Teachers are the heart of our education system, and at READ USA, they play a vital role in ensuring the success of our Literacy Tutoring & Workforce Development programming.
Our teachers supervise and provide in-the-moment support to our teen tutors and AmeriCorps Tutor Leaders as they deliver one-to-one Literacy Tutoring to elementary students. Their coaching and guidance ensure our tutors are effective and supported, while making sure that programming is delivered with fidelity, data and reporting are accurate, and—just as importantly—that everything runs smoothly and efficiently!
During the coming weeks, we are proud to feature the amazing teachers who make READ USA’s impact a reality. Today, we are thrilled to shine the spotlight on the incredible team at Anchor Academy—but first, you should understand the roles that READ USA teachers play in our programming.
READ USA trains and employs teachers for specific roles:
Teachers of Content are responsible for all literacy content needs of READ USA Literacy Tutoring, ensuring seamless delivery of literacy content needs at each school site. Specifically, Teachers of Content coach and annotate tutor next steps and observations, model lesson parts, and provide tutor professional development. Importantly, they also audit and monitor student literacy growth and oversee student assessments, among other responsibilities.
Teachers of Organization oversee all operational needs of READ USA Literacy Tutoring. This essential role ensures smooth and efficient program delivery, from managing communications with schools, parents, and READ USA staff to collecting and entering weekly student data. Teachers of Organization also handle student discipline, transportation support, and provide oversight of the READ USA aftercare program.
Aftercare Teachers monitor and provide guidance to elementary students awaiting their Literacy Tutoring sessions each day. They are also responsible for student attendance, supper, and snack tracking, and deliver supplemental literacy programming, such as read-alouds and other literacy-focused activities.
Together, these teachers ensure students and tutors in READ USA Literacy Tutoring stay on track and are safe and supported while in READ USA’s care!
Without further ado, meet our teachers at Anchor Academy and hear why they love what they do at READ USA (and show them some love on social media here!).
Stay tuned during the coming weeks for additional READ USA teacher spotlights in our newsletter and on social media!
THANK YOU to our READ USA teachers for supporting our teens and students with focus, dedication, and heart!
Career Day at Garden City Elementary
Our team had a fantastic time returning to Garden City Elementary School for Career Day this year, where curiosity, big dreams, and future goals took center stage! Events like this are a wonderful reminder that it’s never too early for students to start imagining what’s possible in their future.
The purpose behind Garden City’s Career Day is to introduce students to all sorts of careers and allow them to meet people who work in them, ask questions, and receive some free goodies!
Naturally, students who visited READ USA’s table got to choose a free book and learn how, no matter what career path they choose, literacy is fundamental.
“Every career is connected to literacy – sports stars study playbooks, actors read and memorize scripts… Students could see how reading and writing are important to anything they want to accomplish in life,” shared Sophia Oliveira, our events and communications manager, who attended this year on behalf of Team READ USA.
“The event offered a spark—an introduction to new ideas and possibilities they may not have considered before,” she continued.
A huge thank you to Garden City Elementary School Principal Elisha Carr and 4th-grade teacher Katrina Rock—who also serves as a READ USA Specialist in our Literacy Tutoring program—for inviting READ USA to be part of this meaningful day!
Cultivating the Next Generation of Teachers
When Team READ USA participated in the Florida Literacy Association Annual Conference the other week, we were in good company with fellow Jacksonvillians: a number of up-and-coming, or pre-service, teachers from the University of North Florida were in attendance!
Of course, seasoned educators from across Duval County and Florida also attended the conference (#ICYMI, here are some conference highlights!), but every year, the time with pre-service teachers is always extra special.
“Every teacher remembers what it’s like to be starting your career as an educator: the optimism, the excitement, the joy of knowing that you are about to embark on a journey that has the power to change and improve young lives,” shared our President & CEO Dr. Rob Kelly. “That passion never goes away, but there’s a unique and special potency to it when you’re young and just starting out.”
The Future Teacher Breakfast, hosted every year at the FLA Conference, is a time to recognize and celebrate pre-service teachers and allow them to connect directly with more seasoned educators. FLA Board members share words of wisdom, and each pre-service teacher also receives free children’s books to use when they enter their classrooms.
“The energy is contagious during the Future Teacher Breakfast, which is one of my favorite opportunities to meet with the next generation of educators,” added Dr. Kelly. “It was very gratifying to see such a strong representation of students from Jacksonville and specifically from UNF’s Silverfield College of Education and Human Services because they see the value that participation in FLA and the FLA Conference provides to their future.”
Pre-service teachers also participate in Poster Sessions at the FLA Conference every year. Soon-to-be-teachers create visual presentations about topics they studied intensively during their college career, which are presented at the conference and give FLA Board members and seasoned educators the opportunity to discuss these topics one-on-one. The posters often feature innovations in pedagogy, new initiatives to increase student engagement and/or success, or curriculum-focused topics.
“The passion for instruction and engaging students is evident with each of these aspiring teachers, and it fills you with such hope for all that’s to come for them and for their future students. We know that each of them will impact countless lives in their future!” added Dr. Kelly.
Congratulations to the pre-service teachers who participated in the FLA Conference! Team READ USA is excited for all that’s to come in your future!
Dr. Kelly Joins Board of Meninak Club of Jacksonville
Congratulations are in order: Last year, Dr. Kelly became a member of the Meninak Club of Jacksonville, and now he has been elected to serve on the Club’s Board of Directors!
Dr. Kelly will also serve as the Club’s guest speaker on March 2.
Founded in 1919, the Meninak Club of Jacksonville has had more than a century of impact in the Jacksonville community through service, volunteerism, and philanthropy.
“Meninak’s focus on service and ensuring that every citizen of Jacksonville receives support, particularly our youth, directly aligns with our work at READ USA and with my personal career in literacy and education: to ensure every child can read and thrive in life,” shared Dr. Kelly, a native of Jacksonville. “To join the Board of this prestigious, community-minded organization is an honor that I feel humbly and deeply.”
Congratulations to Dr. Kelly!
Children’s Book: Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli
Pictures by Paul Yalowitz
Eileen Spinelli’s Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch is a warm, tender story about kindness, belonging, and the power of a single caring gesture. It’s perfect for young readers who are beginning to understand empathy and community, and also a perfect read to celebrate Valentine’s Day this coming weekend!
Mr. Hatch lives a very quiet, lonely life. He follows the same routine every day and rarely interacts with others. Everything changes when he receives a mysterious Valentine’s Day package with a note that reads, “Somebody loves you.” Believing he is loved, Mr. Hatch begins to open up—he smiles more, helps neighbors, and becomes part of the community. When he later discovers the package was delivered by mistake, he retreats into loneliness again… until the townspeople come together to show him that he truly is loved. Children often empathize deeply with this moment, and it can lead to meaningful conversations about how we treat others.
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch is a heartfelt, memorable story that resonates with children year after year. It reminds us that everyone—no matter how quiet or overlooked—deserves to feel loved and appreciated. It can also spark meaningful conversations and inspire students to spread kindness in their own lives.
Submitted by Melanie Poag, READ USA Content Assistant
Parent Education Corner: Mailbox of Love, a Family Activity
To go along with our Valentine’s Day book this week, Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, here is a fun activity to create a family “Mailbox of Love.”
Materials:
• Empty box
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Tape
• Markers/crayons
• Note paper
Steps:
• Make a mailbox out of an empty box
• Over several days, have family members drop in kind notes, drawings, and/or compliments for other family members.
• Open them together, like Mr. Hatch opened his Valentine. Take turns reading the notes and compliments and sharing the drawings.
• Remind your family members that they are loved!
Submitted by Melanie Poag, READ USA Content Assistant