News
Tech professor wins National Literacy Award, spotlights Elinor Ross Freedom School
Amber Spears
Amber Spears, an associate professor of literacy in the Department of Curriculum and
Instruction at Tennessee Tech University, recently received the Celebrate Literacy
Award from the International Literacy Association (ILA). This recognition marks a
significant milestone for Spears, as she becomes the first faculty member at Tennessee
Tech to receive this distinguished honor.
A native of Sparta, Spears was nominated for the award by Randall Kincaid, a board
member of the Literacy Association of Tennessee (LAT) from Sevierville. In April 2023,
she was presented with the award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to
promoting literacy, particularly through her work with the Elinor Ross Children’s
Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom School. This high-quality summer program is named for the
late professor Elinor Ross – a tireless champion for and generous supporter of reading
and literacy education.
The ILA’s Celebrate Literacy Award is bestowed upon organizations, institutions and
individuals that have made noteworthy literacy contributions at the local, state,
or provincial level. According to Spears, the ILA’s mission is to provide equitable
access to education, opportunities, and resources to every child worldwide. This philosophy
resonates deeply with her, as she strives to ensure that every child, regardless of
their background, is empowered to reach their full potential and actively contribute
to their communities.
Spears earned a Ph.D. in Exceptional Learning/Literacy, an Ed.S. in early childhood
education, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction/literacy, and a bachelor’s
degree in multidisciplinary studies: K-8 elementary education, all from Tech. For
the university’s College of Education, she teaches various courses related to literacy
education, literacy development, instructional strategies for reading and writing,
as well as literacy leadership and professionalism. This fall will mark her 15th year
of dedicated service at Tech.
Since 2019, the College of Education has collaborated with the Children’s Defense
Fund Freedom Schools as a partner, operating the Elinor Ross CDF Freedom School on
the university's campus. Through this program, Spears and her team seek to instill
a love of reading and discovery in the hearts of their young scholars while combating
the learning loss often experienced during summer breaks. 
Freedom School scholars Iker Ortiz, Kia Torres and Joseph Dzenga.
“This impactful initiative not only strengthens children's reading and comprehension
skills, but also empowers them to become lifelong learners,” said Spears.
The Ross CDF Freedom School at Tech has served approximately 140 children and their
families since the program’s inception and plays an essential role in the broader
national effort, with approximately 7,200 children benefiting from the program at
152 sites each year. The CDF’s mission is to ensure that every child has a healthy
start, a head start, a fair start, a safe start, and a moral start in life and a successful
path into adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
Spears humbly acknowledges that the actual recipients of the ILA award are the hundreds
of individuals who contribute to the success of the summer program. She feels that
the true excitement lies in recognizing the positive impact the program has had on
the participants. It is their growth and development that fuel her passion and commitment
to the cause.
The six-week program is provided free of charge to children and families in Putnam
County and is available to students from kindergarten to sixth grade. Their days are
filled with an engaging variety of high-impact learning activities such as sustainability
projects, STEM exploration, music, art, swimming, sports, dance, and interactive field
trips.
The Ross CDF Freedom School collaborates with numerous local businesses, organizations,
and independent donors, including Cummins Filtration, The Putnam Room, Advanced Cleaning
Service, Citizens Bank, IMPACT Cookeville, and other regional non-profit agencies
like Feeding the Future, to ensure its success.
Freedom School scholars pet a baby goat during a field trip to Amazin' Acres of Fun
in Sparta, Tennessee.
Spears expressed deep gratitude to the Tech community for providing a platform to
host the program on campus.
“By offering this transformative experience to underserved populations and potential
first-generation college attendees, the university – through positive early exposure
– plays a crucial role in building confidence and fostering educational aspirations,”
said Spears.
For more information on the Elinor Ross CDF Freedom School please visit https://www.tntech.edu/education/freedomschool/ and for more about the International Literacy Association visit https://www.literacyworldwide.org/about-us.
