Through dedication and innovative strategies, literacy coach Bobbi O’Brien has helped Reginald F. Lewis High School make major strides in literacy, including a double-digit rise in proficiency scores.
O’Brien’s journey to literacy coaching was shaped by years of experience as a general education teacher with a large population of special education and multilingual students at Patterson High School. There, she saw firsthand how literacy gaps affected students' paths to graduation.
Determined to help, she pursued a master’s degree in literacy, focusing on adolescent learners.
“It was a long journey,” she said. “I really felt like things I had learned to apply from my literacy degree in my classroom I could share with other people in order to help them reach our hardest-to-reach students.”
At Reginald F. Lewis, O’Brien takes a schoolwide approach to literacy, working with teachers across all subjects, not just English. One approach the literacy team has implemented was teaching specific fluency-based reading strategies for all teachers to use across subjects. They are now using strategies from the Writing Revolution across subjects, and they’re seeing progress with more students providing thoughts and reasoning in writing prompts.
When O’Brien joined Reginald F. Lewis in the 2021-22 school year, the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency was at 14 percent. Her efforts have paid off—state ELA test scores have jumped to just under 26 percent in school year 2023-24.
“Literacy-wise, we’re making progress,” she said. “Our state ELA testing scores in English have gone up double digits in the last two years.”
Recognizing the need for additional support, the school’s principal brought in another literacy coach, Ms. Carter, to share the workload of assisting 32 teachers.
“I’m really glad I have a partner,” O’Brien said. “The two of us are complementary. It’s been beneficial to the whole school.”
Together, they lead full-day professional development sessions every Wednesday, ensuring teachers have the tools to support student success. For O’Brien, the work is challenging but rewarding.
“There’s a lot of problems that need to be solved in systems as big as a school system,” she said. “It’s a full plate. I really enjoy working with my leadership team to solve those problems.”
With a focus on literacy and a commitment to her students, O’Brien continues to drive meaningful change at Reginald F. Lewis High.
Fun Facts
What’s your all-time favorite book? Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
What was your favorite book to read as a child? The Big Friendly Giant by Roald Dahl
What book are you currently reading? The Living Reed by Pearl S. Buck
How do you find new books to read? Ask my friends for recommendations, I also follow NY Times best sellers list, and Barack Obama’s favorite books list.
To learn more about the work of literacy coaches in City Schools, watch this video.