FONTANA – Fontana Unified School District reading teacher Olga Pacot has been recognized by textbook publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for helping students improve their literacy, being named as one of six recipients of its 2016 Read 180 Educator Awards.

Pacot, an instructional support teacher at Citrus Elementary School, is known for her commitment to inspiring each student to develop a love of reading through the Read 180 intervention program, which has increased reading comprehension and overall student achievement.

“As a reading and intervention teacher, I am in a position to give hope and inspiration to the students who have the greatest academic challenges,” said Pacot, who has been teaching the program. “I want to encourage my students to believe in themselves and know that they can and will succeed in life through literacy.”

Pacot will be recognized with the award during the 24th annual Model Schools Conference taking place June 26-29 in Orlando. She will also receive an additional library of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt titles for her classroom that will be selected specifically for her students’ ages and reading levels.

“Olga embodies the best of what the Fontana Unified School District offers students – a supportive learning environment that stimulates students to do their best academically and personally,” Fontana Unified Board President Lorena Corona said. “She has a tireless work ethic and constantly makes herself available to all students, pushing them to succeed beyond what they considered possible.”

The Read 180 program individualizes instruction to meet each student’s needs and help them overcome obstacles. The program tracks progress with technology that assesses each student’s reading level, a Lexile metric.

A scholastic committee reviewed hundreds of Educator Awards nominees. Pacot rose to the top with her ability to far exceed goals for literacy improvement.

Fontana Unified Superintendent Dr. Leslie Boozer said she is thrilled by how far Pacot’s students have come and the impact Pacot has made in just her third year teaching the program.

“The District has been able to fast-track the progress of our students through these types of intervention programs, and I am proud that Olga is one of many talented teachers at Fontana Unified leading the charge,” Boozer said. “Her victory is one for all educators of this area, and also for her students who provide a shining example of what we can accomplish together.”

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READ180: Fontana Unified School District reading teacher Olga Pacot has been recognized by textbook publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as one of six recipients of its 2016 Read 180 Educator Awards for helping students improve their literacy. She will be recognized with the award during the 24th annual Model Schools Conference taking place June 26-29 in Orlando.