Andrea Payne Readers 2 Leaders Fundraiser

Readers 2 Leaders is a literacy organization serving Dallas kindergarten and elementary students. Until 3rd grade, children learn to read; after that, they read to learn. R2L's goal is for all Dallas 3rd graders to be reading at or above grade level, a critical indicator of future academic and professional success. 

Readers 2 Leaders is creating a Dallas where all children are proficient readers. Through a high-quality, research-based literacy tutoring model and in partnership with schools, non-profits, and families, Readers 2 Leaders meets students where they are with reading intervention and enrichment supports that will help them reach their academic goals. Their team focuses on reaching students in the early elementary years who don’t have access to other resources due to economic inequality and systemic racism.

As a child of immigrants, I recognize the challenge that many Dallas children face when they are learning in a language that is not the same as the one spoken at home. I was fortunate enough that my parents both spoke English and provided my sister and me with plenty of tools, such as the Hooked on Phonics program, to achieve early literacy and become lifelong readers. Readers 2 Leaders aims to level the playing field for Dallas children so they too can benefit from early literacy. 

Parent/Son Success Story of Early Literacy Intervention

One afternoon, the Readers 2 Leaders office coordinator popped into the office of Sarah Lewis, Director of Coaching. She said a parent from one of our coaching partner sites left a message to call her. The mom told Lewis that her son struggled with his confidence. He had wanted to learn to read for so long, but they never saw improvement, although he was trying so hard. Now, finally, she felt like something had clicked over the past few months, and he was reading much better, but she wanted to confirm that he was growing and not just becoming a good guesser.

Lewis was happy to email the most recent progress report. Her son had increased his words per minute from 5 to 55 words per minute, and his accuracy had improved from 36% to 90%.

Within minutes after sending the email, the mother called Lewis, crying. She said her son had struggled for so long without making any improvements, and she was so relieved to see that he was gaining the skills he needed to be a successful reader.

She said he liked going to Readers 2 Leaders sessions because he felt like he was getting better, and he liked that his teacher had a coach helping her learn. Lewis told her to talk to her son, show him the results, and go crazy about it so he could celebrate and start getting some of his self-confidence back.

The next day, Lewis had a check-in meeting with the program staff. Before the meeting,  she popped in to watch a student session. As the students came in for their sessions, the student walked in and said, “I don’t know if you know this, but I’m getting really good at reading.”