Through Harbers’ service-learning project, graduate students enrolled in either Phonological Disorders (PAS 412) or Language Disorders in School-Age Children (PAS 416) conduct phonological awareness and literacy screenings of all kindergarten children in District 87 in the Fall and Spring. The screening results are summarized and given to the classroom teacher and principals to inform instruction. Created only three years ago in collaboration with Dr. JoAnn Walters, Director of Reading and Title I services, the program has expanded to serve first graders this year.

The program has given both graduate students and school educators a wealth of knowledge about a wide array of skill levels in the kindergarten and first grade classrooms. Aside from the benefits for the school districts (gaining individualized information regarding the literacy needs of each child in a timely fashion) and the kindergarten and first grade students (receiving individual screening and care), ISU graduate students who participate in the program benefit by gaining clinical clock hours, seeing a wide range of abilities in one classroom and across buildings, and applying course content. “I believe that service learning is a useful vehicle for integrating research, teaching, and service," explained Harbers. "For my project to be acknowledged by the state association for its contributions to students and District 87 is truly an honor.” The program also has advanced speech-language pathologists’ and educators’ knowledge base of phonological awareness and its role in literacy development.

Harbers earned her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1994. She was named Outstanding College Teacher, College of Arts and Sciences, Social Sciences, in 2002.