One of the best opportunities to earn, learn, and make a positive impact on young students is still available for local teens!
“We have a responsibility to our students, to be there and to be on time, so that we can provide the best lesson plan for them to be able to succeed – not only in tutoring, but also once they step into the classroom and they’re working by themselves...”
READ USA is actively recruiting teens aged 16-21 to become Literacy Tutors at 14 Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) elementary schools for the Fall semester. Tutors have the opportunity to earn $15/hour, build valuable workforce skills, and – through the training, coaching, and curriculum provided by READ USA – help students who are struggling to read become proficient, fluent readers.
Through READ USA, tutors have a proven impact on the students they tutor: students make as much as eight months of reading growth in only three months!
Curious what our teens learn on their tutoring journey? Watch Moya above and see!
Parents, Grandparents, and Anyone with Teens at Home: If your teen is looking for an opportunity this fall, SEND THEM OUR WAY!
Tutors in READ USA Literacy Tutoring:
- Work Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays after school (9 hours/week)
- Tutor 2-3 elementary students each day
- Participate in a mandatory 2-day training session
For teens who apply, please understand these instructions:
- If you have previously been a READ USA tutor, log in to GradLeaders with the same username and password you used previously.
- If you don't remember your password, click “Forgot Password,” and instructions will be sent to you.
- If you have not previously been a READ USA tutor before, click “Create Account” and follow the instructions.
- If you already have an email address associated with GradLeaders, it will tell you that a profile already exists. If so, follow the instructions above to reset your password.
After teens apply, READ USA will review the applications and may follow up to schedule an interview and a screener. Screeners and interviews will occur in July and August for the 2025-2026 school year. Those accepted will participate in training at the end of July or the beginning of August (date options to be provided).
The deadline to apply is August 1. For any questions, contact Ms. Tabetha Cox, READ USA Chief Programs Officer, at tabetha@readusainc.com.
P.S. – Did you see us on Action News Jax last week? Thank you to Tenikka Hughes and Action News Jax for sharing this news with their viewers!
Kirsten Martino Joins READ USA Board of Directors
Team READ USA is thrilled to welcome Kirsten Martino to our Board of Directors!
A Jacksonville native, Kirsten is a passionate philanthropist and local businesswoman, serving as Chief Brand Officer for Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q and Home Team Restaurant Group, who cares deeply about communities across the First Coast.
In addition to READ USA, she has served on the boards of the St. Vincent’s Foundation and Jacksonville Country Day School; she is also a graduate of the Weaver Philanthropic Initiative and is an executive board member of the Women’s Giving Alliance, both affiliated with the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. She also serves as an executive committee member on the UNF Student Affairs Community Council. You can read more about Kirsten here.
“Kirsten has jumped into her Board role with READ USA with her trademark enthusiasm and full commitment to deepening the impact of our mission,” shared our President & CEO Dr. Rob Kelly. “As both a parent and community volunteer, Kirsten understands intimately the challenges our community faces with grade-level reading proficiency and workforce readiness and has a genuine desire for all children to be equipped to pursue lifelong growth and success. She is a wonderful addition to our Board of Directors.”
Kirsten visited Literacy Tutoring at Twin Lakes Academy Elementary earlier this year.
Welcome to the READ USA Board of Directors, Kirsten! We are honored you have joined our mission!
Thank you, Florida Grade-Level Reading Campaign!
Last week, our President & CEO Dr. Rob Kelly joined educators, funders, and others from across Florida for the Florida Grade-Level Reading Campaign’s Annual Leadership Symposium and Early Literacy Expo in Orlando.
A highlight of the conference was a presentation by Dr. Saralyn Grass, CEO of Kids Hope Alliance and Board Chair for the Florida Alliance of Children’s Councils & Trusts (FACCT). The Florida Grade-Level Reading Campaign is an initiative of FACCT.
“Dr. Grass shared a presentation about how Duval County is moving the needle on grade-level reading proficiency. During her presentation, she emphasized the public, private, and nonprofit partnerships that are strengthening the impact here in Duval County,” shared Dr. Kelly. “We are thankful for her spotlighting the positive impact that READ USA and others are having on our students and sharing our results with peer organizations across the state.”
“Many thanks also to Dr. Grass and Kids Hope Alliance for sponsoring the Duval delegation of the Florida Grade-Level Reading Campaign to attend this important conference!” he added.
Team READ USA also extends a special thank-you to Jen Faber, Director of Engagement, Networks & Memberships for the Florida Grade-Level Reading Campaign, for hosting the conference and bringing together the best & brightest in Florida!
Your Votes Mattered: THANK YOU
Drumroll, please…
Team READ USA is overflowing with gratitude!!
From April to June this year, members of Target Circle made their voices heard by casting votes for local nonprofit organizations in the Target Circle Guest-Directed Giving Program. As a result of that campaign…
READ USA received 44,218 votes – can you believe that?! – resulting in a $3,151 grant to our organization! We are humbled, elated, and forever thankful for not only the grant but, more importantly, for the forty-four thousand votes of confidence in our mission!
Thank you to everyone who voted for READ USA during the past few months, particularly to those who shared the news and encouraged their friends and family to “vote early and often!”
Our gratitude also goes to Target for including READ USA in this year’s Target Circle Giving campaign and for providing this opportunity to organizations like ours across the country! Thank you also to the folks at inPACT for their support before, during, and after the campaign.
These funds will go directly to helping the students, teens, teachers, and families we serve! THANK YOU, Target and READ USA voters!
Children’s Book: And then what happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz
Illustrated by Margot Tomes
Jean Fritz’s And then what happened, Paul Revere? is an engaging and insightful biography that breathes new life into one of America’s most legendary patriots. Unique to this writer, this book is funny and does not follow a traditional narrative. Fritz offers young readers a deeper understanding of Paul Revere—not just as the man behind the midnight ride, but as a vibrant, multifaceted individual who played a significant role in shaping early American history.
Rather than limiting the narrative to the well-known tale of Revere’s famous ride, Fritz expands the story to include his life and legacy. Readers learn about Revere’s many hats—his work as a skilled silversmith, his stint as a dentist, and his active involvement in revolutionary groups like the Sons of Liberty. Fritz also weaves in more detail about his home life.
This book can ignite discussion during lessons about the American Revolution or be enjoyed as a well-told story about an American legend. Jean Fritz’s And then what happened, Paul Revere? delivers both educational depth and engaging storytelling.
Submitted by Judy Howard, M.Ed.
Parent Education Corner: Using Text-Based Evidence with Informational Texts
One of the most essential skills children can develop when reading nonfiction is the ability to locate and use text-based evidence to support their thinking. This skill encourages closer reading and strengthens comprehension, critical thinking, and the ability to engage in thoughtful discussions or written responses.
When students learn to back up their answers with direct references to the text, they move beyond surface-level reading and become more intentional.
Here are ways to support your child in using text-based evidence:
Encourage children to revisit the text. Young readers often rely on memory or make assumptions based on background knowledge when answering questions. While prior knowledge is helpful, it’s important to guide students toward using evidence from the text itself to support their responses. This means developing the habit of re-reading specific sections to locate key information, rather than just recalling what they think they remember.
You can model and reinforce this strategy by encouraging students to physically point to or highlight the part of the text that supports their answer. Ask guiding questions such as:
- “Where exactly in the article did you find that information?”
- “Can you show me the sentence or paragraph that supports what you’re saying?”
- “What part of the text helped you come to that conclusion?”
- “Let’s go back and check—does the text say that?”
These prompts help students learn that good readers don’t just guess—they prove their answers using the words, facts, and ideas presented by the author. Revisiting the text can also lead to richer conversations. When students cite specific details, it opens up opportunities to discuss why that detail matters, how it supports the main idea, or how it connects to other parts of the reading.
Over time, consistently practicing this strategy builds a strong foundation for more advanced skills, like analyzing arguments, comparing sources, or evaluating evidence.
Submitted by Judy Howard, M.Ed.
Do you have any questions or ideas for the Parent Education Corner? Anything you’d like to learn? Let us know here!