Through dedication and a strong school community, John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle School reclaimed a star on its Maryland School Report Card. Literacy coach McLean Beto is determined to keep that momentum going.
“We have to maintain the star,” he said. “That’s job number one.”
John Ruhrah lost its third star in 2022 but earned it back last year, thanks to improvements in key areas, including literacy. Attendance rates climbed from 60 percent in 2022 to 73 percent in 2024, returning to pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, the percentage of multilingual learners making progress in English rose from 16 percent to 19 percent.
“Fluency has been a big focus,” McClean said. Fluency is being able to read smoothly, accurately, and with understanding. “We have seen some growth. More than half the kids are showing average or above-average growth on DIBELS testing, which is what we hope for.”
With 90 percent of the student body made up of multilingual learners, literacy instruction is critical.
Since January 2021, McLean has seen impressive literacy gains at John Ruhrah including an overall increase from 21 percent to 30 percent of students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade who are on grade level.
McClean, has spent five years at John Ruhrah, using informal observations, collaborative planning, and staff meetings to boost literacy. But for him, the school’s strong sense of community makes the biggest impact, keeping students engaged and attending—key factors in improving literacy.
“The gains we’ve seen in data are the direct result of teachers at John Ruhrah,” McClean said. “Our staff is dedicated to our students and consistently goes beyond the typical job description to meet their needs. I love working with teachers here and feel fortunate to be part of such an amazing team.”
Committed to his students and their success, McClean sees a bright future at Ruhrah.
“I could really see myself doing this for the foreseeable future,” he said. “We’re making progress, but we’re not there yet.”
Fun Facts
What’s your all-time favorite book? The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
If you could describe reading in one word, what would it be? Stimulating
If you could meet any author, dead or alive, who would it be? Percival Everett
What’s the one book every student should read before graduation? Something that is personal and meaningful to them
To learn more about the work of literacy coaches in City Schools, watch this video.