The ELA secondary team was recognized by Superintendent Grier at the December Central office meeting. (Houston Independent School District)

Community members, parents, and former HISD students have signed up to read to a first-grader through HISD’s Read Houston Read campaign. Now HISD employees are also volunteering to read to a student, and one central office department is leading the charge. 

The entire Secondary English and Language Arts (ELA) team have all spent time reading to students through the campaign.

“Volunteering for Read Houston Read reminds me of why each person in HISD is important.” said ELA manager Marisa Hartling. “For 30 minutes to an hour each week, I get to attest to the fact that HISD is increasing literacy across the district.”

Close to 90 HISD employees recently registered for training for Read Houston Read, which gives volunteers a chance to spend 30 to 60 minutes a week reading to a child who might otherwise never have an adult read to them. Studies show that reading aloud to children greatly increases their vocabulary and cognitive skills.

“The students give me high-fives when the reading session is complete, and one student always asks when I am coming back,” said ELA team member Audrey Torres. “He wrote it down, so he could put it on his calendar. It touched my heart for a first-grader to be so eager for me to come back and read with him. ”

“Such a little amount of time can impact the day of one child.” added ELA team member Amanda Ponder. “Plus, you get to read to kids – how fun is that?”

Volunteers can sign up today to read to a child through the Read Houston Read campaign at www.readhoustonread.com.