Last week, our President & CEO Dr. Rob Kelly and Board Chair Ellen Wiss, along with a team of individuals from Jacksonville—including Dr. Christopher Bernier, DCPS Superintendent, and members of his cabinet, and Isaiah Oliver, President of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida—had the opportunity to attend the Wired to Learn Fast: Systems Change for Literacy Impacts summit in Indian River County. 

The summit convened educators and community leaders from across the state to explore bold, collaborative solutions that have proven to enhance literacy outcomes in elementary students. What the team from Jacksonville experienced was something truly worth celebrating—and replicating.


Indian River County has emerged as one of Florida’s top performers in grade-level reading proficiency. In fact, for the past several years, the School District of Indian River County has been recognized as one of the most improved school districts in Florida. For the 2024–2025 school year, the district earned the #2 state ranking in third-grade English-Language Arts achievement, a testament to years of intentional work among schools, nonprofits, families, and community partners.

A Model Worth Noting
At the heart of this success is a public-private partnership between the school district, the business community, and The Learning Alliance, a nonprofit based in Vero Beach. Led by The Learning Alliance, the partnership has brought the Indian River community together to collectively commit to early literacy while providing the right supports in the areas that most need it.

Specifically, the partnership has created a community ecosystem for reading success. Together, they’ve aligned around a shared “Moonshot” goal—initiated by The Learning Alliance—of having 90% of third graders reading on grade level. Their approach to accomplishing this goal includes:

• Embedded literacy coaching and teacher support,

• After-school and summer programs to close learning gaps,

• Family engagement efforts that empower caregivers as children’s first teachers, and

• Community coalitions that keep literacy on every stakeholder’s radar.

As a result, the Indian River community has built momentum: last year, the School District of Indian River’s overall ranking was 5th in the state, up from 38th in 2019. With a third-grade literacy proficiency rate of 71% and climbing, the district has earned its recognition as a leader in student outcomes. (You can read more about Indian River’s progress in a recent news article here.)

The Learning Alliance co-founder Barbara Hammond with Dr. David K. Moore, Superintendent of the School District of          Indian River County, at the Wired to Learn Fast Summit. Photo obtained from The Learning Alliance's Instagram. 

Learnings for Jacksonville
Our team returned energized and laser-focused on what’s possible in Jacksonville:

1. We already have the pieces, but we can do better at connecting them.
Jacksonville isn’t starting from scratch! Schools, nonprofits, businesses, the philanthropic community, and families all bring strengths to the table. What Indian River shows us is that outcomes improve when all these sectors share the same goal and move together.

2. Literacy is an economic issue, not just an educational one.
Business leaders at the conference were quick to point out that when children can’t read at grade level, it affects workforce readiness, future earning potential, and community prosperity. Solving this is everyone’s business. To note, this is precisely why READ USA’s mission has evolved to what is today: transforming America’s future by ensuring every child and teen reads on grade level and is prepared to succeed in the workforce and beyond.

3. Schools are central, but they can’t do it alone.
School district leadership is essential, but meaningful progress requires a coalition of engagement, investment, and support from the community and across sectors to enhance resources and align efforts.

4. Proven models save time and energy.
If something works, we shouldn’t reinvent the wheel. Indian River leaders continue to welcome us and other school districts with open arms, sharing their strategies, messaging, and even tools we can adapt here in Jacksonville. Not only do we continue to learn, but we were also poignantly reminded of how grateful Team READ USA is for our donors, partners, and supporters—together, they are all believing and investing in programming that works!

“Jacksonville has the heart, the talent, and the community infrastructure to make the same progress happen here. And Indian River County and The Learning Alliance continue to show us a successful path forward,” shared Ellen Wiss. “We were introduced to The Learning Alliance a few years ago, and our relationship has only grown and strengthened since that time. To bring our partners, including DCPS and The Community Foundation, along with us for this opportunity was yet another step forward in the right direction, and we are so grateful.”

She continued, “We are also grateful to Steve Halverson for introducing READ USA to The Learning Alliance two years ago. He recognized the progress that The Learning Alliance continues to lead and the synergies between our two organizations. His introduction and support led to an ongoing relationship that can ultimately benefit both of our communities, and the state of Florida overall.”

This latest experience has powerfully reaffirmed a truth that READ USA, our school district, and countless others in Jacksonville already recognize: our efforts extend far beyond literacy initiatives; they are about crafting a meaningful legacy for our city. Picture a Jacksonville that doesn’t just improve but stands at the forefront of grade-level reading in the state! 

Envision the transformative success awaiting our students once they master the art of reading: a world filled with opportunities, newfound freedom, enhanced prosperity, improved health outcomes, and a stronger, more vibrant community. The potential is within our grasp, and Indian River has already demonstrated that this vision is not just a dream—it’s achievable. Together, we can make this a reality!

Team READ USA extends our heartfelt gratitude to Barbara Hammond and Liz Remington, co-founders of The Learning Alliance, and the entire Learning Alliance team and their partners for continuing to generously share their wisdom and locking arms together with us to realize our dreams together for Florida’s children and beyond. We also thank Dr. Bernier and members of his cabinet for continually prioritizing learning, innovation, and this shared goal of grade-level reading proficiency for all students. Thank you also to Isaiah Oliver for listening and learning from this successful community model with intention as he leads The Community Foundation as the backbone of our local grade-level reading umbrella collective, READ JAX. There’s a place for everyone from every sector in our community to play a role in creating this worthy legacy for our kids and community.

We’re energized, equipped, and ready to help spur this momentum here in Jacksonville!

#FastFacts Wednesday: The Month for Library Lovers and CTE   

This week’s #FastFacts Wednesday highlights two February celebrations that might not always make headlines but absolutely deserve the spotlight! 

❤️ National Library Lovers Month ❤️
Did you know that public libraries remain among the most trusted and widely used community institutions in the country? Recent statistics show that public libraries in the United States collectively recorded over 800 million visits in a single year, reflecting their enduring relevance as learning hubs for people of all ages (Institute of Museum and Library Services, Public Libraries Survey, 2025). 

That’s not all: more than two-thirds of Americans hold a library card, showing how deeply libraries are woven into community life across the nation (Library Usage Statistics, 2026). 

Today’s libraries are so much more than shelves of books. Libraries are powerful equalizers. They open doors, spark imagination, and reinforce the literacy skills that prepare students for lifelong success. They provide:

• Free access to digital resources and research databases

• Early literacy programs and family workshops

• Technology access for students and caregivers

• Some even offer homework help and tutoring support!

READ USA is proud of our ongoing partnership with the Jacksonville Public Library. Together, we help ensure students and families have access to high-quality reading materials and literacy resources that extend learning far beyond the classroom.

Visit your local Jacksonville Public Library branch this month! Whether you check out a book, attend a program, or sign up for a library card, you’re supporting one of the most impactful literacy institutions in our community.

Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month
When READ USA talks about literacy, we’re also talking about workforce readiness—both of which are precisely the goal behind our Literacy Tutoring & Workforce Development programming! 

Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month celebrates programs that prepare students for high-demand careers in healthcare, technology, engineering, culinary arts, advanced manufacturing, and more.

#DYK: students who concentrate in CTE coursework (meaning they take multiple courses in a single CTE area) graduate high school at significantly higher rates compared to the overall national average. In fact, CTE concentrators have a graduation rate of about 96%, compared with the general graduation rate of roughly 85% for all U.S. students (Association for Career & Technical Education, CTE Works Fact Sheet, 2024). 

Duval County Public Schools offers robust CTE academic pathways across the district, equipping students with practical skills, industry certifications, and hands-on experience that link classroom learning to real-world opportunity. As an example, you can view a recent Facebook post by DCPS about CTE at San Mateo Elementary school here. 

Strong literacy skills are foundational to success in every CTE pathway. Whether students are reading technical manuals, writing project proposals, or analyzing data, strong reading proficiency drives that career potential. This is why READ USA’s mission aligns so naturally with Career & Technical Education!

At READ USA, we believe literacy goes far beyond classroom benchmarks — literacy is the gateway to opportunity. Thanks to strong partnerships with the Jacksonville Public Library, DCPS, and others, we’re helping students build the skills they need for today and tomorrow.

READ USA AmeriCorps Tutor & Team Leaders Receive Citizenship and Life Skills Training

While the country celebrated Presidents’ Day on Monday, our AmeriCorps Tutor and Team Leaders participated in something equally as patriotic: life skills and citizenship training, and a listen-and-learn with Jerry Holland, Duval County’s Supervisor of Elections!  

Left: Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland with READ USA’s Senior Director of AmeriCorps and Human                                  Resources Becky Nathanson. Right: AmeriCorps Tutor & Team Leaders at the training. 

Mr. Holland graciously joined us (on his day off!) to be our guest speaker about citizenship, giving our teens a deeper understanding of our democracy and how the election system operates in Duval County. He also shared some interesting facts about local elections, including how the average turnout for the presidential election is over three times greater than the average voter turnout for local elections. He also shared how, while every election is important, “It’s the local elections that have more direct impact on our daily lives.” Needless to say, our teens found his presentation insightful, and they were eager to learn from him (they asked many great questions!). We are grateful to Mr. Holland for taking the time with Jacksonville’s future voters! 

Our AmeriCorps Tutor & Team Leaders then participated in CPR and First Aid training, graciously led by Tukz Taca and Melissa Johnson from Safety First, which is accredited by the American Safety & Health Institute. Our teens learned how to perform CPR and basic first aid techniques to help keep themselves, their students, and their communities safe. Thank you to Safety First for participating in our training day and sharing these valuable life skills! 

The day wrapped up with a Disaster Preparedness session facilitated by our Senior Director of AmeriCorps and Human Resources Becky Nathanson, where our teens learned the fundamentals of preparing for disasters. In keeping with their pledge to make Americans safer, smarter, and healthier, they were tasked with sharing what they learned with members of their household regarding communication plans and preparing emergency kits. They even learned how to connect their mobile phone to satellite service in the event of a mobile service outage! 

All in all, it was a busy day filled with learning and growth! Thank you again to Mr. Holland, Safety First, and Mrs. Nathanson for furthering the trainings and skills our teens receive from their AmeriCorps service with READ USA!                                       

The Learning Continuum of Reading and Writing  

At the Florida Literacy Association Annual Conference that Team READ USA attended last month, nationally respected literacy expert Dr. Jan Hasbrouck delivered a compelling Sunday afternoon keynote titled, “All Means All! Why We Need to Differentiate Reading Instruction — and How to Do It!”


Dr. Hasbrouck is widely recognized for her decades of research and leadership in literacy education. An educational consultant, author, and former university professor, she has worked with schools and districts across the country to improve reading achievement and implement evidence-based instructional practices. Her work in reading fluency and literacy systems change has influenced school districts and classrooms nationwide, making her voice one of the most trusted in the field.

At the Conference, her message was both clear and urgent: reading and writing are complex processes, and every student deserves instruction that meets their individual needs. In today’s increasingly diverse classrooms, one-size-fits-all approaches simply are not enough. We need to do what’s possible to ensure that all students receive the appropriate, effective instruction that leads to success.

Dr. Hasbrouck explored the importance of differentiated literacy instruction, offering practical strategies educators can apply in real-world classrooms. For a lay audience, differentiation simply means recognizing that students learn at different paces and in different ways. Adjusting instruction to meet them where they are is both responsive and intentional.

One of the most impactful elements of her keynote was the visual framework illustrating the continuum of reading and writing, which emphasized that these two processes are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Reading strengthens writing. Writing strengthens reading. Together, they accelerate literacy growth.

(Dr. Hasbrouck’s keynote utilized the below graphic created by Dr. Nancy Young, with whom she co-edited the book, Climbing The Ladder of Reading & Writing: Meeting the Needs of All Learners, which you can read more about here.) 



This perspective strongly resonates with our work at READ USA.

As Dr. Rob Kelly reflected after the session, “We appreciated Dr. Hasbrouck’s view of the continuum of reading and writing. The READ USA Literacy Tutoring model intentionally includes instruction in both reading and writing because we know there is a reciprocal power between the two. When students read and write together, they build stronger literacy skills and make greater progress.”

This reciprocal relationship is embedded in READ USA Literacy Tutoring. Our students don’t just decode words on a page; students engage with texts (that they choose to read!), respond in writing, build vocabulary, strengthen comprehension, and develop confidence in expressing their ideas. Writing reinforces what they read, and reading expands what they can write.

Dr. Hasbrouck’s keynote served as a powerful reminder that literacy instruction must be thoughtful, responsive, and comprehensive. When we commit to meeting students where they are—and when we embrace the full continuum of reading and writing—we create the conditions for lasting literacy growth.

At READ USA, that commitment remains at the heart of everything we do!

You can learn more about Dr. Hasbrouck here. 

Children’s Book: Little Career Explorer by Jozanne Douglas

Little Career Explorer is an engaging children’s book that follows a curious young child on an imaginative journey through the world of careers. As the story unfolds, the main character explores different professions—such as artist, doctor, scientist, builder, and more—learning what each role contributes to the community.  

Through colorful adventures and simple, encouraging language, the book shows that every job is important and that children can dream big, no matter where they come from. Each career experience helps the child discover new interests, build confidence, and understand the value of hard work, creativity, and kindness.

The story emphasizes an important message for young readers: it’s okay to explore, ask questions, and change your mind. Dreams grow as we grow. By the end of the book, children are inspired to believe in themselves and feel excited about the many possibilities their future holds.

Little Career Explorer is a joyful and motivational story that encourages curiosity, self-discovery, and a love of learning—perfect for young students who are just beginning to imagine who they might become one day.

Submitted by Melanie Poag, READ USA Content Assistant