MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive Reading Clinic has been awarded a $63,200 grant from the Anonymous Trust for the 2026-2027 year, marking the fourth consecutive year the program has received funding.
The clinic, which launched in 2023, provides individualized literacy support to elementary students while giving UMO education majors hands-on clinical training. It serves students at North Duplin Elementary and Carver Elementary.
“This continued investment by the Anonymous Trust recognizes the important work being done through the clinic to serve students and families in our community while providing valuable hands-on learning opportunities for our education majors,” said School of Education Dean Dr. Amanda Bullard-Maxwell.
The past year brought the clinic’s largest expansion yet. The program added Carver Elementary as a partner and introduced a four-week summer reading clinic. It also adopted a more structured approach, with tutors focusing on foundational skills such as phonemic awareness and phonics on Mondays, and meaning-based skills such as vocabulary and comprehension on Wednesdays.
“I am most proud of the significant improvements we made last semester,” Bullard-Maxwell said. “Our students have a greater understanding of how children learn to read and have taken true ownership of the clinic.”
The clinic doubles as the teaching laboratory for the School of Education’s literacy courses. Students enrolled in EDU 422 Effective Reading Instruction, EDU 423 Assessing and Evaluating Reading Problems, and EDU 424 Reading in the Early Childhood Classroom serve as tutors, applying the Science of Reading research and evidence-based instruction.
Progress is tracked through a close partnership with the two schools. Lead teachers share assessment data at the beginning and middle of the year, and clinic tutors add their own progress monitoring through reading probes. The results, reported annually to the Anonymous Trust, show measurable growth in the literacy skills of the students served.
Bullard-Maxwell said the stakes reach well beyond a single school year.
“Early literacy intervention is important because the first years of learning to read lay the foundation for nearly every other area of academic achievement,” she said. “When children receive support early, especially if they are struggling, they are more likely to develop the skills needed for success throughout school.”
For the coming grant cycle, the clinic plans to broaden its reach through a community literacy outreach initiative, seeking partnerships with local schools, libraries, churches, and community organizations across the Mount Olive area.
Guiding that work are Project Director Nicole Carter and Project Coordinator Debbie Grady, who observe tutors during sessions and provide real-time coaching. UMO students have credited that immediate feedback with deepening their understanding of effective reading instruction.
“The UMO Reading Clinic is a win-win for the University of Mount Olive’s School of Education and the children in our community,” Bullard-Maxwell said. “By investing in both students and teacher candidates, the program creates a lasting impact that extends beyond the clinic, strengthening classrooms, schools, and the community.”
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