Turning Pages, Changing Futures

Reading Is the Real Superpower 📚✨

As a board member of Readers 2 Leaders, I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand what happens when we invest in children’s literacy and give educators the tools they need to help every child become a confident reader.

I’m especially passionate about the Science of Reading because I believe every child deserves access to evidence-based instruction that helps them build the skills they need to read, learn, and thrive. This work is about more than teaching children to read—it’s about opening doors to opportunity.

For North Texas Giving Day, I’m asking you to join me in supporting Readers 2 Leaders and their commitment to helping students become strong, lifelong readers. Every gift helps us move closer to a North Texas where every child has the opportunity to become a successful reader.

One of my favorite books: The Day You Begin

The Day You Begin is empowering because it reminds children that their differences, experiences, and stories are what make them valuable. It encourages children to find the courage to share their voices and discover that they are not alone in feeling different or unsure. For me, that message connects deeply to the work of Readers 2 Leaders because when we help children become confident readers, we’re not just teaching them a skill; we’re helping them find their voice, believe in themselves, and see what’s possible.

🌟 The “Begin With Me” Challenge: Every donation helps a child take another step toward becoming a confident reader.

• 📖 $25 — Turn the Page: You’ve helped turn one more page toward literacy.
• ✏️ $50 — Find Your Voice: You’re helping children build the skills and confidence to express themselves.
• 🌟 $75 — Share the Story: You’re investing in a child’s journey as a reader.
• 🚀 $100 — Big Beginning: You’re helping Readers 2 Leaders create more opportunities for children to grow as readers.
• 🦸🏾‍♀️ $250+ — Reading Champion: You’re officially part of the team helping North Texas kids thrive!

Reading is more than a skill—it is a gateway to opportunity. 

The Science of Reading helps us understand how children learn to read and how evidence-based instruction can give them the strong foundation they need to become confident, capable readers.

By the end of third grade, children are reaching a critical transition: they move from primarily learning to read toward using reading to learn across subjects. Research has found that children who are not proficient readers by third grade are four times more likely not to graduate high school on time than their proficient-reading peers. In one longitudinal study, nearly 80% of students who were reading above grade level in third grade graduated high school within five years.

That’s why the work of Readers 2 Leaders matters so much to me. When we invest in children’s literacy early, we aren't simply helping them read a book—we're helping open the door to greater academic success, confidence, opportunity, and a future they can imagine for themselves.