2018 Fort Worth Summer Learning Day Proclamation
Remarks from Kristin Sullivan, Read Fort Worth executive director during the June 26, 2018, Fort Worth City Council Meeting
Thank you, Mayor Price and honorable City Council members.
Kristin Sullivan, Read Fort Worth Executive Director
Tonight, it is my pleasure to stand with representatives of organizations that are working collectively to ensure that young children have access to summer programs infused with best practices for literacy instruction that can strengthen reading skills.
This work directly supports our community’s shared goal – that 100 percent of third-graders enrolled in the Fort Worth Independent School District will be reading on grade level by 2025.
We are indebted to you, Mayor Price and members of the Fort Worth City Council, for challenging our community to take action to support Fort Worth ISD’s ambitious goal.
We are pleased to share that Fort Worth ISD is again reporting positive growth in third-grade reading achievement with 35 percent of third-graders reading on level as of the May 2018 STAAR exam, up 7 percentage points over the past three years.
Strong readers become future leaders. We know that if we want Fort Worth to be a magnet for new business, innovation and talent, we must have a well-prepared workforce. That starts with a firm foundation in early childhood literacy.
Among our partners here this evening:
• Dr. Gleniece Robinson, director of Educational Initiatives for the City of Fort Worth and co-chair of Read Fort Worth’s Summer Learning Collaborative Action Network
• Becky Balarin, Chief Program Officer for Girls Inc. of Tarrant County, and members of her team
• Khechara Bradford, Fort Worth ISD assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
• La-Shanda Davis, an early childhood education specialist and a 2018 10 Read Fort Worth summer literacy guide
• Robert Hamilton, Program Director for Clayton Youth Enrichment
• Krystal Lofton, summer program coordinator for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth
• Jennifer Perez, Fort Worth ISD Family Communications Director
• Kelli Pickard, Fort Worth Park and Recreation Department
• Robert Rogers, vice chair of the Reading Partners North Texas Board of Directors
• Manya Shorr, City of Fort Worth Library Director, and Michelle Lee, Youth and Teen Services Supervisor
Our 2018 Summer Scholars partners are recognized at the June 26, Fort Worth City Council Meeting.
Read Fort Worth is not a single program. We are a backbone organization aligning and supporting partners to work collectively toward our shared goal.
Our interest is that families and children have access to quality early learning experiences from the time a child is born through their early school years. Our children must comprehend most of what they read by third grade to have the best chance for success in school and life.
Fort Worth Summer Learning Day is one piece of that work. The special emphasis day will help us elevate our community’s focus on making summer’s count, especially for children who may not have easy access to camps and programs that nurture reading skills.
Summer Learning Day was founded by the National Summer Learning Association as a way to encourage communities to celebrate good work underway and to challenge program providers to create new ways to foster learning year-round.
Tonight, we are asking partners across this community to join us in celebrating Fort Worth Summer Learning Day on Thursday, July 12, and share their stories with Read Fort Worth via Facebook, Twitter or by email so we can promote their success.
Thank you again for proclaiming July 12 Fort Worth Summer Learning Day.