Learning Ally, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting struggling readers, including students with dyslexia, proudly honored Senators M. Teresa Ruiz and Shirley Turner for their leadership in helping New Jersey students achieve their academic and economic potential.
Senator Teresa Ruiz Receives 2024 Legislator of the Year Award
Senator Ruiz receiving her award. She is joined by Tim Wilson and Patrick Brennan from Learning Ally.
Senator M. Teresa Ruiz was honored with the 2024 Legislator of the Year Award for her outstanding leadership in advancing literacy initiatives. In 2024, two bills sponsored by Senator Ruiz were signed into law to help address pandemic learning loss, close the achievement gap, and improve literacy rates among students in every zip code across New Jersey.
This legislation set a framework for a collaborative process with stakeholders to recommend and implement best practices to support student success in reading. The bill package included legislation that requires school districts to screen students in grades K-3 twice annually using a reading assessment tool and to create a reading intervention program to ensure students do not fall further behind. Another measure established the Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery in the Department of Education, tasked with promoting student literacy and learning equity through academic recovery practices.
Throughout her career, Senator Ruiz has been a powerful advocate for education reform, championing policies ensuring equitable educational opportunities for all students. She played a pivotal role in securing $25 million in the 2018 state budget to expand Pre-K access and has worked to make higher education more affordable for New Jersey’s students, including advocating for in-state tuition for undocumented students. Her legislative accomplishments have helped shape a more inclusive and supportive education system in New Jersey.
Senator Ruiz’s innovative approach to addressing literacy challenges and her dedication to supporting struggling learners have made a lasting impact on education in New Jersey. Her tireless advocacy ensures that every student, regardless of their background, has the tools needed to succeed.
Senator Shirley Turner Honored with Legislative Hard Worker Award
Senator Turner (second from left) is joined by Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (third from the left) and Learning Ally representatives.
Senator Shirley Turner was presented with the Learning Ally Legislative Hard Worker Award in recognition of her long-standing commitment to improving education for all students. Serving in the New Jersey Senate since 1998, Senator Turner has been a force for positive change in the state’s education system. She has sponsored numerous bills to make education more accessible, including efforts to expand free and reduced-cost lunch programs and create school-based breakfast initiatives. Her legislation has also ensured that students in grades K-5 receive daily recess and has promoted inter-district school choice. Additionally, Senator Turner hosts an annual book fair in which she collects thousands of donated books to provide to young learners in and around the Trenton area.
A Shared Vision for Education in New Jersey
Senator Turner’s dedication to education and her work to improve opportunities for underserved communities have made her an invaluable leader. We are proud to highlight her continued advocacy and tireless work on behalf of students across New Jersey.
Both Senator Ruiz’s and Senator Turner’s efforts reflect a shared commitment to ensuring every child in New Jersey has access to high-quality education, and it is our honor to recognize their accomplishments. Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz’s and Senator Shirley Turner’s endless commitment to education is what drives positive change in the state of New Jersey.
About Learning Ally
Originally known as Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, Learning Ally is a leading nonprofit education organization dedicated to equipping educators with proven solutions that help struggling readers, including students with dyslexia, reach their potential. Our range of literacy-focused offerings for students from Pre-K to 12th grade, including our award-winning reading resource, the Learning Ally Audiobook Solution®, supports more than 2.4 million students in 24,000 schools across the U.S. Contact: Website: www.learningally.org/ Phone: 800-221-4792 Media Contact: Chelsea Phillips, cphillips@learningally.org