Hoboken Public School District: Hoboken Public School District Honors 54 Teachers Certified In Orton‑Gillingham

Press release from Hoboken Public School District:

HOBOKEN, NJ — At its October Board of Education meeting, Hoboken Public Schools proudly recognized 54 classroom teachers who successfully completed rigorous training and a year-long practicum through the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA) under the mentorship of Dr. Pledger Fedora, Fellow of the Orton-Gillingham Academy.

These dedicated educators—earning certification at both the Classroom Educator and Associate levels—completed between 30 and 60 hours of intensive instruction followed by a full year of guided practice. Their efforts culminated in recognition as Certified Orton-Gillingham Providers, a prestigious credential that signifies expertise in structured, multisensory literacy instruction.

“This achievement is more than a professional milestone—it is a promise to our students,” said Sandra Rodriguez-Gomez, Assistant Superintendent of Schools. “Our teachers have embraced the Science of Reading, and in doing so, they have equipped themselves with tools that will transform learning for generations of Hoboken children.”

Superintendent Dr. Christine Johnson also commended the educators for their dedication and impact:

“The success of Hoboken Public Schools begins in our classrooms, with teachers who go above and beyond to refine their practice. These 54 educators have invested extraordinary time and effort in mastering the Orton-Gillingham approach, and their work will have a lasting impact on literacy outcomes across our district. I could not be more proud of their achievement and commitment to our students.”

During the televised meeting, the Board of Education presented each educator with a Certificate of Achievement in recognition of their dedication to advancing literacy and ensuring every student develops the foundational skills necessary for academic success.

The Orton-Gillingham approach—widely regarded as the gold standard in reading intervention—empowers educators to meet diverse literacy needs through explicit, systematic, and multisensory instruction. With this certification, Hoboken Public Schools continues to strengthen its districtwide commitment to literacy excellence across all grade levels.

About Orton-Gillingham

The Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach is a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, and sequential method of teaching literacy. Developed in the 1930s by neuropsychiatrist Dr. Samuel T. Orton and educator Anna Gillingham, the approach is designed to help individuals of all ages—especially those with dyslexia—develop essential reading, writing, and spelling skills. OG instruction emphasizes the connection between letters and sounds, engaging visual, auditory, and kinesthetic pathways to build a strong foundation in language and literacy. Today, it is recognized worldwide as a highly effective, research-based framework for reading instruction.

This press release was produced by Hoboken Public School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.