Lansing USD 469 is proud to recognize three dedicated educators who have officially completed the rigorous two-year LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training: Instructional Coaches Caroline Reynolds and Jenny Nickelson, along with Lansing Elementary Interventionist Holly Kane. We are very proud of their hard work and efforts!
LETRS training is an intensive, research-based program designed to give educators a deeper understanding of how students learn to read and write. The state of Kansas is mandating that all elementary teachers become LETRS certified by 2028, and we are fortunate to have these three leaders guiding the way. When KSDE gave the option for free training of LETRS, Holly, Jenny, and Caroline immediately jumped at the opportunity.
Caroline Reynolds reflected on how the training will help her immensely in her role as an instructional coach at LIS:
“LETRS training has provided me with the why behind teaching students how to read, comprehend, and write. Good teachers are crucial when teaching students to read, and this training provided me with the tools to support teachers in that endeavor.”
Holly Kane agreed with Caroline about how important this learning is:
“LETRS is the single best professional learning I’ve completed in my 22 years of teaching. I just wish I would’ve had it before I started my career. I’m grateful that the state of Kansas is committed to ensuring all teachers have this knowledge by 2028.”
Holly also explained how important this work is when it comes to impacting teacher ability and the effect it has on literacy instruction:
“The best part about LETRS is that it helps us to be ‘smarter than our resources’ so, if our curricular resource is weak in some area of literacy instruction, we know how to supplement and strengthen our teaching to best impact our students who are learning to read and write. If we can give them a solid literacy foundation at the elementary level, we can set them up for future academic success!”
Jenny Nickelson highlighted how much knowledge she learned from the training and how she will use said knowledge to help the teachers at LES:
“The LETRS training provided an immense amount of learning. By gaining an understanding of evidence-based information and strategies (and validating a lot of what we already have in place), I can use this to support instruction in classrooms—utilizing efficient and effective methods for reading.”
We are incredibly proud and appreciative of Caroline, Jenny, and Holly for their dedication to literacy instruction and the role it plays in our goals for all Lansing USD 469 students—building strong readers, confident learners, and a brighter future for our students. Their expertise will be invaluable as we move forward to ensure all Lansing elementary teachers receive this necessary certification, not just to fulfill the state requirement but to help all of our students reach their full potential.
You can find more information on the state’s literacy requirements by visiting: