KB Literacy
Consulting
“Karen Betz has been an incredible gift to the young- and adult learners of our school by patiently and purposefully partnering with us to explore, realize, and implement an instructional framework that is aligned with the Science of Reading.”
“Dr. Betz respectfully met us right where we were with our practices and understanding. Then, she systematically and supportively reshaped our thinking and spurred shifts in our practice that are already making huge gains for our earliest readers.”
Beech Grove City Schools
About Dr. Karen Betz
Dr. Karen Betz has been an educator for twenty-eight years. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a B.A. in Psychology, a B.S. in Elementary Education, an M.Ed. in Elementary Education, and a Gifted Endorsement. Dr. Betz holds an Indiana Teaching Certificate in K-6 Elementary and P-12 High Ability. She has been a classroom teacher, gifted interventionist, and building and district coach. She is now the Assistant Professor of Literacy and Coordinator of Reading Science Programs at Marian University in Indianapolis. She graduated from Mount St. Joseph University, obtaining her Doctoral degree in Education with a concentration in Reading Science. She is consulting for private, public, and charter schools in Indianapolis, working to build coach and staff capacity for implementing the Science of Reading. Dr. Betz is a founding member of The Reading League Indiana. She is currently an Orton-Gillingham trainer for the M.A. Rooney Foundation.
My Story
Like many educators, I lacked the proper knowledge in my teacher preparation program of what the research affords us about how children learn to read. As a result, I did the best I could with the information I was given. Once I knew better, I took steps to obtain a formal education in Reading Science from the experts at Mount St. Joseph University. I now provide pre-service and in-service teachers, and administrators with the knowledge and systems that will help them to best support all children to learn to read.
Services
Higher Education Support
- Consultation on aligning coursework or programs to reading science (UG/G).
- Analysis of current coursework (UG/G) to reading science.
K-12 School Support
- Consultation on MTSS, assessment, and curriculum alignment to reading science.
- Observations, coaching, and PLCs for teachers in reading science curriculum, OG, and explicit instruction.
Knowledge Building
- Reading science professional development tailor-made to fit the needs of your school or district for:
- Teachers (gen. ed/sped)
- Administrators
- Paraprofessionals
- Tutors
- Parents
Recommended Resources
A list of resources to support the work of educators is available and continually updated at:
Upcoming Events
- October 23, 2024 IDA Conference, Dallas, TX.
- Presentation: Validation of the Course Alignment Planning Tool
“Karen Betz has been an incredible gift to the young- and adult learners of our school by patiently and purposefully partnering with us to explore, realize, and implement an instructional framework that is aligned with the Science of Reading, explicit instruction, and what is both research-based and developmentally-appropriate for our primary students. Mrs. Betz respectfully met us right where we were with our practices and understanding. Then, she systematically and supportively reshaped our thinking and spurred shifts in our practice that are already making huge gains for our earliest readers. While her direct service has predominantly been with our building leadership team, the layered ripple of her impact is evident across our setting from the teachers engaging in rich professional development sessions to the students decoding and encoding as part of explicit phonics instruction. We are so thankful for the impact her partnership has made at our school from the transformation we are watching unfold today in our practice and for the children who will be stronger readers as a result tomorrow!”
-Erin Probus, Principal, Hornet Park Elementary
Karen has collaborated at Holy Angels Catholic School with a focus on literacy for the last three years. Her depth of knowledge about literacy and her focus on the Science of Reading has been a game changer for our scholars' academic growth. She worked closely with our instructional coach to create a tutoring program that aligned with our curriculum and would benefit our scholars and her Marian University students the most. Educators must be able to teach children to read, Karen has been influential in teaching her students to do that and improving the skills of our educators at Holy Angels.
Justin Armitage, Principal, Holy Angels
This summer, I was in a rut and not looking forward to returning to teaching. I was so disappointed with how reading has been taught. I have not agreed or felt good about it for several years. Then you came to school, met with me, and gave me practical ways to start integrating meaningful ways of teaching reading into my day. I can honestly say you put a pep in my step and ignited my passion again for reading. You helped me build confidence to go against the grain, and now I feel like I will be on the cutting edge of the changes that have to be in place next year instead of always being at the tail end.
Jennifer Frost, 1st grade teacher
KB LITERACY CONSULTING LLC.
In the Press
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