Young Reader Support

In the news

In January 2026, The San Diego Union-Tribune featured Sarah and her Poway tutoring program.

The San Diego Union-Tribune, January 7, 2026
By Amy Stark Shireman

Former elementary teacher helps young readers through her Poway tutoring program

Read the full article

Sarah holding a SIPPS Teacher's Manual in front of the Young Reader Support banner
Sarah uses SIPPS as the foundation of her reading program. Photo by Bev Hovey.

Highlights from the article

  • Sarah knew she wanted to teach young children early on. At 17, while working as a swim instructor, a student's parent told her she had a natural gift with kids and would make a great elementary school teacher.
  • She spent 11 years teaching elementary school in Washington and California, and a year teaching preschool in Texas while earning her master's degree with a major in reading and language arts.
  • In March 2020 she was a Poway Unified impact teacher, giving small groups of students extra reading support. When schools closed for the pandemic, she used that moment to start Young Reader Support.
  • Every student begins with a pinpointed assessment, so they start SIPPS at exactly the right level. Sarah adds other literacy methods she has used over the years to keep lessons fun and engaging.
  • A Poway parent shared that her son, who has worked with Sarah for a year and a half, now reads well above grade level.
Sarah smiling as a young student reads a SIPPS story at her lesson table
Sarah works with students in her home. Photo by Cameron Marien.
Lesson table set with a SIPPS teacher binder, card decks, a decodable reader, letter tiles and small manipulatives
Lessons start from an assessment that finds each student's level. Photo by Cameron Marien.

In Sarah's words

I love tutoring because I am able to meet students exactly where they are at academically and provide targeted instruction.
Sarah Skolnik, in The San Diego Union-Tribune
This program helps create confidence without being overwhelming. I do a pinpointed assessment and start students in the program right where they should be. The kids feel successful from day one.
Sarah Skolnik, in The San Diego Union-Tribune
Reading is a developmental process, and I take time to tailor each lesson to make sure the student grows. Every student is different, and with my program, each student is getting exactly what they need.
Sarah Skolnik, in The San Diego Union-Tribune
I always tell my parents this is a team effort. I help lead the student, but together we are a team helping their child.
Sarah Skolnik, in The San Diego Union-Tribune
It's funny how somebody noticing your talent really makes a big difference.
Sarah, on the swim lesson parent who first told her she should teach

From a parent in the article

Her program is really focused on the science of reading, and that was something that was important to us.
A Poway parent, in The San Diego Union-Tribune

Quotes and highlights are shared with permission from the article by Amy Stark Shireman. Read the full story at sandiegouniontribune.com.

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