Fort Worth ISD is proud to announce that S.S. Dillow Elementary School has been named the overall winner of the NCAA Readers Become Leaders program.
The district celebrated this achievement with a community-wide event. Superintendent Dr. Karen Molinar, Mayor Mattie Parker, Board of Trustees members, principals, campus staff, and families all came together to cheer on the students of S.S. Dillow.
This year’s competition involved 75 schools, 1,684 classes, and more than 31,000 students. Together, they logged over 73 million minutes of reading. The Readers Become Leaders program aims to reverse declining literacy rates and encourage students to imagine brighter futures, including the possibility of attending college.
S.S. Dillow’s outstanding performance earned the school $1,500 in Scholastic credit, a $500 gift card for a campus pizza party, and a $100 Visa gift card for each teacher. In addition, every student received a Scholastic Grab & Go packet. Clifford the Big Red Dog even stopped by to celebrate in person.
Several other campuses also received recognition. Edward Briscoe, M.H. Moore, W.J. Turner, Richard Wilson, Greenbriar, Carroll Peak, and Van Zandt-Guinn Elementary Schools were each named among the Top 8 in the district.
Special appreciation went to the district’s campus librarians. Their effort to track reading minutes and inspire students played a vital role in the program’s success!
To explore the impact of the Readers Become Leaders program and how it’s fostering literacy across Fort Worth, visit the Fort Worth Sports Commission’s community engagement page.
Sources: Fort Worth ISD Facebook Page
Blog by: Jennifer Briscoe, Intern, UTSA