Since our founding, READ USA has always believed that literacy changes lives — and now, that message is reaching an even broader audience.
Recently, READ USA Board Chair Ellen Wiss sat down with International Business Times writer Callum Turner to discuss the deeper social impact of literacy and why investing in children early can transform individual lives and entire communities.
As highlighted in the article, the literacy crisis reaches far beyond the classroom. The inability to read proficiently affects workforce readiness, long-term health outcomes, economic mobility, and even the stability of communities themselves.
The article notes that illiteracy “…can often spill outward, into emergency rooms, into labor markets, into court systems, shaping the trajectory of entire economies.”
For Ellen, this connection is deeply personal — and foundational to why READ USA was created.
“All of that correlates to the social ills and the costs we take care of on the back end. These costs are far greater than fixing it up front and empowering children to be successful contributors to society,” Ellen shared. “The fastest and most effective way to address poverty is through education, and more simply, through empowering children with the ability to read.”
That belief became the foundation for READ USA in 2011, when Ellen and educator Vanessa Tussey came together around a simple but powerful idea: if children have access to books and the ability to read them confidently, their futures can change.
More than a decade later, that vision has grown into the multi-faceted organization we are today, serving students, teens, and teachers across Duval County through Literacy Tutoring, Workforce Development, Teacher Professional Development, and complementary programming designed to expand access to books and strengthen both reading proficiency and future career readiness.
But at our core, READ USA’s mission remains the same: helping children discover and access the confidence, opportunity, and possibility that literacy creates.
Every tutoring session, every book distributed, every teen tutor trained, and every volunteer who joins this work is part of something much bigger — building stronger futures for children, families, and our community.
We are grateful to International Business Times for helping shine a spotlight on the importance of literacy and the transformational work happening right here in Jacksonville.
Read the full article, Transforming Futures: A Revolutionary Approach to Literacy and Its Impact on Society, here.
Thank you also to Callum Turner for helping bring further awareness to READ USA’s mission and impact.
Support READ USA’s mission and impact by donating today!
Last Chance to Join a READ USA Book Fair
Our annual READ USA Book Fairs wrap up next week, so this is your last chance to join the fun until next year!
Following our READ USA Book Fairs at DCPS elementary schools, READ USA has also been providing free Book Fairs for students at 16 private schools in Duval County, made possible by federal funding from the Title IV, Part A Student Support & Academic Enrichment program.
We have a handful of Book Fairs happening now through May 19—check out the calendar and sign up HERE to join us as a volunteer!
The Title IV, Part A Student Support & Academic Enrichment program provides federal funding to enhance local educational quality, with local school districts being responsible for administering those funds for public, private, and charter schools.
For decades, federal programs such as this one have been used to support students with needs no matter the building in which they attend school. For this project, the office of Federal Programs designated these dollars to support students in private schools only. Specifically, the DCPS School Board unanimously approved using these dollars to provide free READ USA Book Fairs at 16 private schools during its April 7 Board meeting.
Thank you to DCPS and the Title IV, Part A program for making these Book Fairs possible!
READ USA Seeking Logistics & Scaling Associate Candidates
Team READ USA has TWO opportunities to join our mission of solving illiteracy and building the workforce of tomorrow!
Are you a passionate, organized, and tech-minded individual? This could be the position for you! This is an incredible opportunity to make a lasting impact while helping READ USA expand services to thousands of students, teens, and educators across communities.
We have two full-time Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) Logistics and Scaling Associate positions available. As a VISTA member, you will help:
- Improve technology systems and operational efficiency
- Develop scalable inventory and logistics systems
- Build partnerships and operational capacity
- Create sustainable systems that help READ USA grow nationwide
The work you do will directly support READ USA’s mission to strengthen communities and prepare students and teens for future success!
Apply today (or share!) and help us transform lives through innovation and service!
Thank You to Our Teachers!
Behind every student’s success story is an educator who showed up, stayed late, encouraged growth, and believed in their potential!
Last week during Teacher Appreciation Week, Team READ USA had the privilege of celebrating some of the incredible teachers who support students across Duval County. We are filled with gratitude for all they do each and every day!
Celebrating the Team at Biltmore Elementary
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous READ USA donor, we were honored to host a Teacher Appreciation Luncheon at Biltmore Elementary School, providing lunch for every staff member in the building.
It was a joyful opportunity to pause and celebrate the educators and staff members who pour so much into their students and school community.
A special thank you to Tiffany Clark of Parents Who Lead for partnering with us, and to Celestia’s Coastal Cuisine for preparing an incredible meal for the Biltmore team.
We loved celebrating alongside our READ USA teachers and the entire Biltmore Elementary staff!
Honoring Our Daytime Teacher-Tutors
Last week, we also gathered at the Schultz Center to celebrate another extraordinary group of educators: the seasoned educators who, for the past couple of months, served as Teacher-Tutors at select DCPS Elementary Schools!
These tutors — most of whom are retired teachers — stepped back into schools to provide daytime small-group literacy instruction to elementary students (you can read more about this exceptional group of educators here). Their experience, patience, and dedication made a meaningful impact on students, and based on preliminary data, this effort was a great success!
Our appreciation luncheon and debrief meeting provided an opportunity not only to say, “thank you,” but also to bring this incredible group together to reflect on what went well, share insights, and help shape the future of this work.
To our Teacher-Tutors: thank you for continuing to invest your time, talent, and expertise into the next generation of readers!
#ICYMI: Meet Our Teachers!
Every week during the past few months, we’ve been spotlighting our teachers who support READ USA Literacy Tutoring & Workforce Development through our “Meet Our Teacher” series on social media.
From current educators to retired teachers continuing their impact through READ USA, these features recognize the incredible people helping drive literacy growth across our community.
Be sure to visit these posts on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn channels — and help us thank these amazing educators for their dedication to students and teen tutors alike! Stay tuned for more to come!
To All Teachers: Thank You!
To every teacher — past, present, and future — THANK YOU!
Thank you for the encouragement, creativity, patience, and belief you pour into students every day. Your work extends far beyond the classroom and helps shape the future of our community in lasting ways.
At READ USA, we are deeply grateful for the educators who make our mission possible and for all teachers who continue to uplift and inspire the next generation. THANK YOU, TEACHERS!
#FastFacts Wednesday: Reading & Service that Inspire Us
This week’s #FastFacts highlights two important May recognitions that celebrate the power of stories, service, and community impact.
Get Caught Reading Month
May is Get Caught Reading Month, a nationwide campaign launched in 1999 by the Association of American Publishers to encourage people of all ages to make reading a visible and enjoyable part of everyday life.
The idea is simple: when children see adults, role models, and peers reading, they are more likely to view reading as valuable — and fun! (#FunFact: This is part of the purpose behind our Literacy Locker Room partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars! Read about a recent event here.)
#FastFacts:
- Research shows that children who read for pleasure tend to perform better academically across multiple subjects (OECD/PISA studies).
- Students who read independently for just 20 minutes a day are exposed to nearly 2 million words per year (Scholastic).
Team READ USA knows that helping children become confident readers starts with creating positive reading experiences — at school, at home, and throughout the community.
So, this month, grab a book and get caught reading!
Armed Forces Day: Saturday, May 16
Armed Forces Day, celebrated this coming Saturday, May 16, was established in 1950 to honor active-duty Americans serving in the United States military. The observance was created shortly after the unification of the Armed Forces under the Department of Defense in 1947.
#FastFacts:
- More than 1.3 million active-duty service members currently serve in the United States Armed Forces (U.S. Department of Defense).
- Approximately two million children in the U.S. have a parent serving in the military, often navigating school transitions and long periods away from loved ones (Military Child Education Coalition).
At READ USA, we recognize the resilience and sacrifice of members of the military and their families in our community and across the globe. Strong literacy skills help provide consistency, confidence, and opportunity for children no matter where life takes them.
To all who serve — and to the families who serve alongside them — THANK YOU!
From reading stories to serving our country, this week reminds us that growth, opportunity, and impact all begin with people willing to show up and make a difference.
Children’s Book: A Meerkat Diary by Suzi Eszterhas
READ USA is continuing to feature the Top 10 Finalists for the 2025-2026 Florida Literacy Association Children’s Book Award in our weekly children’s book review. There were 10 finalists in the Grades K-2 category and 10 for the Grades 3-5 category for a total of 20 books.
To view the full list of finalists, click here.
This Week’s Featured Book: A Meerkat Diary by Suzi Eszterhas
Top 10 Finalist in Grades 3-5 category | Photographs by Suzi Eszterhas 
Imagine seeing the world through the eyes of a meerkat. In A Meerkat Diary, readers are taken on an unforgettable journey into the wild, where survival, family, and daily life unfold in real time.
Through stunning, real-life photography and engaging narration, the story follows a young meerkat navigating challenges, learning routines, and growing within its community. The diary-style format makes the experience feel personal, as if readers are right there alongside it.
Every page offers both wonder and learning, blending storytelling with science in a way that feels natural and exciting. Readers gain insight into animal behavior, habitats, and the importance of teamwork in the wild.
This is a book that invites readers to observe closely, think deeply, and appreciate the incredible lives happening just beyond our everyday view.
Parent Education Corner: How to Change the Home Reading Environment Based on Reading Need
A study published by Wiley (Phys.org, 2016) discusses the findings that parents tend to change the home reading environment based on the reading needs of children in the home.
Although this sounds like a good thing, what this means is that, as a child grows and becomes more independent as a reader, many parents tend to stop offering reading options over time because they don’t know what to offer. The study also found that parents do not know where to find resources, how to match their child with reading that is a right fit, or even how to start a conversation about reading interests.
We know that young readers show interest in familiar texts, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar or Where the Wild Things Are. But what happens when children move away from these types of books? Often the reader, quickly approaching or newly into school-age content, demonstrates a more complex need. Many times, parents just don’t know what to do to help. They may feel disconnected or not as familiar with school-age needs. So, as a result, they leave book acquisition up to the schools.
Here are some steps to start that conversation and action in school-aged reading:
First, reacquaint yourself with reading.
If you’ve let reading slide to the margins of your life, now is the time to bring it back. Make space and time for books you read for yourself and for books you read with your child. If you want to raise a reader, be a reader! (Paul and Russo, 2017)
Next, use community offered resources.
Libraries, bookstores, small businesses, and community groups are often laser-focused on age-appropriate reading ideas and practices. Here are some local resources to check out:
Finally, talk to your child’s teacher and media specialist. Teachers and media specialists would LOVE to recommend series and genres your child is sure to devour.
Additionally, every Title I school in Duval County has a parent resource center, and schools are waiting for you to visit, access, and use these resources.
Submitted by Tabetha West, READ USA Chief Programs Officer