The Early Steps Literacy Mentors (Becky, Trisha, Jan, and Bev),   are a critical component to this project.  Before the project went into "high gear", the Mentors were trained in adult learning processes, communication, observation and feedback, as well as the language and literacy development of preschool-age children.  The main focus of the Literacy Mentors is to assist the participants in implementing their newly acquired knowledge of   ways to teach young children language and literacy skills.

Have you ever sat through a college class, positive that you understand everything that was being taught, just to walk out the door and forget everything?  Current research suggests that adult students are unlikely to implement what they have learned unless there is some type of "follow up."  In this case, the Mentor is the "follow up."  If ESTL participants have any questions about what has been learned  - the Mentor is there to answer them.  The Mentors also demonstrate language and literacy activities, role-model appropriate adult-child interactions, assist in developing a literacy-rich environment, assist in room arrangement and classroom management, and provide feedback to the participant directly related to language and literacy activities.  

The Literacy Mentor has the best of both worlds:  She is in the classroom with the participant and children, but does not have supervisory responsibilities.  She can and does develop a much different relationship with the participant than that of a supervisor.  We believe that the interactions of Literacy Mentors with their mentees are the critical component of Early Steps in facilitating changes in participants’ classroom practices. 

Literacy Mentor: Beverly (Bev) Grant 

Bev serves as the Early Literacy Mentor for Tahlequah and Tulsa cohorts.  Her educational background and experience includes a Bachelors degree in elementary education with emphasis in reading from Northeastern State University.  She has served as a teacher in the remedial reading program at Talking Leaves Job Corp, and volunteered with an area Head Start program.  She has been a member of the National Head Start Accreditation committee and served as a CDA Advisor.  For the past nine years, Bev has owned and operated a nationally accredited family child care home.

Literacy Mentor: Jeannette (Jan) Renner 

Jan serves as the Early Literacy Mentor for the Claremore and Tulsa cohorts.  Her educational background and experience includes a Bachelors degree, experience in teaching in elementary schools in Indiana, U.S. Department of Defense Schools in Okinawa and Germany, family child care director, Training and Curriculum Specialist, child care center director and youth services director with the U.S. Army Child Development Services.  She has taught early childhood classes for Central Texas College Overseas Campus.  Jan has worked for the past two and one/half years with the Child Care Resource Center in Tulsa.

Becky Luke and Trisha Smith are now serving as early literacy mentors on the Early Reading First grant - Sooner Talk and can be reached at the same phone number and e-mail addresses

Literacy Mentor: Becky Luke 

Becky serves as the Early Literacy Mentor for the Oklahoma City cohort, where she works with eight sites.  Her educational background and experience includes a Bachelors degree in Child Development from Oklahoma State University, a Masters degree in Family and Child Studies from the University of Central Oklahoma.  She has had two years of teaching experience with three and four year olds.

Literacy Mentor: Trisha Smith 

Trisha serves as the Early Literacy Mentor for two cohorts in Southeast Oklahoma.  Her educational background and experience includes a Bachelors and Masters degree in Family and Child Studies from the University of Central Oklahoma.  She has over 12 years of early childhood experience in a variety of early childhood settings and serves as an adjunct instructor at a two-year college.