Maggie Cinto, associate director of administration, curriculum and evaluation for Marquette University’s Educational Opportunity Program, leads a partnership with Pathways High school to tackle both persistent literacy gaps and teacher shortages in Milwaukee.
“Viewing these challenges as interrelated has unlocked a powerful new solution that can serve as a model for other university-high school partnerships,” said Melissa Schoeffel, Pathways High literacy specialist.
In the fall of 2021, MU undergraduate students in Cinto’s adolescent and disciplinary literacies course began co-facilitating weekly book club meetings with Pathways High students.
“Both groups of students have reported growth. MU students say they ‘became more mindful of what kinds of questions to ask, what students actually want to talk about and how to mediate group dynamics,’” Schoeffel said.
Pathways High book club students show more than 14% gains in reading engagement compared to students who did not participate.
“Maggie is integral to the continued evolution of this innovative partnership, working closely with the PH literacy specialist to clarify and strengthen the program’s scope, goals and structure,” Schoeffel said.
