Last week, dozens of Teach for America (TFA) alums who serve as school leaders visited Smedley Elementary. This visit was part of TFA’s “Schools to Learn From” series, which highlights schools making a significant impact in their communities. 

Speaking about why Smedley was chosen as a stop on this year’s tour, Anna Shurak, Executive Director of Teach for America Greater Philadelphia, stated, “Smedley is an exemplar when we think about fostering culturally responsive schools that celebrate our students while ensuring they are academically prepared.”

During the visit, school leaders learned about Smedley’s approach to K-2 literacy and observed teachers in action. Principal Murphy also shared strategies she has implemented to promote continuous improvement, staff retention, and a strong culture of teamwork among her faculty—areas where Smedley excels. 

Smedley’s literacy model, implemented by Rashanna Ward and Hannah Krause, drives success by centering the science of reading—focusing on phonological and phonemic awareness, reviewing taught words daily, decoding and encoding words in isolation and in context, and providing opportunities for students to practice what they’ve learned independently. Moreover, reading is centered throughout lessons across all subject areas.

Principal Murphy, a TFA alum herself, shared, “At Smedley, we believe that a strong literacy foundation is essential for students’ long-term success, both academically and personally. I am proud of what we have built here and love seeing our students thrive as they build confidence and develop their reading skills and build confidence.”