Toyota and the National Center for Family Literacy were pleased to recognize Katy Kibbey as the 2008 Family Literacy Teacher of the Year at the Opening General Session of the 17th Annual National Conference on Family Literacy.

The families and practitioners of the Wayne Metropolitan Family Literacy Program recognize Katy Kibbey’s compassion, dedication and motivation. Her remarkable attitude and creative approaches toward family success are unparalleled.

In Hamtramck, Michigan, where the Wayne Metropolitan Family Literacy Program is located, 54% of the community’s families report English as their second language, and the Hamtramck Public Schools serve students from 28 different countries. As an adult education teacher in the family literacy program, Katy maintains her focus on a clear goal—fostering parents’ self-efficacy to be their children’s first teachers. Her adult classroom is a balanced combination of collaborative group work and one-on-one instruction. Students benefit from individualized lesson plans and differentiated learning strategies.

Over the years, Katy has leveraged partnerships with a multitude of outside organizations—intricately connecting families to the community. Families are continuously offered services related to computer literacy, citizenship and job training.  
 
Her efforts have assisted 11 adults in obtaining their GED and 15 adult ESL students in reaching an English language proficiency level. Elementary children who attend the program with their parents also show significant gains—during the past program year, 96% were reading at grade level and students had a school attendance rate of 90%. Most impressive is the program’s retention rate, which averaged more than 78% in program year 2006-2007. Katy’s recruitment plan, which encourages continuous participation, includes class celebrations, award ceremonies, and incentive opportunities for families to earn books, educational resources and household items. Achievements both small and large are recognized through parent-authored newsletters and initiatives such as the Client of the Year Award.

Katy envisions family literacy as a much needed model for our entire country in this time of cultural and educational transition. With the leadership of Katy Kibbey, the Wayne Metropolitan Family Literacy Program will continue to successfully serve families through high-quality services.

Since 1991, Toyota and NCFL have forged successful programs to promote family literacy in the United States. Today, the Toyota/NCFL partnership accounts for nearly 241 family literacy sites in 47 cities and 29 states. As part of this partnership, the Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year award has been presented annually since 1997 and recognizes individual teachers’ contributions to improving literacy among youth and adults. Toyota has committed more than $35 million to NCFL’s efforts since 1991. Additional information on Toyota’s commitment to improving education nationwide is available at www.toyota.com/about/our_commitment/philanthropy/education.