Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Literacy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gary Community School Corporation launches volunteer literacy campaign with First Lady partnership
Summary
The Gary Community School Corporation unveiled a volunteer-driven literacy initiative focused on elementary students, pairing community volunteers with classroom reading sessions and training to improve fluency and comprehension.
Gary Community School Corporation officials announced a districtwide literacy volunteer program aimed at improving elementary reading fluency and comprehension, school leaders said at the board meeting.
The program, presented by Chief Academic Officer Dr. Cynthia Treadwell and highlighted by Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes, pairs community volunteers with students for 20–25 minute sessions in elementary schools. The initiative is being launched in partnership with the First Lady (named in the presentation as First Lady Milton), who is recruiting volunteers to read regularly in classrooms across the district.
Dr. Treadwell framed the program as a response to low reading scores statewide and locally. She told the board that “in 2022, only 32 percent of fourth grade public students were performing at proficient levels,” and said district data show that “only 49.2 percent of our third grade students demonstrate reading proficiency.” The program will pilot at elementary schools this year and focus on one-on-one and small-group reading to model fluent reading and build comprehension strategies.
Volunteers will attend a short orientation and receive guidance on age-appropriate reading activities and questions to ask before, during and after reading to promote comprehension. Schools will identify students and match them with volunteers based on volunteer availability; participation windows described ranged from two days a week to daily visits through May 16, the presenter said.
Superintendent Dr. Stokes described the partnership as a way to increase community engagement and to help children “develop a love for reading” that supports academic success and later civic and workforce readiness.
Local business owner Jocelyn Kelly, introduced during the meeting as owner of Jay’s Breakfast Club and identified as a Gary Community School Corporation graduate, spoke briefly in support and encouraged others to volunteer.
Organizers said roughly 25 volunteers had been registered at the time of the presentation and that more were being processed for background checks. The volunteer coordinator listed in the presentation was Ms. Adams (contact email provided during the meeting). The district intends to use lessons learned from the pilot to expand the program in subsequent school years.
The program presentation included materials and a call to action for volunteers and community partners. No formal board action was required or taken on the literacy pilot during the meeting.
