Read Fort Worth announces leadership transition as project moves into next phase

FORT WORTH, Texas – Read Fort Worth, the privately-funded, early childhood literacy partnership, has announced that its founding executive director will transition from the organization over the next few months as leaders consider its mission and scope for a second phase.

Read Fort Worth was founded in 2016 by Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Kent P. Scribner, and business, civic and philanthropic leaders to align partners in support of the district’s 100x25FWTX Initiative and a shared goal: that 100 percent of third-graders will be reading on grade level by 2025. Third-grade reading proficiency is a gateway to future academic success and to a well-prepared workforce.

Kristin N. Sullivan was hired in July 2016 to build the start-up, collective impact organization. She and the Read Fort Worth team will continue to lead daily operations and support current initiatives during the transition.

“With Kristin’s leadership, the Read Fort Worth team has built a solid foundation from which we can expand this critical work,” Price said. “Our city’s future depends on our ability to provide our youngest children quality early learning opportunities and excellence in the classroom. It’s truly exciting to see this project gaining momentum as people across Fort Worth respond to our call to action.”

Matthew K. Rose, Read Fort Worth chairman and executive chairman of BNSF Railway Co., will continue to lead the 12-member Executive Council and to advise the organization’s operations and initiatives. Mr. Rose has been a champion for cross-sector investment in quality early childhood education as a key engine in developing and sustaining a well-prepared workforce.

“We can all be proud of what we have accomplished together over these first two years – forming an unprecedented coalition of diverse partners and investors, energizing the community and adopting an initial strategic plan,” Rose said. “Because of these collective efforts, Fort Worth is having a new conversation about what is possible for our children and our city.”

Dr. Scribner expressed gratitude for Sullivan’s work as founding executive director, saying: “Her passion for improving the Fort Worth community and her commitment to children are evident in everything she does. Kristin has spent untold hours connecting with so many stakeholders, eloquently sharing the importance of early childhood literacy – and, thanks to her foundational work, many in Fort Worth have come to understand and support our shared mission.”

Read Fort Worth’s achievements during its first phase include:

• Launch of the Read Fort Worth data dashboard with support from Dallas-based Commit Partnership to track third grade reading proficiency from 2012 forward across Fort Worth ISD elementary schools and public charter schools at www.ReadFortWorth.org/dashboard. The dashboard will expand this month to include campus-level pre-K enrollment data and kindergarten readiness metrics.
• Creation of a Summer Learning Collaborative Action Network and the 2018 Summer Scholars Cohort of providers implementing best practices for summer learning. This summer, 850 children ages 5 to 9 will be served in programs that implement these best practices, and for the first time a common assessment will help the community measure impact across programs.
• More than $91,000 raised through the Classroom Library Campaign, which is placing 100 high-interest, culturally relevant books in pre-K through second-grade classrooms on campuses where extra resources are lacking.
• Formation of a Volunteer Reading Task Force that is working with business, civic and faith-based organizations to scale up the number of adult reading mentors working one-on-one with young students to reinforce early literacy skills.
• Formation of a Child Wellness Collaborative Action Network led by Cook Children’s Center for Children’s Health and JPS Health Network that is developing action plans with school district and community leaders to ensure the social-emotional and physical well-being of young children so they arrive at school ready to learn.
• Adoption of Read Fort Worth’s first Strategic Plan.
• $2 million raised in support of the 100×25 goal through commitments to the Read Fort Worth organization and the Classroom Library Campaign.

The Read Fort Worth Executive Council will review the organization’s vision and mission this summer and begin a search for a new senior leader.

About Read Fort Worth

Read Fort Worth is a collective impact effort mobilizing educators, funders, government, businesses, parents and community organizations to ensure that 100 percent of Fort Worth ISD third-graders read at a college-ready pace by 2025 in support of the school district’s 100x25FWTX Initiative. Read Fort Worth serves as a backbone organization, supporting partners and aligning action proven to drive third-grade reading proficiency through Collaborative Action Networks in four focus areas – School Readiness, Child Well-Being, Expanded Learning and Reading Resources – so that all Fort Worth children are successful in school.

View our inaugural Community Achievement Scorecard at http://readfortworth.org/2017-community-achievement-scorecard/. Follow us on Facebook and @ReadFortWorth on Twitter.

###