“I appreciate the wisdom they gave us freely! ...they decided that they’re going to pass on what they spent years learning, so it’s important that we honor what they just poured out today and really apply it to our lives.” -Tutor Kayla to her peers, reflecting upon last week’s Mock Interview Day at READ USA.
The Schultz Center was alive with energy last week during our second annual Mock Interview Day! More than 80 professionals, representing multiple different sectors of our community, generously volunteered their time to meet one-on-one with our teen tutors. And while so much was learned, it was also a lively and enjoyable experience!
“Monday was a lot of fun and very satisfying being able to support those tutors!” -Jeff
“I was so impressed by the event and how involved the community was! The tutors were amazing!” -Katie
“While networking and interviewing may be second nature to seasoned professionals, our teen tutors are just beginning their professional journey,” shared our Chief Tutoring Officer Tabetha Cox. “Experiences like our Mock Interview Day are vital to providing our tutors a hands-on learning experience where they get to interact with and learn from professionals from a variety of careers – layered on top of the daily workforce and professional skill development they receive as a tutor.”
Volunteers received a rubric to evaluate and provide written and verbal feedback to each tutor, who had the opportunity to meet with at least two professionals throughout the evening. In addition to practicing interview skills, tutors also gleaned resume writing best practices and networking skills.
Two panel discussions also allowed our teens to listen to and ask questions of industry professionals about all sorts of career topics. We are very thankful to Dr. Rudy Jamison, READ USA Board Secretary, who moderated the discussion, and to these amazing professionals who shared so much with our tutors:
- Kyle Brady, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A.
- Kimberly Cothern, Bank of America
- David Goldberg, JEA
- Sara Holladay, McGuireWoods
- Kevin Kelly, Sauer Construction
- Robert Kelly, Sr., City of Jacksonville Building Inspection Division
- Simran Singh, NLP Logix
- Sol Wynter, Elevance Health
Team READ USA is immensely grateful to every professional who joined us last week! As our teen tutor Kayla said, each volunteer shared their own insights and life learnings, giving our tutors a personalized, engaging experience that they’ll take with them forever. THANK YOU for investing your time and energy in our tutors!
We also want to extend a special thank you to Jennifer Finnegan, founder and CEO of The Giving Closet Project. Anyone who knows Jennifer knows her boundless energy and enthusiasm for uplifting our community’s youth. Jennifer not only volunteered during Mock Interview Day, but she also gave our teen tutors an opportunity to select professional clothing for free for their interviews from The Giving Closet Project – giving them added confidence and dignity, particularly for our teens who do not always have the means to purchase new clothing. Jennifer, THANK YOU for the purpose and mission behind The Giving Closet Project, your partnership with READ USA, and for all you did for our teen tutors!
Jeremy Meets a “Woman with Heart”
Jeremy has wrapped up his 2024 journey by meeting an exceptional leader this holiday season, a true “Woman with Heart” and reader-leader, Nicole B. Thomas of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville!
As Hospital President of one of our community’s largest medical institutions, Nicole – or Mrs. Thomas as Jeremy calls her – was intentional with her journey to where she is today. “My dream was to become a vice president, but I went even further. My dream now is to become a health system CEO. I know it’s possible because I’ve met a few…they are people just like me,” she poignantly shared with Jeremy – a life lesson that should inspire any child to pursue anything they desire. One of Nicole’s favorite quotes is, “If your dreams aren’t scaring you, you’re not dreaming big enough.”
When she was a child being raised by her grandparents, Nicole was insatiable with her desire to read, learn, and experience. In addition to advancing well beyond her current grade levels academically (she attended 5th-grade classes in 4th grade), she also became a teacher herself while in elementary school. “I loved school so much that I held my own private summer school,” Nicole shared, “I would spread out my books and treat them like my students.”
That foundation blossomed into many new experiences for Nicole that ultimately led her to Baptist Health today. When she tried working as a dental assistant at a high school specifically designed to cultivate students interested in health professions, she found she, “liked working at the front desk rather than next to the dentist.” She had found her passion for the business of healthcare after realizing that she had a healthcare heart with a business brain.
Today, Nicole is one of the top senior healthcare executives in the country. She earned her credential as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and was named among Modern Healthcare magazine’s Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare, among multiple other awards and recognitions.
Given how important books and reading were to Nicole’s growth – and for how she uses books as a professional tool, engaging her team members in books and topics to help them grow and learn – Nicole was our 2023 READ to Heal Award Honoree. “I was honored to be chosen for this award by READ USA. I applaud READ USA for the huge impact it is having on children…and for being where the people are.”
“It’s all connected: Reading, education, health, and wellness. Reading is ultimately connected to wellness.” We couldn’t agree more, Nicole, which is precisely why you were beyond deserving for our 2023 READ to Heal Award!
Thank you for sharing your incredible journey with Jeremy and Jacksonville, Nicole! We were honored to feature you as the phenomenal reader-leader you are!
Nicole’s Jeremy’s Journey book is available to pre-order for a $20 donation! Place your order today and READ USA will contact you when the books have arrived at our office.
Congratulations, Vincent Taylor!
Our very own READ USA Board Member and 27-year DCPS educator Vincent Taylor is one of five finalists for the 2025 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year! Team READ USA is so proud and elated for this incredibly well-deserved recognition!
Known for the energy he brings to the classroom and the professional development seminars he hosts around the country, Vincent is an accomplished public speaker and published author. He founded Cornbread and Friends, a multicultural children’s chapter book series that teaches children a variety of life lessons. Today, Cornbread and Friends has achieved international reach. (Watch this video on Cornbread’s Facebook page of children reading Cornbread and Friends in Tanzania!) His book, If Instruction Isn’t Engaging, I Quit!, has inspired countless educators to bring an elevated level of enthusiasm and engagement – and therefore, impact – to the classroom.
To be honest, we’re not sure how Vincent accomplishes all that he does! In addition to being a teacher at Cedar Hills Elementary School, an author, and public speaker, he frequently visits schools, libraries, and community events with Cornbread to inspire and entertain children of all ages.
Congratulations, Vincent, on this well-deserved honor! We will be rooting for you in January! Congratulations also to the other four finalists who we know are so deserving of this recognition as well!
The 2025 VyStar Duval County Teacher of the Year will be announced at the EDDY Awards hosted by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund on January 18, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. You can read more about all of the semifinalists here.
Children’s Book: The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell
Patrick McDonnell is a best-selling author and the creator of the comic-strip Mutts. This story, The Gift
of Nothing, features characters from the comic strip: Mooch (a cat) and Earl (a dog). Mooch wants to give her best friend Earl a gift, but he already has a bowl, a bed, and even a chewy toy. In fact, he has it ALL.
“What do you give a guy who has everything?” Mooch wonders. In a flash of inspiration, Mooch decides to give him “nothing” and sets out to find it. Mooch has heard his people say there’s “nothing” on TV – but something’s always on. Though the kids say there’s “nothing” to do, they always seem to be doing something, and even though Millie says there’s “nothing” to buy – Mooch finds plenty in the stores. In the end, he wraps a big box with nothing in it and presents it to his friend. “There’s nothing here,” says Earl. “Nothing but me and you,” Mooch replies and the two friends enjoy nothing – and everything – together.
During the holiday season, this story is a wonderful reminder that the greatest gift we can receive is the time spend we those we love. You might even spend some time doing “nothing” together.
Submitted by Kathi Hart, READ USA Lead Content Teacher
Parent Education Corner: Developing Literacy – Reading and Book-Based Activities
Reading with children develops their vocabulary, ability to listen and understand, and ability to connect sounds with words.
Try these reading and book-based activities:
- Try books with rhyme, rhythm, and repetition. Many young children enjoy books like Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox, Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney, and The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson.
- Encourage your child to turn the pages and talk about what they see. Use your finger to guide your child’s eyes from left to right across the page as you read and point out certain words or phrases.
- Try lift-the-flap books or touch-and-feel books. You could even make your own book with objects your child likes to look at and touch.
- Encourage your child to take the lead with reading – for example, ‘Where do we begin?’ Every so often, stop reading and ask your child what they think will happen next.
- Link books with real life. For example, if you’ve read a book about playing in a park, you might like to take your child to the local park and point out swings that look like the ones in the book.
- Encourage your child to act out the story that you’re reading. For example, you can ask your child to hop like the kangaroo in the book.
- Follow your child’s lead with reading. Encourage your child but try not to push them. Try different books to see what your child likes – and just have fun!
Submitted by Kathi Hart, READ USA Lead Content Teacher
Source: raisingchildren.net.au
Do you have any questions or ideas for the Parent Education Corner? Anything you’d like to learn? Let us know here.