READ USA’s mission is powered by people.
Every day, we see the impact of our dedicated volunteers who give their time, energy, and heart to support students and teens across Jacksonville, and we are deeply grateful for each and every one of you.
Right now, as our Book Fair season is in full swing, volunteers are helping bring learning, growth, and joy to students. From guiding students as they select their next favorite story to keeping the energy high and the tables stocked, our volunteers are creating moments that matter.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Our volunteers show up in countless ways all year long — supporting literacy events, engaging with families at community gatherings, and stepping in wherever help is needed to strengthen our programs. Whether it’s one hour or many, every act of service helps move our mission forward.
Although we celebrate and thank our volunteers year-round, National Volunteer Week is the perfect opportunity to shine the spotlight on their incredible support!
Because of our volunteers…
…Students are building home libraries — some for the very first time — walking away with books in their hands and excitement on their faces, eager to read, share, learn, and return to those stories again and again.
…Confidence is growing, one moment at a time — as students light up when they find a book they love and begin to see themselves as readers.
…Families are connecting through reading — sitting together, turning pages, and creating moments that strengthen literacy skills and relationships, with every volunteer interaction adding care and encouragement!
…Programs are strengthened behind-the-scenes — with volunteers providing valuable back-office support to ensure books, materials, and other program needs are buttoned-up before going to schools and programming sites.
To put it simply: we could not do this work without you! Thank you for showing up, stepping in, and making a difference. Your generosity helps shape brighter futures for the students and teens we serve.
We are so grateful to have our volunteers as part of the READ USA family!
#DYK that National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 by President Richard Nixon to recognize and celebrate the impact of volunteers across the country (Points of Light Foundation). Today, it serves as a reminder of the powerful role volunteers play in strengthening communities — something we see firsthand every day at READ USA!
Haven’t been to a READ USA Book Fair yet?
There’s still time to join us! READ USA Book Fairs are one of the most fun and inspiring volunteer opportunities we offer, and there are still opportunities this month.
Please note: All adult Book Fair volunteers must pass a free DCPS Level I Background Check. You can submit your application here.
Mock Interview Day is This Saturday!
The big day is almost here!
This coming Saturday, over 150 of our teen tutors will come to the Schultz Center for a morning of career readiness and preparation—and it’s our amazing volunteers who will help make it possible!
READ USA created Mock Interview Day because, for many of our teen tutors, this event is their first professional opportunity to practice introducing themselves, answer real interview questions, and build the confidence they’ll carry into their future jobs, internships, and careers.
It’s not too late to join us as an interviewer, but let us know by tomorrow (Thursday, April 23)!
Below are the details and you can click here to sign-up as an interviewer.
We look forward to seeing everyone this Saturday at the Schultz Center!
Meet Our Teachers at Jacksonville Heights Elementary
This week, we are proud to feature the amazing teachers who are the powerhouse behind READ USA Literacy Tutoring & Workforce Development at Jacksonville Heights Elementary School!
#FastFact about Jacksonville Heights Elementary
Did you know? Jacksonville Heights Elementary serves approximately 480 students, and more than 70% qualify for free or reduced lunch, highlighting the critical need for strong school and community support. Our READ USA teachers are a vital part of that support!
At all our Literacy Tutoring sites, our Teachers of Content and Organization work closely with tutors to ensure high-quality instruction, strong student engagement, and consistent progress monitoring. From coaching tutors to managing day-to-day operations, this team plays a critical role in moving students to grade-level reading proficiency.
Meet our Teachers at Jacksonville Heights Elementary below and read why they love the work they do at READ USA—and show them some love on social media HERE!
To better understand our teachers’ unique roles, read below:
Teachers of Content are responsible for all literacy content needs of READ USA Literacy Tutoring, ensuring seamless delivery of literacy content needs at each school site. Specifically, Teachers of Content coach and annotate tutor next steps and observations, model lesson parts, and provide tutor professional development. Importantly, they also audit and monitor student literacy growth and oversee student assessments, among other responsibilities.
Teachers of Organization oversee all operational needs of READ USA Literacy Tutoring. This essential role ensures smooth and efficient program delivery, from managing communications with schools, parents, and READ USA staff to collecting and entering weekly student data. Teachers of Organization also handle student discipline, transportation support, and provide oversight of the READ USA aftercare program.
Aftercare Teachers monitor and provide guidance to elementary students awaiting their Literacy Tutoring sessions each day. They are also responsible for student attendance, supper, and snack tracking, and deliver supplemental literacy programming, such as read-alouds and other literacy-focused activities.
THANK YOU to our incredible teachers at Jacksonville Heights Elementary for all you do for our students and teens!
#FastFacts Wednesday: Celebrating the People & Planet That Keep Us Moving
This week’s #FastFacts segment highlights three important recognitions, each celebrating the people and systems that support our communities every day.
Earth Day
Earth Day, celebrated every year on April 22 (today!), was first established in 1970 to raise awareness about environmental protection and sustainability.
#FastFact: More than 1 billion people worldwide participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it one of the largest civic observances in the world (EarthDay.org).
At READ USA, we know that strong communities — and strong futures — depend on both education and stewardship. Teaching students to care for their environment starts with access to literacy and knowledge.
Administrative Professionals Day
Administrative Professionals Day, observed annually in April, was first established in 1952 to recognize the essential contributions of administrative staff in workplaces across the country (International Association of Administrative Professionals).
#FastFact: Administrative professionals represent millions of workers in the U.S., playing a critical role in keeping organizations running efficiently every day (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
At READ USA, we are grateful for the individuals who keep operations running smoothly behind the scenes, helping ensure our programs effectively serve students, teens, teachers, and families. This includes the administrative professionals at all of the schools we serve!
School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
School Bus Driver Appreciation Day honors the individuals who safely transport students to and from school each day, and who are a critical part of the education system.
#FastFact: School buses transport more than 25 million students daily in the United States — making them the largest mass transit system in the country (American School Bus Council).
For many students, the school day begins and ends with a bus ride. At READ USA, we recognize that consistency and access — including safe transportation — are essential to student success and literacy development.
From caring for our planet to supporting workplaces to ensuring students arrive safely at school — these recognitions remind us that every role matters.
And at the center of it all? Opportunity — powered by literacy.
Stay tuned for an upcoming #FastFacts Wednesday soon!
Children’s Book: A Planet Is a Poem by Amanda West Lewis
READ USA is featuring the Top 10 Finalists for the 2025-2026 Florida Literacy Association Children’s Book Award in our weekly children’s book review. There were 10 finalists in the Grades K-2 category and 10 for the Grades 3-5 category for a total of 20 books.
To view the full list of finalists, click here.
This Week’s Featured Book: A Planet Is a Poem by Amanda West Lewis
Top 10 Finalist in Grades 3-5 category | Illustrated by Oliver Averill 
What if the universe could be described not just with facts, but with feelings? A Planet Is a Poem transforms science into something lyrical, imaginative, and beautifully unexpected.
Amanda West Lewis weaves together poetry and astronomy, allowing readers to experience planets, stars, and space through vivid language and imagery. Each page feels like both a lesson and a piece of art.
The book encourages readers to slow down, reflect, and see science through a creative lens. It’s a perfect blend of content knowledge and literary beauty, making it ideal for cross-curricular exploration.
This is not just a book about space—it’s a reminder that science can inspire wonder in more ways than one.
Parent Education Corner: The Rhythm and Rhyme of Poetry
One of our most important goals as parents and caregivers of young children is to prepare them for success as readers and writers. Research tells us that children are more likely to be successful in reading and writing a word if they’ve had experience with hearing and saying the individual sounds in the word. Studies have also shown that an effective activity to support this is repeated readings of literature selections that “play” with language sounds.
Poetry is ideally suited to provide repeated experiences with the sounds of language. The brevity of words, rhythmic language, and frequently occurring rhyming patterns encourage ears to listen and mouths to repeat the sounds and words. And poems very often invite children to reflect … and laugh!
“Experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they’re four years old, they’re usually among the best readers by the time they’re eight.”
–Mem Fox, Reading Magic
The playful language of nursery rhymes and other children’s poems is best enjoyed when they are read aloud.
The benefits of teaching your child nursery rhymes and other children’s poems include:
- Developing phonemic awareness: Nursery rhymes help children develop an “ear” for rhyme and alliteration. For example, “Hey Diddle, Diddle” contains these rhyme pairs: diddle/fiddle, moon/spoon; and the repetition of the consonant d in “Hey Diddle, diddle.”
- Understanding of concepts: Nursery rhymes support vocabulary development. Children learn to understand abstract concepts like big, small, up, down, first, and last. For example, Hickory, dickory, dock. The mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one, the mouse ran down! Hickory, dickory, dock.
- Listening skills: When you read nursery rhymes to your child, you are telling them a story. Because of the rhyming words, the storyline, and your enthusiasm, children are lured into the story and pay attention to you. This helps them become better listeners.
The beauty of nursery rhymes and other children’s poems is that they can be recited anywhere and at any time. They can be included in your everyday life; when you are in the car, going for a walk, making lunch, or getting ready for bed. Recite nursery rhymes with your children whenever and wherever you have the opportunity, and get them to join in!
Here are a few suggestions of well-loved nursery rhymes:
- Itsy, Bitsy Spider
- Humpty Dumpty
- Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
- Mary Had a Little Lamb
- One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Submitted by Kathi Hart, READ USA Lead Content Specialist