As our Summer Leadership Academy reaches its halfway point, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: our teens are gaining far more than career information.
They’re gaining confidence and learning how curiosity, asking questions, and building relationships lead to future success.
When Summer Leadership Academy began just a few weeks ago, many participants shared common desires: they wanted exposure to careers, opportunities to build professional skills, and real-world experiences that would help them better understand their futures.
Now, nearly halfway through the six-week program, many say they’re finding exactly that.
For Naima, the experience has helped strengthen both her confidence and her understanding of the many career possibilities available to her.
“I thought I knew what I wanted to study in college, but Summer Leadership Academy has introduced me to so many different ideas and careers I didn’t know about,” she shared. “I’ve also gained a lot of confidence through learning how to network and conduct informational interviews. Now I feel much more comfortable reaching out to professionals, starting conversations, and asking questions.”
For Jade, one of the biggest takeaways has been the opportunity to experience Jacksonville in new ways while connecting with professionals across a variety of industries.
“It’s been so much more than career exploration,” she said. “It’s been experience-oriented. I’ve learned so much about Jacksonville, met incredible professionals, and had opportunities I never expected. Seeing successful leaders and hearing their stories has been really inspiring.”
And for Mylah, the program has opened doors to opportunities and possibilities she may not have otherwise encountered.
“This program helps you become more open-minded and explore what’s out there,” she shared. “A lot of young people don’t always get these kinds of opportunities. I’ve gained confidence, improved my communication skills, and learned more about what Jacksonville has to offer.”
Their reflections reinforce exactly what Summer Leadership Academy was designed to accomplish. Beyond helping teens explore careers, the program is helping them develop the confidence, relationships, communication skills, and real-world experiences that prepare them for success in college, the workforce, and life.
With three more weeks of site visits, speakers, career exploration, leadership development, and their final capstone projects still ahead, the journey is far from over!
We can’t wait to see—and share!—what our teens discover next!
More Than a Career: Discovering Purpose, Possibility & Growth
What do a museum CEO, a school superintendent, a human resources manager, and healthcare professionals all have in common?
For our Summer Leadership Academy teen participants, quite a lot!
Over the past week, our teens continued their journey of career exploration and leadership development—and along the way, they discovered an important lesson: careers are rarely a straight line.
Instead, they are often shaped by curiosity, relationships, opportunities, passions, and a willingness to keep learning and growing.
At the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, participants explored the museum’s exhibits and gardens and the many careers that help bring the institution to life. During a conversation with museum leadership, teens learned that professional journeys don’t always follow a predictable path. Kimberly Noble, the George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Cummer, who began her career in finance, shared how those skills eventually led to leadership within a nonprofit, mission-driven organization.
The lesson was powerful: your skills can open doors in places you may never expect.
While at the Cummer Museum, participants had the opportunity to hear from Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier, who this summer celebrates 40 years in education.
While Dr. Bernier shared insights about leadership and his career journey, some of the most meaningful moments came during conversations about mental health, resilience, and the importance of asking for help.
His message to teens was simple but important: no one has all the answers, and seeking support is a sign of strength—not weakness.
He also challenged participants to think broadly about careers in education, noting that school districts need professionals from virtually every field, including finance, communications, facilities management, technology, legal services, skilled trades, and more.
Our teens also spent a day with VyStar Credit Union, where they explored the importance of professional networking, mentorship, and relationship-building.
Teens practiced introducing themselves professionally, discussed strategies for building meaningful connections, and learned how mentors can help guide personal and professional growth throughout their careers.
Thanks to a presentation by Emily Goodwin, Manager of Talent Development at VyStar, one concept that particularly resonated was the idea of building a personal “board of directors”—trusted individuals who can offer advice, encouragement, and perspective as they navigate important decisions.
Yesterday, our teens engaged in a highly interactive discussion with healthcare professionals from Mayo Clinic. Dr. Kim Barbel Johnson, D.O., M.P.A., and Paytra Stein, MSN, RN, shared their own professional journeys as well as insights into the many pathways available within healthcare and patient care.
Beyond discussing careers, education, and opportunities within the healthcare field, the speakers challenged participants to think about how their current experiences are shaping their futures. Their message was clear: the opportunities young people pursue today can create advantages and possibilities that continue opening doors for years to come.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of trust, service, lifelong learning, and finding personal connections to the work you do—qualities that matter in healthcare and virtually every profession.
As Summer Leadership Academy continues, our teens are learning about far more than careers. They are learning how to build relationships, develop confidence, seek out opportunities, understand themselves, and connect their future goals to meaningful work.
Ultimately, success isn’t simply about choosing the right job—it’s about becoming the kind of person who is prepared to lead, serve, and make a difference wherever life takes you.
THANK YOU to all of the professionals who continue to make Summer Leadership Academy an engaging and exciting experience for our teens!
Team READ USA is so grateful to the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Duval County Public Schools, VyStar Credit Union, and The Jessie for graciously hosting our Summer Leadership participants and programming!
Calling All Teens: Change Lives & Learn Skills as a Literacy Tutor!
READ USA is recruiting for the Fall 2026 semester of Literacy Tutoring!
We are seeking teens and young adults aged 16-21 to deliver literacy tutoring to elementary students who are below grade-level reading proficiency during the 2026-2027 school year.
This is a unique opportunity to build skills that can be applied to any career aspiration AND positively impact a child’s future!
Teens who become tutors or AmeriCorps Tutor Leaders receive robust training from READ USA to implement high-quality, pre-written lesson plans in a one-to-one format with elementary students, ultimately helping those students achieve or move closer to reading proficiency. Tutoring occurs after school at DCPS elementary schools on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3-6 p.m.
All tutors and AmeriCorps Tutor Leaders are supervised and receive on-the-job coaching from certified reading teachers, and participate in meaningful opportunities to build critical workforce skills, including:
- Mock Interview Day
- Resume writing
- Financial & digital literacy
- Professional conduct & communication
- Time management
- And more!
READ USA has two opportunities available:
READ USA Tutors
- Commitment of one semester (Fall 2026) with potential to serve in future semesters
- Available to youth aged 16-21
- Earn $15/hour
AmeriCorps Tutor Leaders
- Commitment of full school year (Fall 2026 & Spring 2027)
- Available to youth aged 17-21
- Receive a living stipend
- Become eligible for an education award upon successful completion of commitment
- Opportunity to access the benefits of AmeriCorps service
If you are interested—or know a local teen who might be interested—you can apply here:
These opportunities are filling fast, so apply TODAY!
Children’s Book: Mysterious, Marvelous Octopus by Paige Towler
READ USA is continuing to feature 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: Mysterious, Marvelous Octopus by Paige Towler
Top 10 Finalist in Grades K-2 category
Get ready to dive into the ocean and meet one of its most fascinating creatures! Mysterious, Marvelous Octopus introduces readers to the incredible world of octopuses. 
From changing colors to escaping tight spaces, octopuses have amazing abilities that feel almost like superpowers. Each page is filled with exciting facts and eye-catching visuals that keep readers engaged and curious.
The clear, accessible text makes it easy for young readers to learn new information while building confidence with nonfiction.
This book is perfect for readers who love animals, exploration, and asking “How does that work?”—because there is something amazing on every page!
Parent Education Corner: Learning Our Names
A child’s name is a wonderfully engaging place to start literacy learning. Your child’s name is often their most beloved and important word, and learning their name leads to all other types of learning.
There are two stages of teaching your child their name:
- Recognition – Young children begin to recognize the shape of their initial letter and often identify that first letter as “My name.” They might find that initial letter in other places, separate from their name, and recognize it. For example, Sara may see a STOP sign and say, “That’s my name.” Label items with their name (the door to their room, backpack, toy box) and point their name out daily.
- Spelling – After your child recognizes their name, you can begin to spell it orally. Your child might be able to recite, “S-A-R-A” without seeing it written down. Add the spelling of their name to rhymes and songs. “This is the way we spell Sara. This is the way we spell Sara. This is the way we spell Sara, S-A-R-A.” They will soon notice each letter of their name, not just the initial letter. There are several activities to support your child in spelling their name, and name puzzles are one way to teach your child the letters of their name. The child’s name is written on a piece of paper and then cut into separate pieces. Place the pieces in an envelope with their name written correctly on the front. Your child will enjoy putting their name puzzle together.
A child starts learning the concept of a word when he/she understands that their name is a word made up of letters that are always the same and in the same order. Through conversation, you can connect the letters of your child’s name to the letters and words they see in print during read-alouds. This is a powerful way to begin the complex journey of learning about letters.
Submitted by Kathi Hart, READ USA Lead Content Specialist