The National Center for Family Literacy can provide an expert to discuss the vocabulary findings from the Nation’s Report Card on Reading Assessment, which will be released Dec. 6 by the National Center for Education Statistics. NCFL also can provide strategies on how to incorporate vocabulary into fun, everyday learning experiences.
The report, also called the National Assessment on Educational Progress, will be released at 11 a.m. ET on Dec. 6.
Sharon Darling, president & founder of the National Center for Family Literacy, will be available for interviews beginning at 1 p.m. ET that day by contacting Carla Blanton, National Center for Family Literacy, at 859-608-4850.
Darling can discuss the key findings of the reading portion of the report, offer ideas for programs and instructional approaches to improve vocabulary, and provide practical tips for educators and parents on how to improve important vocabulary skills for children. (See below for bios.)
NCFL Vice President Emily Kirkpatrick also is available. Kirkpatrick, who is leading the organization’s technology efforts, can discuss strategies and tools, including NCFL’s award-winning Wonderopolis.org. The site, named one of the 50 best websites of 2011 by TIME magazine, includes vocabulary in its daily lessons. The Wonders of the Day are designed to ignite a love of learning and engage a child’s natural sense of wonder to make learning fun. Wonderopolis is supported by Verizon Foundation.
BiosSharon DarlingPresident & founder of the National Center for Family LiteracySharon Darling is the president and founder of the National Center for Family Literacy. NCFL is internationally recognized as the leader in the field of family literacy and parent engagement and is well known for placing family literacy—parents and children learning together on the agenda for social change.
More than 1 million families have improved their quality of life through the efforts of NCFL.
Darling serves as an advisor on education issues to governors, policymakers, business leaders and foundations throughout the nation. Her work has been instrumental in shaping state and federal policies and laws that address critical societal issues such as welfare reform, education reform and the development of a skilled workforce. Darling serves on numerous national boards, as well as on the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning Governing Board and the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.
She has received much recognition for her pioneering achievements, including the National Humanities Medal, the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism awarded by Johns Hopkins University, the Charles A. Dana Award for Pioneering Achievement in Education and the Harold W. McGraw Award for Outstanding Educator. She has received several honorary doctorate degrees for her contributions to education, is frequently quoted in the media on issues related to parent engagement and school reform, adult and family literacy, and has been featured on the Arts & Entertainment television network’s series, Biography.
Darling’s career in adult education includes being an adult basic education teacher, state director of adult and community education and a state GED administrator.
Emily KirkpatrickVice President, National Center for Family Literacy
Emily Kirkpatrick is vice president of the National Center for Family Literacy. In her current role, she passionately leads new initiatives and signature efforts and shepherds the organization’s continuous growth to address the learning needs of the 21st century family. She also establishes and develops NCFL’s strategic and long-term partnerships with individuals, corporations and foundations.Kirkpatrick is devoted to expanding NCFL’s reach and impact. Notable recent achievements include the creation of Wonderopolis®, NCFL’s learning website and app for teachers, parents and children that was recently named one of TIME magazine’s best sites of 2011 and “Best Kids App” by Parenting magazine.
She is frequently interviewed by national media and is a close collaborator with notable journalists, education and nonprofit thought leaders and philanthropists. Emily is an advisor to Ele, an initiative of the Fred Rogers Center, and has chaired the nonprofit section of the Public Relations Society of America. She holds a B.A. from Centre College and an M.B.A. from Bellarmine University. In 2012, she became the proud mother of twin boys.
ABOUT NCFL:The National Center for Family Literacy, founded in 1989, is the worldwide leader in family literacy. More than 1 million families have made positive educational and economic gains as a result of NCFL’s work, which includes training more than 150,000 teachers and thousands of volunteers. For more information, contact 1-877-FAMLIT-1 or visit www.famlit.org.
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