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More than 300 caring citizens have already volunteered to work directly with first-graders through HISD’s Read Houston Read initiative, and many of them came to the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center on Sept. 26 to get a crash course in how to manage their time with the students.

“We want this to be fun,” explained HISD Literacy Director Cindy Puryear. “We don’t need you to be a teacher or a disciplinarian. We’ve got that part covered. But the one thing you can’t get more of is time, so the fact that you are here, giving of yours, means the world to me.”

Puryear emphasized that the students selected to work one-on-one with adults would not be children with significant learning disabilities needing remediation, and volunteers would be provided with more activities than they could ever hope to do in the allotted time. “Remember, these students are only six, so everybody’s still learning. But we want to give children a chance to celebrate a book with an adult—and that’s what you’re here for.”

HISD still needs both in-person and virtual volunteers for this program. If you would like to become a volunteer, please visit the Read Houston Read website.