W, West Jordan).
[Directions: Take 4000 W to Farm Rd. Take Farm Rd. to the gates of the Transportation property. You will enter on the south end of the building]
Registration Link: https://pd.jordandistrict.org/browse/special-ed/courses/secondary-ufli-and-special-education
