S05E06 - Building Strong Readers in Rural Schools: An Interview with Ms. Tracy Kingsley and Ms. Ashley Wood

This episode of The Rural Voice podcast features a conversation with Superintendent Tracy Kingsley and teacher Ashley Wood from the Newburgh R2 School District in rural Missouri, highlighting how a structured literacy coaching initiative transformed early reading outcomes in their schools. In response to post-COVID learning loss, teacher inexperience, and inconsistent literacy instruction, the district partnered with TNTP to implement a coaching model grounded in the science of reading. The approach emphasized collaboration over evaluation, with coaches working directly alongside teachers through classroom visits, modeling, and ongoing feedback. This support led to curriculum changes, stronger alignment between grade levels, and significant gains in foundational literacy skills, including a dramatic increase in first-grade reading proficiency. District leadership played a key role by prioritizing professional development, protecting instructional time, and fostering teacher buy-in through trust and shared decision-making. The discussion also underscores the importance of family engagement, data-driven assessment, and long-term sustainability planning in small rural districts. More broadly, the episode frames literacy coaching as a scalable, high-impact strategy while raising concerns about funding, policy pressures, and the future of rural education. Bios Tracy Kingsley is the Superintendent of the Newburg R-II School District and is currently in her third year in that role. She brings 30 years of experience in public education, including 18 years as an elementary teacher, one year as a reading coach, and 11 years in administration. Her background reflects a sustained focus on literacy, instruction, and school leadership in rural education settings. Ashley Wood is a kindergarten teacher at Newburg R-II School District, currently in her second year of teaching and her second year in the kindergarten classroom. Prior to becoming a teacher, she spent two years working as an Early Childhood Special Education paraprofessional in Rolla immediately after high school. She is currently completing her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and is set to graduate in May.