United Way-backed 'Read to Succeed' volunteers lauded at Wichita school board meeting
August 04, 2025 | Wichita, School Boards, Kansas
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Wichita Public Schools on Aug. 4 recognized Read to Succeed, a volunteer reading-coach program coordinated with United Way and Women United, and invited a Petersen Elementary volunteer to share classroom examples.
Amanda Sorschel introduced Mary Kay Vaughn, a reading coach at Petersen Elementary, who described four years volunteering with the program and shared three classroom stories about students who made gains in literacy, engaged in cross-disciplinary projects and connected emotionally to books. Vaughn described practical strategies—index cards with vocabulary words, pairing reading progress with a craft project and using representative characters to discuss identity and inclusion—and said the activities helped students enjoy reading and build skills.
United Way staffers Logan Bradshaw (director of community impact) and Amy Holly (volunteer engagement manager) attended and told the board that Read to Succeed currently serves 22 schools and about 200–225 volunteers, with plans to add Price Harris, Kinsler and Eisley this year and expand priority registration next week. Bradshaw instructed interested volunteers to complete an interest form at unitedwayplains.org/readtosucceed; staff said they will open priority registration and notify those who complete the form.
Board members thanked volunteers for their time and highlighted the program’s role in supporting the district’s third-grade reading goals.
Amanda Sorschel introduced Mary Kay Vaughn, a reading coach at Petersen Elementary, who described four years volunteering with the program and shared three classroom stories about students who made gains in literacy, engaged in cross-disciplinary projects and connected emotionally to books. Vaughn described practical strategies—index cards with vocabulary words, pairing reading progress with a craft project and using representative characters to discuss identity and inclusion—and said the activities helped students enjoy reading and build skills.
United Way staffers Logan Bradshaw (director of community impact) and Amy Holly (volunteer engagement manager) attended and told the board that Read to Succeed currently serves 22 schools and about 200–225 volunteers, with plans to add Price Harris, Kinsler and Eisley this year and expand priority registration next week. Bradshaw instructed interested volunteers to complete an interest form at unitedwayplains.org/readtosucceed; staff said they will open priority registration and notify those who complete the form.
Board members thanked volunteers for their time and highlighted the program’s role in supporting the district’s third-grade reading goals.
Don't Miss a Word: See the Full Meeting!
Go beyond summaries. Unlock every video, transcript, and key insight with a Founder Membership.
✓
Get instant access to full meeting videos
✓
Search and clip any phrase from complete transcripts
✓
Receive AI-powered summaries & custom alerts
✓
Enjoy lifetime, unrestricted access to government data
30-day money-back guarantee
