Congratulations to Missouri reading interventionist Sara Adams, who is the very first educator to officially earn the SIPPS Educator Certification by completing our newest professional learning offering, the SIPPS Educator Certification Course!
The SIPPS Educator Certification Course offers educators of all experience levels a valuable teaching credential and the confidence to teach SIPPS with fidelity, every class, every student.
In this interview, Sara shares her motivation for enrolling in the course, how it has helped her grow as a SIPPS educator, and the value this certification brings to her role as the Title 1 Reading Intervention Teacher at Pleasant Hill Primary School in Missouri.
Why Sara Enrolled in the SIPPS Certification Course
Sara, what made you decide to enroll in the SIPPS Educator Certification Course?
We are using SIPPS as our reading intervention this year. I wanted to be able to teach it effectively and with fidelity.
Thinking back to before you took the course, what were some of your biggest questions or challenges related to using SIPPS?
I have had experience in the past helping students with dyslexia characteristics. It was important to be sure that the SIPPS program contained successful strategies that help these struggling readers. Even with the knowledge that it was based on the science of reading, I wanted to be certain that it would provide our struggling readers with the skills they needed to grow.
What Benefits Sara Derived from the Course
How did the course help you feel more confident and prepared to support your students’ growth as readers?
The videos, quizzes, and practice lessons really helped me prepare to teach SIPPS. I learned the lesson format and dialogue used to teach. I could watch expert teachers teach the lessons and then I was able to video myself and compare. This was very beneficial to me since I learn best by doing. Actually teaching the lessons was the most effective way to feel prepared to teach in my classroom to my students.
What was the most valuable part of the course for you, and why?
Teaching practice lessons and recording them was the most valuable part of the course. I could rewatch my videos and compare them to the expert teachers’ lessons. This helped me learn what I did well and what I still needed to practice. My “graders’” comments were also very constructive and helped me understand what I still needed to practice to improve.
Sara’s Advice on How to Maximize Course Value
What advice would you give to other educators who are considering taking the SIPPS Educator Certification Course?
This course is long and comprehensive … take your time to go through it. If you listen and watch the videos, complete the activities, participate in the discussions, and record your lessons, you will be very prepared to use SIPPS in your own classroom. You will know where to find answers if you have questions. You will know the lesson format and the dialogue needed. The more times I practiced and the more videos I watched, the more confident I became.
“Congratulations, Sara! Your experience is a powerful testament to how the SIPPS Educator Certification Course equips teachers with the deep understanding and practical skills needed to confidently lead SIPPS lessons and drive stronger reading development for students. Your success as our first SIPPS Certified Educator is an inspiration, demonstrating the pathway to becoming a highly effective SIPPS instructor.”
–Rod Hart, EdD, SIPPS Program Manager
About Sara Adams
Sara Adams is the Title 1 reading intervention teacher with Pleasant Hill Primary School in Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Sara holds a bachelor of science degree in learning and behavior disorders and elementary education and a master of arts in education. Her previous experience includes teaching special education at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
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