With all important learning experiences, there are significant results that cannot be quantified—those priceless intangibles that may include a sense of belonging, friendship, confidence, joy, reward, growth, pride, accomplishment, etc. To provide some small sense of these, we have included a handful of observations of a few who have been a part of our program or witnessed it firsthand.

FEEDBACK ABOUT OUR KIDS

RESPONSES FROM ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

“I enjoyed reading with the teenagers and having a buddy to help me out. It made me feel good and really special that they took the time to be with me.” - 3^rd grader, London Towne Elementary

“I liked reading and spending time with my buddy and getting books to keep and read at home.” - 3^rd grader, London Towne Elementary

“I've gotten better at reading and I'm enjoying reading more. I used to hate reading, but now I like reading a lot more.” - 4^th grader (2008), Centreville Elementary

RESPONSE FROM A STUDENT ATHLETE

“I have taken part in the Readers Are Leaders program for 3 years now. As a member of the South Lakes High School Basketball team, I have gone to local elementary schools and read to and with kids. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. It makes me feel like I can have an impact on my community and those around me. The program has made me realize how important reading is for everyone, not just children. Before the Readers Are Leaders program, I had very little patience. But by reading with the kids, I have, slowly but surely and hopefully, gained this virtue.

“The kids that I read with are great. They are always excited when we visit them and are eager to read. They continuously work hard every week to gain better reading skills. With our reading partner, we gain a bond and trust with them. The kids look up to us and look towards us for guidance. Through my experience with this program I like to think that I have formed a friendship with my reading partners. Not only do we read, but also we play games, talk, and just hang out and have a good time together. When I was growing up, I didn't have someone, outside of my family, to do that with. I feel very fortunate and honored to have that responsibility.

“Overall, the Readers Are Leaders program is beneficial to everyone involved. It helps the kids by improving their reading skills and thirst for knowledge and books. And it helps us, the volunteers, by giving us a sense of appreciation for what we have. I feel that our actions, do indeed, have a positive impact around us. Every basketball season I look forward to helping and giving my time to younger kids because I feel that is extremely important. More important than we can ever truly realize.” - Ramin Shaheedian, South Lakes High School, Basketball Player

RESPONSE FROM A COACH

“I just wanted to write and express my gratitude for allowing my team and me to be a part of the Readers Are Leaders program again this year. My players looked forward to every Wednesday. It was a very good opportunity for players to give back to the younger children and to be positive role models. I know that the program has helped the elementary students, but I feel it has helped my players with being more responsible. The relationships that were made were priceless. I look forward to doing this again next year.” - Jason Ritenour, Boys' Varsity Baseball Coach, Woodbridge High School

RESPONSE FROM A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

“The Readers Are Leaders Program experienced another fantastic year. We had an overwhelmingly large number of elementary students that were interested in participating. We were also very appreciative to have both the Centreville High School baseball and softball teams provide the mentoring. Mentoring relationships developed and grew to support not only the elementary students reading but also their sense of belonging and social skills.

“We've received positive feedback from all of the student participants, parents and teachers. We are most thankful for your leadership and efforts.” - Lee Kaiser, School Counselor, Centreville Elementary School

RESPONSE FROM A COMMUNITY CENTER DIRECTOR

“I write to overwhelmingly give my support to the mission, programs and values of the Readers Are Leaders organization. As the Director of the David R. Pinn Community Center, it has been my privilege and my joy to watch young people grow and embark on their journeys in life. Readers Are Leaders has become a vital step for each one of the children that passes through our doors.

“I am continually asked by potential families looking for after-school programming for their children what sort of reading programs and enrichment the Pinn Community Center can offer. Prior to our involvement with Readers Are Leaders, we could only guarantee short periods of supervised reading to our participants. Now, in conjunction with our after-school program, Readers Are Leaders brings a whole new level of reading and reading enrichment to our participants and, in turn, their families. I am pleased to tell parents that our center can offer their children an unparalleled program in which their children are given the opportunity to read, interact with and have an ongoing conversation with a mentor.

“Readers Are Leaders has helped to bridge the gap between elementary-aged youth and teenagers by providing a valuable mentee: mentor relationship to young people. The young people in our programs get the chance to meet the rising, sport stars of their local community. Just as the young people have such an opportunity, those same athletes have the opportunity of a lifetime, one in which they are given the chance to make a difference in the lives of a child. The interaction and camaraderie built by Readers Are Leaders is remarkable. All of our participants looked forward each week to the hour of reading time, as a chance not only to share a story with a mentor but also to create a relationship and strengthen a bond.

“It is because Readers Are Leaders is such a valuable organization and imparts such generous gifts on all the participants that we are overjoyed to have them back in our center year after year.” - Ned Barnes, Director, David R. Pinn Community Center

RESPONSES FROM TEACHERS

“This year several of my students were involved with the Readers Are Leaders program at London Towne Elementary School. This program enabled each student to spend quality reading time with a teenage mentor. It was a time of encouragement, laughter, and additional practice reading. Each 3^rd grade student looked forward to being with their mentor and never needed a reminder to be ready on Tuesdays.

“As a result of this program, I saw 3^rd graders who gained increased confidence while reading, had additional opportunities to read with/to a fluent reader, and had the benefit of a mentor/mentee relationship. All students involved were appreciative of the time spent with their mentors.

“The Readers Are Leaders program was a fantastic opportunity for my students this year. Each child benefited from the time spent reading as well as from the interaction with an older more experienced reader who was not a teacher/parent. I hope more students will be able to participate in this beneficial program in the years to come.” - Wiatta Padmore, 3^rd grade teacher, London Towne Elementary School

“For the fourth year in a row, I have watched my sixth grade students benefit from the interactions with the high school students. The high school mentors serve as positive role models as student athletes. The elementary students looked forward to every Thursday and enjoyed both the companionship and the reading that they shared with their 'buddy.' This year we had even more participation from the varsity softball team at Centreville High School. It was great to see the elementary school girls have female scholar athletes to look up to and bond with.” - Gretchen Polivka, 6^th grade teacher, Centreville Elementary School and Assistant Softball Coach, Centreville High School

RESPONSES FROM READING SPECIALISTS

“I am writing this letter to share with you the joy and excitement Readers Are Leaders brought to 15 Hunters Woods Elementary School students. Our fourth and fifth grade girls and boys were initially excited about getting to spend time reading with the freshman basketball team of South Lakes High School. They were anxious about working with their 'super stars,' some who previously attended Hunters Woods. At the first meeting, the students were shy and quiet when they met their mentors. That didn't last too long; the young men from the basketball team made the students feel comfortable. They talked to the students and listened attentively which made the students relax. With each passing Wednesday, our students began to realize that they too could be mentors and leaders in the future if they continued in their academic pursuits.

“The South Lakes freshman basketball team mentors not only were leaders in their relationship-building skills but also helped the Hunters Woods students improve their literacy strategies and skills. Coach Darryl Branch provided the South Lakes mentors a good background in what good readers do. Combined with some techniques we shared for improving reading comprehension and fluency in both fiction and non-fiction books, they had a winning game plan.

“The Hunters Woods students regularly checked in with me to see if their South Lakes' mentors were coming each week. The mentors continued to come to Hunters Woods every Wednesday even after their season ended. Because our program ran into the spring sports season, some of our mentors were unable to attend because of other sports commitments. Coach Branch and the remaining mentors ensured that each student continued to have someone support their reading and leadership efforts by having the junior varsity and varsity basketball team players come in the other mentors' places.

“Our fourth and fifth grade students loved the experience and were disappointed when it ended. They could be seen walking around the school wearing their Readers Are Leaders dog tags, carrying their Readers Are Leaders key chains, and using their Readers Are Leaders bookmarks. They were excited about receiving books to read at home and proudly carried those books in their Readers Are Leaders backpacks. The two things the students treasured more than anything were their Readers Are Leaders t-shirts and certificates. They wore their shirts so much that I had other students asking if they could participate next year. Hunters Woods looks forward to being a part of the Readers Are Leaders program next year!” - Jill D. Stewart, Reading Specialist, Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences

“I am writing in support of this amazing opportunity our school had this past year to partner with the Readers Are Leaders non-profit organization. Graham Road's population serves many students who are new to this country and lack the experiences of being read aloud to by a fluent, English speaking caregiver. Our kindergarten students benefited from a weekly read aloud from high school students from Falls Church High School who served as that positive role model for reading fluently.

“The kindergarten students looked forward to the day their high school reading buddy would return to spend this special time with them sharing the magic of a read aloud. In addition, the high school students were invited for Read Across America Day in which they went into classrooms and shared a read aloud.

“The free quality books provided and prizes were appreciated and enjoyed by our kindergarten students. Many of our students have very few books at home, and with these books, they were able to start their own home library!

“This was a positive learning experience and a wonderful literacy contribution to the lives of our students! I would strongly encourage your continued funding efforts for Readers Are Leaders!” - Christine R. Swift, Title One Reading Specialist, Graham Road Elementary

RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATORS

“Please accept this letter of thanks for initiating the Readers Are Leaders program this year at our school. London Towne has worked hard over the last few years to implement and establish literacy programs that are compatible with each other and support what we believe about reading acquisition. Two of the essential elements within our approach to literacy instruction are ensuring that students have reading materials that are at their instructional level and secondly that they have increased quantities of time to engage in real reading each school day. We are extremely cautious about the programs we select because we believe that the students who struggle most should and DESERVE to have the highest quality interventions.

“The Readers Are Leaders program served both of these goals and helped some of our most struggling readers to accelerate their reading levels during this school year. Students were matched with an older tutor who took a personal interest in their younger reading 'buddy' by helping them solve words, talk about the text, apply helpful strategies when needed, encourage, and enjoy the stories that they read together each week.

“As an administrator (and former reading teacher), I observed our students grow in enthusiasm as they looked forward to reading with their mentor. In addition, I noted an increase in self-confidence within many of our most reticent readers. This is so important in the literacy development of a child, as it translates into a positive, feed-forward system that helps kids want to KEEP reading.

“We are extremely grateful for your work and the many contributors that have made this program possible. Together with good classroom instruction, Readers Are Leaders has been a powerful contributor to reading achievement here at London Towne. On behalf of the students and their parents, I want to thank you for allowing us to participate. My hope is that we can expand the program next year!” - Sigrid Ryberg, Assistant Principal, London Towne Elementary School

“The Readers Are Leaders Program targets specific students who exhibited weakness in a variety of areas with reading. The training allowed the player participants to target individual areas of weakness in reading, within specific students. Additionally, the time allowed the student participants and the positive approach taken by the players had a truly meaningful impact by increasing the self-esteem of the student participants. Our students were very excited to have participated and were awarded certificates of participation at our annual awards presentation.

“The approach utilized by the players, coaches and teachers allowed all the participants to forge a positive friendship with an older, more experienced student. This bond allowed our student participants to 'see into the future' and to see themselves as successful students as they move toward middle school. Additionally, the player participants were extremely proud of their contribution to their elementary school counterparts.

“We look forward to our continued participation in the program in the next school year.” - Colin H. Brown, Assistant Principal, Tuckahoe Elementary School, Arlington, VA

“Thank you once again for offering Old Bridge Elementary the opportunity to participate in the Readers Are Leaders program. Students in grades 4 and 5 were nominated by their teachers to participate in the program. The school administration narrowed the list down to allow for a one-on-one ratio of high school athlete to elementary school student.

“We were fortunate this year to expand our program to include not only the Woodbridge High School boys' and girls' basketball teams during the fall season, but also the boys' baseball and girls' soccer teams during the Spring season. We appreciate your continued leadership as you assist us as we develop, implement, and enhance our program. As you know, we have added the additional after-school program called the Leadership Academy. This allowed us to focus more on the leader part of the program. This was facilitated by both our guidance counselor and me.

“The program was a great success for both our elementary students and the high school athletes. This is one program that kids did not forget to attend. They often reminded their teacher that it was time to go as they did not want to miss out on any time with their mentor. The students proudly wore their Readers Are Leaders tee shirts and began to speak out as leaders in the school community. They often compared how many books they had read so far. This newfound love of reading helped our students experience measurable gains in their reading scores.

“The high school athletes got a chance to give back to the community by participating in the RAL program. Their dedication to the program was admirable. They attended the 2 hour training session which they took very seriously. They arrived promptly each week and were eager to make our students feel as if they were the most important person in their life. The added bonus to this relationship was when our students were invited to be special guests at their sports events. Each team made a unique effort to recognize their buddy sometime during their game. It was special and an experience that none of the students will likely forget.

“We look forward to continuing the program next year. Students are already requesting to be involved in the program. We are grateful that you allow us to continue shaping the lives of our students through this program. We are also grateful to the coaches who selflessly committed to the success of the program.” - Jodi Pankowski, Assistant Principal, and Laura Kostrzebski, Counselor, Old Bridge Elementary School

FEEDBACK ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

LETTERS FROM PARENTS

“I am writing to express my gratitude and appreciation for the Readers Are Leaders program. My son, Billy, a fifth grader at London Towne Elementary School, had the opportunity to participate in this program during the 2008-09 school year.

“Not only did Billy enjoy the high school student who mentored him, he was able to increase his confidence and abilities in reading. While Billy has always liked to read, he was easily discouraged because his interest in specific books or topics was too ambitious for his reading level. In the past, this has led to frustration as he would select books that were too difficult and abandon them after getting through one or two chapters, embarrassed that he could not read the same books as his friends.Or worse, he would suffer through them, getting too caught up in the difficult vocabulary and missing out on the story line and learning potential, until he eventually lost interest.

“The Readers Are Leaders program gave Billy the opportunity to spend time with a mentor who worked with him one-on-one to assist with appropriate book selection and encouraged him to try new and different books. He still sometimes chooses books that are too difficult, but instead of getting overly frustrated, he is able to more objectively and happily move on to something more appropriate. For the first time, he is able to stick with a book from cover to cover—a tremendous accomplishment for him!

“Billy felt like it was a privilege to have this special reading time with his mentor (who he thought was 'really cool'), free of any stigma of a 'remedial' reading program.

“Thank you for the opportunity my son was given to participate in this great program!” - Karen Penafiel, parent of 5^th grader, London Towne Elementary

“My son Kaden is in kindergarten at Graham Road Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia. During the past year, Kaden was given the opportunity to participate in the Readers Are Leaders program at the school, and I wanted to let you know how much the program meant to him and to our family. As the year progressed, Kaden became more and more enthusiastic each time he met with his 'friend' to read and gained a true excitement for reading over the year that makes me proud as a parent. Kaden especially loved the books he was given to take home and still keeps them on the top shelf of the bookcase where he keeps his most favorite things. Kaden's participation in the program also helped to reinforce his reading at home as he became more confident and excited to read. I know that the Readers Are Leaders program has been a very important contribution to Kaden's successful school year. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of such a fantastic program.” - Elizabeth McCall, parent of kindergarten student,Graham Road Elementary

RECOGNITION FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA URBAN LEAGUE

In May of 2008, our outreach to improve literacy in Fairfax communities was recognized at the Northern Virginia Urban League's 18th Annual Community Service Dinner. Readers Are Leaders is very much in line with the NOVAUL work plan: “To continue to build alliances, enhance our advocacy efforts, further our empowerment agenda and create opportunities that foster economic and social advancement and educational achievement for our constituency throughout the Northern Virginia community.”