Governor's Science of Reading Awards

FAIRBORN, Ohio — Fairborn City Schools celebrated a major milestone as three district facilities—Fairborn Primary School, Fairborn Intermediate School, and Fairborn Middle School—were named 2026 Governor’s Science of Reading Champions.

The state level honor, established by Governor Mike DeWine in coordination with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, recognizes schools demonstrating strong implementation of evidence-based instructional practices aligned with the Science of Reading. Fairborn’s three schools are among just 109 selected statewide for achieving significant student progress and engagement through structured literacy instruction.
"We know that the Science of Reading is the best way to teach children how to read," said Governor DeWine. "Our Science of Reading Champions Awards allow us to recognize school leaders and teachers who are putting the Science of Reading to work to provide their students with the best educational experience possible."

"We are proud of our district's commitment to aligning literacy instruction with the Science of Reading,” states Superintendent Amy Gayheart. "By investing in staff development and instructional materials, we are laying a strong foundation for reading success at every grade level." To commemorate the honor, each recognized Fairborn school building will receive a custom banner to display on-site and may participate in upcoming award visits from state education officials. Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Chad Lensman, states “Strong reading skills are the foundation of academic achievement and career readiness. Our responsibility is to ensure every student develops the literacy skills needed to succeed in school and thrive in today’s workforce.”

Fairborn City Schools' success stems from a multi-year effort to shift from traditional balanced literacy to structured, research-based reading instruction. By prioritizing professional development, district educators have focused heavily on core literacy foundations, including phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Literacy is the foundation of student success. When students can read proficiently, they are empowered to learn, grow, and achieve across every level of their education. Strong reading skills are essential not only for success in school but also for success in today’s workforce. Literacy empowers students to communicate effectively, solve problems, understand complex information, and confidently pursue future career opportunities!

Governor’s Science of Reading Champions: Fairborn City Schools

 • Fairborn Intermediate School (Fairborn, Ohio)

 • Fairborn Middle School (Fairborn, Ohio)

• Fairborn Primary School (Fairborn, Ohio)