Will you read to me? Employees encouraged to volunteer for Read Houston Read
As a mother, HISD senior executive secretary Fatima Barnett remembers trips to the library and reading with her own children, who are now young adults and avid readers. That’s why she jumped at the chance to read to children at Woodson K-8 as part of the district’s Read Houston Read campaign.
Would you like to volunteer for Read Houston Read?
Click here and register online using your HISD email address (you do NOT need to sign-up for a VIPS background check)
Log on to the employee portal and select a training session in eTRAIN (pick CU2615 if you want to mentor in person or CU2616 if you want to participate virtually)
Print out this form and have your direct manager sign it. Then bring the signed form to your scheduled training session.
“Since we as employees are advocates for education, this should be an extension of all that we encompass,” said Barnett. “Volunteering for Read Houston Read is a great way to show our commitment.”
Barnett is just one of many HISD employees from the central office who have signed up to read to district first-graders through the program. By giving a child a half-hour to an hour of time each week, volunteers can encourage a lifetime love of literature.
HISD employees interested in volunteering, either in person or virtually, can sign-up to attend a training session on Monday, Dec. 1, Thursday, Dec. 4, or Friday, Dec. 5, at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center. Employees may use a part of their workday to participate, but they must be in good standing with the district and are required to have written approval from their supervisor.
“My best memory so far has been providing new books to one of the students. “ Barnett said. “When he shared with me that he liked reading and that he had a new baby sister, he barely spoke above a whisper. I asked him if he reads to her and he told me that he did not have any books at home. The following week, when I showed him the three books I had bought for him, his eyes lit up, he smiled, and he began to speak just a little
ouder when he said ‘Can we read the books that you bought for me?’ “
“Filled with emotion I told him, ‘Of course we can’.”
