Did you feel the thunder coming from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena this morning?!
Duval County Public Schools’ Back-to-School Bash this morning brought together 10,000+ educators and staff to celebrate the district’s recent movement to an “A”-graded school district and keep that momentum going through the coming school year!
“Being in that arena this morning made me think, where is my classroom – I need to get ready to start teaching next week!” shared our President & CEO Dr. Rob Kelly, who is also a former DPCS elementary school teacher. “The energy and motivation this morning was inspiring, and you could just feel how excited and ready our district’s teachers and staff are to get back to school next week…it was awesome to experience.”
READ USA was honored and proud to attend this morning’s event as a lead partner with DCPS, and we are so grateful for the invitation!
The Arena was FULL of energy this morning!
Our gratitude goes to Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier and School Board Chair Charlotte Joyce for leading the district to its first-ever “A” rating. We are also thankful to Mayor Donna Deegan for sharing words of encouragement and to Dr. Manny Scott, who was the guest speaker this morning.
“Dr. Scott’s message resonated strongly this morning. He said, as teachers, our focus is clear: We’re not here because of where students are from. We’re here because of where students can go,” added Dr. Kelly. Dr. Scott is an original Freedom Writer whose story was told in the 2007 movie, Freedom Writers. “He inspired us to be there for all kids – no matter their backgrounds or abilities. Every single student can achieve with hard work and access to resources. I’m proud that READ USA provides some of those proven resources to students and teens across the district to raise literacy achievement and prepare students for the workforce and beyond.”
This morning was 
also special for Dr. Kelly for another reason: he had a chance to reconnect with Ms. Robin DePriest, who was his mentor during his first year of teaching in 2006!
Thank you to DCPS leadership and DCPS School Board members for the opportunity to participate this morning and for our ongoing partnership: together, we are making tremendous strides in the lives of teens and students across Duval County!
Here’s to a FANTASTIC forthcoming school year!! Team READ USA can’t wait for all that’s to come.
Teens: Have You Applied Yet? Do So TODAY!
We have openings for tutor positions across Duval County, so NOW is the time for interested teens to apply to be READ USA tutors for the upcoming Fall semester!
Available transportation slots are almost full, and tutor placements at elementary schools are filling up quickly, so TODAY is the day for teens aged 16-21 to apply to:
- Earn $15/hour
- Receive transportation to/from tutoring site
- Build valuable workforce skills
- Make a positive, lifelong difference in elementary students!
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:
Starting the School Year on the Right Foot Page: with Free Books!
Families across Duval County – and our fabulous READ USA volunteers – braved the intense heat this past weekend to come out to multiple back-to-school events!
On Saturday, Team READ USA provided 3,000+ books to thousands of students of all ages across the community, from the Northside to the Beaches to Southside to the Urban Core – none of which would have been possible without the support of our volunteers, donors, and community partners!
Every year, these back-to-school events are a lifeline for many in our community, providing low-income families with necessary school supplies for their students – many of whom would be unable to afford them on their own.
Team READ USA was honored and thrilled to play a role in bringing smiles to thousands of children’s faces when they realized they not only received free backpacks, notebooks, and other supplies from partners – they also got to choose their own free books from READ USA!
Thanks to our supporters, thousands of students will start school next week with loaded backpacks, summer memories, and one of our favorite things: books that interest them!
Through a grant from the Beaches Community Fund, a collective giving initiative of the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, READ USA provided a FREE book fair at the Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry (BEAM) Back-to-School Bash. Every student received two free books of their choice, along with reading activity guides and resources for parents/caregivers. BEAM and other partners also provided Walmart gift cards and Sports Clips coupons along with backpacks and school supplies.
Thank you to BEAM for the opportunity to join the Bash again this year, and especially to the Beaches Community Fund for making the free READ USA Book Fair possible for the students!
Our gratitude also goes to our wonderful, longtime volunteers, Andrea, Nancy, Kathy, and Lana, for helping at the event – your passion for students is exceptional, and we are thankful for you!
The Historic Eastside Back-to-School Event with Kids Hope Alliance and The Church of Oakland was also a fantastic success on Saturday, with hundreds (likely over 1,000!) of students and families coming to the Jacksonville Fairgrounds to receive school supplies, laptop computers, Whataburger coupons, and other goody bags – and of course, FREE books from READ USA!
Thank you to our incredible volunteers, Diane, Cheryl, and Mary, for making sure READ USA’s booth ran smoothly and for sharing your love for students and literacy with the community!
Florida Blue’s two Back-to-School: Fuel the Future events at the St. Johns Town Center and River City Marketplace were a huge success as well! And their teams certainly brought the fun: there were multiple activities and appearances by local celebrities and mascots, including Jaxson de Ville himself of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
Our amazing volunteers, Kristina, Tiffany, Letisha, and Jessica, kept everything running smoothly while bringing joy to students as they filled their free backpacks with supplies from partners – and books from READ USA!
THANK YOU to our wonderful partners for inviting READ USA to be a part of these fun and important events this weekend!
Former Tutors Return to READ USA for Summer Support
Every year, Team READ USA welcomes many of our teen tutors who stay local back to our Literacy Tutoring program to work as tutors in elementary schools across Duval County. We are honored and proud that teens choose to come back to READ USA during the school year, and sometimes the passion in supporting our mission doesn’t stop there!
During the summer, we had several former tutors – who are now engaged in their own post-secondary pursuits – reach out to us for job opportunities. With a busy summer of projects needing to be completed before tutoring resumes this month, we responded with an enthusiastic YES!
Ronnie, a sophomore at the University of North Florida (UNF); Nyzair, a sophomore at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU); and Bryce, who is attending Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), provided some essential (and paid!) support to READ USA the past few months. Together, they helped us prepare for the forthcoming Fall semester of Literacy Tutoring – no job was too big or too small for these young men!
“To witness the deep-rooted connection that Ronnie, Nyzair, and Bryce have to our mission – and to supporting their community – is truly inspiring,” shared our President and CEO Dr. Rob Kelly. “Each of them brought their own special approach to being a READ USA tutor to help students achieve grade-level reading proficiency. The fact that they wanted to come back and support our mission and the teens and students we serve in a different capacity speaks volumes of their desire for their peers and for young students to succeed – and of their trust and belief in the work that READ USA does. We are grateful to each of them!”
“At READ USA, what we’re doing for the community is a very positive thing, and a very big undertaking,” shared Ronnie. “As a former tutor, I know there is a lot that goes into making Literacy Tutoring happen – I see all the facets of the program. And with tutoring happening at 14 schools this semester, there was a lot that needed to be done! I am proud to support this mission.”
Thank you, Ronnie, Nyzair, and Bryce, for your invaluable support this summer! We know you will continue to succeed, no matter where life takes you – or where you take life!
Literacy Never Tasted So Good…
Did you enjoy some burgers and fries – and maybe some shakes – on Monday at Whataburger?! We sure did!
READ USA was the recipient of a generous promotion from Whataburger’s Feeding Student Success initiative, which donated 20% of all sales from Duval County restaurants that occurred during 5-8 p.m. on Monday!
THANK YOU to Whataburger and Silvercreek Group, a local Whataburger franchisee, for providing this opportunity for READ USA to raise funds and awareness for our mission! We are grateful for your ongoing support of students, teachers, and families in Duval County!
Children’s Book: Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Kevin Henkes’ Chrysanthemum is an engaging book that follows the story of a young mouse named Chrysanthemum, who begins her journey with pride in her unique name. However, her excitement quickly fades when she starts school and becomes the target of teasing from her peers. With sensitivity and charm, Henkes uses this simple but powerful story to explore deeper concepts of identity, confidence, and the importance of kindness.
Many young readers will find Chrysanthemum’s story familiar, especially those who have felt different, excluded, or uncertain in new social environments. The narrative reaches a hopeful turning point when a kind and influential music teacher enters the scene. Her support and validation help Chrysanthemum see the beauty in her name, emphasizing the book’s central message: our uniqueness is something to be celebrated, not hidden.
This book is helpful to children and young adults as an excellent conversation starter about issues such as bullying, empathy, and self-worth.
Whether it’s read at home or in a classroom, Chrysanthemum remains a favorite for its gentle storytelling, meaningful message, and artistic charm. It is a timeless tale that encourages children to embrace who they are and to treat others with kindness and compassion.
Submitted by Judy Howard, M.Ed.
Parent Education Corner: Setting the Stage for Reading Success
Setting the Stage for Reading Success
As the school year progresses, many children will adjust to new routines, expectations, and learning goals. During this time, it’s completely normal for some students to feel a little uncertain about their reading abilities.
The great news is that reading confidence can grow steadily with patience, practice, and plenty of encouragement from home. Helping your child feel successful and supported as a reader is one of the most important things you can do!
Try These Strategies to Boost Reading Confidence:
Focus on Effort Over Perfection
Rather than correcting every mistake, praise your child’s persistence, progress, and willingness to try. Celebrate small wins—like reading a new word, finishing a book, or even just sitting down to read without prompting. This builds a sense of accomplishment and motivates them to keep going.
Read Together
Take turns and make reading a team effort! Alternate reading sentences, paragraphs, or pages. This not only eases performance pressure but also gives your child a model of fluent reading. It shows them that reading can be a shared and enjoyable experience—not just a solo task.
Introduce Audio Books
Listening to stories read by fluent narrators helps children hear how words flow, how characters express emotion, and how punctuation guides pacing. Pair an audiobook with a physical copy so your child can follow along with the text. It is a fun way to reinforce reading skills without feeling like extra work.
At-Home Activity
“Word Detective” Game: Turn reading into a scavenger hunt! Pick a “word of the day” (e.g., “happy,” “cat,” or “because”) and challenge your child to find it as many times as possible in books, signs, food labels, or even on TV subtitles. Keep score or offer a small reward to make it extra engaging. You can even make it a family game!
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!