If you enjoy supporting local teens and investing in the next generation entering the workforce, this is the perfect opportunity!
READ USA is recruiting professionals from a variety of careers and backgrounds to volunteer as interviewers during our Mock Interview Day.
Saturday, December 6th
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The Schultz Center
Lunch will be provided
As part of our Workforce Development programming, READ USA created Mock Interview Day to help our teen tutors practice their job interview skills to further prepare them for any career path they choose to pursue.
Here’s how it works:
- Professionals “interview” our teen tutors one-to-one—just like a real job interview—followed by a feedback session where professionals share advice and recommendations.
- Instructions are provided at the beginning of the event, and interviewers are provided with suggested questions and a scoring rubric for the interviews.
- Each volunteer interviews at least two tutors.
READ USA is also seeking sponsors for the event! If you are interested in being a sponsor, email joe@readusainc.com.
Mock Interview Day will take place at The Schultz Center (4019 Boulevard Center Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207). Doors will open at 8:30 a.m.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, December 6!
A Win on Sunday & Another WIN on Tuesday!
The Jacksonville Jaguars are back on their winning streak, and yesterday they continued it at George Washington Carver Elementary School!
Thanks to the Jaguars Foundation and event sponsor JEA, more than 300 students went home yesterday with FREE books during the third Literacy Locker Room of the football season. It was truly a WIN for everyone involved!
PLUS: Not only did students receive a free book, but everyone also had the opportunity to participate in a story time with #95 B.J. Green II, Jaguars defensive lineman, and Jaxson de Ville himself! What says “reading is important” more than an iconic athlete reading aloud and evangelizing for literacy?!
Members of the ROAR of the Jaguars and front office staff also joined the fun yesterday during the literacy-themed pep rally. (And, if you’ve ever been to a Jaguars pep rally at an elementary school, you know how the kiddos’ excitement gives EverBank Stadium attendees a run for their money!)
Thank you to the Jaguars Foundation for their ongoing partnership and support of childhood literacy through READ USA and the Literacy Locker Room events! Our gratitude also goes to Adriel Rocha, Vice President of Community Impact and Football Development, and Michael Carnahan, Jaguars Foundation Community Impact Senior Manager, who make these wonderful events possible.
Of course, these events wouldn’t be possible without the help of our dedicated volunteers! Thank you, Diane and Bianca, for joining us with such enthusiasm!
Thank you to the Jaguars, JEA, and the wonderful team at George Washington Carver for a fantastic morning!
First Coast Business Hall of Fame Celebrates Exceptional Leaders
Members of Team READ USA had the opportunity to attend today’s First Coast Business Hall of Fame event, and what a great time we had celebrating the Class of 2025!
Every year, the Florida Council on Economic Education hosts this wonderful event, recognizing “exceptional leaders whose vision, courage, and dedication have created lasting impact—not only in business, but across communities.”
Congratulations to the newly inducted Class of 2025:
- Mark Bennett, Bank of America
- Randy Defoor, St. Johns Capital Partners
- Moez Limayem, University of North Florida
- Donna Orender, Orender Unlimited
Our particular congratulations go to Donna Orender, a partner and friend of READ USA, and to Dr. Moez Limayem, President of the University of North Florida, who will soon become President of the University of South Florida. UNF also continues to be a tremendous partner to READ USA, and we are grateful for this recognition of both UNF’s and Donna’s efforts to broaden economics education and financial literacy across the Northeast Florida community.
“Our missions and impact, while distinct, complement each other,” shared our President & CEO Dr. Rob Kelly. The Florida Council on Economic Education’s mission is to prepare Floridians for personal and financial success through educational programs in economics, the free enterprise system, and personal financial literacy to develop productive members of the workforce and equip responsible consumers and wise investors.
He continued, “Literacy—the ability to read—and financial literacy go hand-in-hand in ensuring the next generation is equipped with the tools necessary to succeed in their careers and in life. Our Workforce Development programming includes a financial literacy component, among many other areas of skill development that prepare students and teens for their futures.”
Congratulations to the Florida Council on Economic Education and to Event Chair Jeanne Augspurger for another fantastic event this year, and again to the Class of 2025 inductees!
Children’s Book: Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
Illustrated by David Roberts
As we celebrate American Education Week—a time to highlight the importance of learning and inspire a lifelong love of knowledge—Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty stands out as an ideal book to share with young readers.
This beautifully illustrated and engaging story follows Rosie, a young girl with a passion for building and inventing. Though she faces self-doubt and setbacks, Rosie learns that failure is not the end—it’s a steppingstone to success. The book promotes STEM learning, creativity, and perseverance, key themes that align perfectly with the goals of American Education Week. In addition, the book encourages problem-solving skills through imaginative invention, confidence, and resilience. And, especially for young girls in science and engineering, it teaches a growth mindset, showing kids that it’s okay to fail—as long as you keep trying. It also encourages reading comprehension and vocabulary building in a fun, accessible way.
This book not only supports academic learning but also nurtures curiosity and confidence—qualities every child needs to thrive in school and beyond. During American Education Week, reading Rosie Revere, Engineer is a meaningful way to celebrate the spirit of learning, dreaming, and doing.
Submitted by Melanie Poag, READ USA Content Assistant
Parent Education Corner: Fall Family Fun!
Family reading and craft time is important because it nurtures emotional bonds, supports children’s development, and creates lasting memories. Fall is the perfect time for families to read a great holiday-themed book and make a turkey craft!
Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey is the perfect book for this activity. After reading the book, enjoy time with your family discussing your favorite parts of the book while making Coffee Filter Turkeys.
Materials: Round coffee filters (1–2 per turkey), washable marker, spray bottle or dropper with water, brown clothespins or craft sticks (for the turkey body), googly eyes, construction paper (red for wattle, orange/yellow for beak), glue (tacky glue or glue stick), scissors, and a paper plate or craft mat.
Instructions:
Step 1: Decorate the Feathers
- Flatten a coffee filter.
- Let kids color it with washable markers—use fall colors like red, orange, yellow, and brown.
- Place the filter on a paper plate or craft mat and lightly spray with water.
- Watch the colors blend into a tie-dye effect!
- Let the filter dry completely (overnight or in a 220°F oven for a few minutes).
Step 2: Make the Turkey Body
- Paint the clothespin or craft stick brown.
- Cut a small triangle from orange/yellow paper for the beak.
- Cut a squiggly shape from red paper for the wattle.
- Glue the googly eyes near the top of the clothespin.
- Glue the beak and wattle just below the eyes.
Step 3: Assemble the Turkey
- Fold the dry coffee filter in half to form a fan shape.
- Glue or clip it to the back of the clothespin to create the turkey’s tail feathers.
Submitted by Melanie Poag, READ USA Content Assistant